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Teach English in Costa Rica

With some of the happiest residents on earth, breathtaking views, dense jungles and unbelievable coastline, any TEFL teacher who loves the outdoors will want to sample Costa Rica!

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Costa Rica, which translates as ‘Rich Coast’ in Spanish, lives up to its name. A beautiful country situated between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, with jungles, mountains, and gorgeous, sandy beaches, the scenery of this country will take your breath away. The rainy season lasts for a large part of the year (from April to December) so while the scenery is beautiful, the weather isn’t always ideal. However, the dry season makes the rain well worth it. Costa Rica could be a great place for your next teaching adventure if you have an innate sense of adventure.

Costa Rica often features on lists of the happiest places in the world and it also ranks as one of the greenest, so there are plenty of reasons to consider living there. Other perks of working in Costa Rica include great healthcare and a variety of TEFL opportunities.

Where are the teaching opportunities for English teachers in Costa Rica? What kind of teaching salary can an ESL teacher make in Costa Rica? What teaching requirements does someone need to meet in order to get a visa? Let’s get to grips with an underrated TEFL location, and see what you need to teach English in Costa Rica!

Costa Rica: an overview 

English is taught in primary schools as part of government policy, so standards have been improving in recent years. In the most recent EF English Proficiency Index, Costa Rica ranked 38th of 113 nations. While there is a large drive to learn English in Costa Rica, finding paid positions can still be challenging. Equally, Costa Rican immigration laws are very strict - more on that later - and so there’s less of an impetus to hire English teachers from outside the country. Still, for those who are desperate to start teaching English abroad in Costa Rica, there are rich opportunities to be found if you’re willing to put the work in.

The majority of Costa Rica’s teaching positions are to be found in major metropolitan areas. So, the likes of Heredia, Cartago, the capital city San Jose, Alajuela, Puntarenas, and Limon are your safest bets if you want to teach English in Costa Rica. Tutoring can be the safest way to guarantee income, and naturally, it’s the most sensible call to head to where the majority of people are.

Approximately 11% of Costa Ricans speak a second language, and 92% of those who speak a second language opt for English. Expect to dress smartly for paid positions, though volunteer teachers will probably get away with a more relaxed attire. Students are typically well-behaved, friendly, and eager to learn.

Requirements 

So what does a TEFL teacher need to start working in Costa Rica? We’ll get into specifics regarding teaching requirements, including qualifications and experience, but let’s discuss important cultural and linguistic contexts first.

To gain full-time employment as an English teacher in Costa Rica, candidates typically need to be native English speakers (or able to prove fluency). Having some Spanish vocabulary is very helpful for ESL teachers, and while Costa Ricans are very friendly - and will try to communicate with you even if you don’t share a language - they appreciate efforts to speak the native tongue. In-person interviews are common, so being in Costa Rica during the application process for Costa Rica teaching jobs can be extremely advantageous. 

TEFL certificate

You want to teach English in Costa Rica on a permanent, full-time basis? Then TEFL certification is vital. You must have completed 120 hours or more of a TEFL certification course to be considered for a teaching job in Costa Rica. In addition, it’s well worth considering Advanced TEFL courses, specifically in Business English and English for Academic Purposes. 

Why? Well, there are plenty of Costa Rican business professionals who want to be able to converse with potential clients and partners in English. Equally, some prospective students want to attend English-speaking universities and colleges. It’s not uncommon for Costa Rican students to apply for universities in the nearby USA or Canada.

Degree/no-degree 

While a bachelor's degree isn't always required at the entry level, it's preferred and can improve job prospects and potential earnings. In Costa Rica’s international schools, language schools and private schools, however, you will find that bachelor’s degrees are usually in demand. If you want to teach English in Costa Rica long-term, especially in more elite institutions, a bachelor's degree is very useful indeed.

Experience 

Previous teaching experience, and the importance in which it’s held, depends very much on the types of teaching jobs you’re looking for in Costa Rica. When you're looking to find teaching jobs at the entry level, prior teaching experience isn’t a prerequisite most of the time. However, at international school and private school levels, it’s extremely important. For private lessons, it can help - in the sense that it puts clients at ease, knowing you've taught others before.

Visa 

Work visa rules in Costa Rica are strict. It’s impossible to gain permanent residence or a long-term work permit within a short period of moving to Costa Rica. That is, unless you are a close relative of a Costa Rican, and/or you have Costa Rican heritage. This changes when you have accrued Temporary Residence Permits for over 3 years, upon which point you can apply for a Permanent Costa Rica Residence Permit.

It’s legal to work in Costa Rica on a Temporary Residence Permit. These permits last different durations at the first point of entry, depending on your passport. They can be extended multiple times, provided you are showing value and working legally. But how can you work legally?

