San Jose

San Jose is Costa Rica's capital and the heart of the country's central valley -- a temperate, eternal-spring climate region (1,170m elevation) home to ~70% of the country's population. The city is the political, financial, and educational centre of one of Latin America's most stable democracies, with strong English fluency and a long-running US/Canadian expatriate community. Residential prices in prime districts (Escazu, Santa Ana, Curridabat, Sabana, Rohrmoser) range from USD 1,800-3,500 per square metre, with gross yields of 5-8%. Foreign buyers face zero restrictions and can purchase freehold property anywhere in the country -- one of Latin America's most open markets. The Costa Rican colon (CRC) tracks USD relatively closely. For international buyers, San Jose offers political stability, environmental safe-haven status, strong English-speaking professional services, and a long-established North American expat community. The catch: it's not a beach city (the Pacific coast is 1-2 hours away), traffic congestion is severe, and infrastructure is patchier than in major Mexican or Panamanian cities.