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Clients often ask if they should rent short-term before buying a property in Costa Rica. That depends largely on your plans for moving to our beautiful country. Some people have rented long-term their whole life, so that’s not going to change. This question is meant for those who sold their property in their home country and want to move here. That’s why short-term renting is a fantastic option.
Of course, I expect you to do your homework first. A great place to start is at our blog “Learn where to live in 20 steps“. Once you’ve identified the top 3 or 4 locations that meet your requirements, you can use Airbnb, HomeAway, Booking.com, or any of the short-term rental platforms for a couple of weeks or a month. Once you think you’ve found the best place for your new lifestyle, you can rent short-term by the month on Airbnb. If you love playing golf or living in a master-planned community in the Central Valley, I’m the guy to talk to.
Microclimates & Rainfall
You Learn the Micro-Locations
Costa Rica is extremely microclimate-dependent. Two properties 10 minutes apart can feel completely different.
Details to watch out for:
- Wind exposure – Natural air conditioning, mold & moisture control, bug reduction, heat retention, to name a few.
- Rainfall patterns – Water runoffs, flooding, landslides.
- Humidity – Mold control.
- Noise from roads, dogs, or roosters – Someone was even bothered by the noise of the mangoes falling on the roof.
- Views vs. cloud cover – An ocean or jungle view is a black hole at night.
- Traffic – Someone might love downtown Escazú but hate the traffic after living there for a few months.
You Experience the Dry vs. Rainy Season
Costa Rica has two distinct seasons:
Dry season (Dec–April) – sunny, dusty (depending on where)
Rainy season (May–Nov) – green but very wet (some locations have more rainfall than others)
Properties can:
- Get muddy access roads.
- Have no space to sit outside when it rains.
- Have drainage problems.
- Lose their view in the rainy season clouds
- Renting lets you see how a place behaves in different weather.
Traffic and Infrastructure
You Understand Traffic Reality
Distances here look short but can feel long due to congestion around the San José Metropolitan area.
For example:
Santa Ana → San José commute
Escazú → Route 27 traffic
Atenas → commute into the Central Valley
Living somewhere for 2–3 months reveals the real daily travel time.
You Learn the Infrastructure
Short-term living shows you practical things that listings don’t reveal:
- Water reliability.
- Internet quality.
- Power outages.
- Road access in the rain.
- Security issues.
- Proximity to hospitals.
- Shopping.
- Anything else that is a requirement for you.
The Market
You Learn About the Market
Avoid buying in a location where it will take years to sell again. Rent short-term first lets you:
- Are you in the middle of nowhere?
- Learn about the market and the possibility of selling again
- Learn about market prices
- Discover off-market opportunities
Smart Strategy
Many experienced buyers follow this path:
- Rent for 2-4 months
- Explore multiple areas
- Narrow down to one or two communities
- Then buy
When Buying Immediately Can Make Sense
Buying right away may work if:
- You have already lived in Costa Rica for a while and figured it all out
- You know the exact neighborhood
- The property is exceptionally priced
- It’s development land or an investment property
My rule of thumb
If you’re planning to live in Costa Rica full-time, renting short-term first prevents 80% of buyer mistakes. It is your decision if you rent before you buy a property. I, or any of the other American-European-affiliated Costa Rican real estate agents, will be glad to assist you in your quest. I can assist you once you’ve decided whether Cariari or Belen is your preferred location. Please contact me when you’re ready.