A popular way to do it is by working freelance. The big issue with Costa Rican immigration, especially where it pertains to jobs, is that you have to prove that you are doing work that cannot be done by a Costa Rican person. The best way to do that during your first 3 years in Costa Rica, and the most visa-friendly way, is through self-employment. You do this through the Rentiers visa. In some cases - and this is not particularly common - English teachers from overseas will be granted specific temporary residence permits. 

In short, it can be very tricky. At first, your best bet as a TEFL teacher is to head over as a self-employed tutor or not head over to Costa Rica unless you have a guaranteed job in place. For teachers interested in moving to teach English in Costa Rica, we can't emphasise the importance of knowing the visa system enough.

Download our teaching English in Latin America guide

Salary and cost of living  

So what kind of teaching salary can ESL educators expect in Costa Rica? More to the point, how much does it cost to teach English in Costa Rica, and how well does a teaching salary cover it? 

Country Avg. monthly salary Degree required Start of term Teaching experience Housing & flights included Suitable for non-native English speakers Age restrictions
Teach in Costa Rica £500 - £800 GBP
($600 - $1,000 USD)		 January to July None

Salary 

TEFL teachers in Costa Rica can usually expect monthly salaries between $600 and $1,000/ £480 - £800. This varies depending on the school type (language institute, private school, tutoring), your hours, and your qualifications. Workweeks are typically 20-25 hours, with contracts lasting 6-12 months. If you’re a tutor, you can usually charge a minimum of $10-$20/£7-£15 per hour.

It’s also worth noting that volunteering opportunities to teach English in Costa Rica are widespread. Voluntary TEFL teaching is common there and can be great for a CV. Make sure you’re volunteering through a recognised, reputable organisation. 

You can learn more about English teaching salaries here.

Cost of living 

Costa Rica is the wealthiest country in Central America, but wages aren’t typically high for TEFL teachers. Living in the capital can be expensive, but it’s also where the highest wages are, so you’ll have to look at all the facts and balance everything up. 

In good weather, most expats hit the beach and sample local delicacies such as gallo pinto (a dish of rice, beans, onions, red peppers, and cilantro), chifijo (rice and pork topped with avocado, pico de gallo, chimichurri, and lime), olla de carne (a slow-cooked stew), and pipa fria (a cold coconut with a straw sticking out the top). Via Numbeo, we can tell you that in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, a typical, inexpensive meal for one is about $10/£7.85, while a three-course meal for two in a mid-priced restaurant is about $56/£44.

As delicious as the cuisine is, you’ll need somewhere to live! The difference between rents in the city centre of San Jose and the outer reaches is substantial. For a one-bedroom apartment in central San Jose, rent is usually about $670/£526. This drops to $428/£335 outside of the main metropolitan area. 

If you’re looking to share accommodation, a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre usually costs close to $1,270/£996, but this drops to $1,088/£854. As for utilities? Expect to pay about $64/£50.

In terms of transport, the bus is King, especially in the bigger cities. Passes aren’t really a thing - public transport is publicly owned, and the bus will pick you up anywhere and drop you off pretty much anywhere, too. It’s far from expensive, either. In San Jose, expect to pay between 140 and 360 CRC ($0.35-$0.70/£0.27-£0.55) to get where you need to go.

Jobs 

Now we’ve talked about salaries, job requirements and cost of living in Costa Rica, it’s time to look at the specific kinds of teaching jobs that are available.

Public schools 

The state education system in Costa Rica is of extremely high quality, with a national literacy rate of 98%. English has been compulsory in secondary education since 1998, with real strides being made to improve the level of English proficiency more widely. This, of course, means there must be teaching jobs. 

That said, the majority of English teachers in Costa Rica are, in fact, Costa Rican. That shouldn’t put you off, though; if you have teaching experience, a degree and a TEFL certificate, there are public school teaching jobs in Costa Rica out there for exceptional teachers. You’ll need a school to sponsor your work permit and any related paperwork - to this end, you can expect quite a long interview process, as Costa Rican schools want to know they’re investing their time and money well.

Teach English in San Jose 

The best opportunities for finding teaching jobs in Costa Rica are surely in San Jose. The capital, with a metro population of over 1.4 million, is home to the best international schools on its outskirts, a robust public education system, the majority of English language schools, and the economic centre of Costa Rica. Sure, it costs more to live in San Jose than anywhere else in Costa Rica, but the wages tend to meet the cost of living.

As a place to live, San Jose is truly special.  Costa Rica is famous for its coffee and its cuisine, and nowhere is that celebrated more keenly than San Jose, with its seemingly endless cafés, bars and eateries. Beyond refreshment, there’s both gorgeous scenery and architecture. If you’re into the outdoors, the city itself has gorgeous walking routes, scenery and things to explore. At night, there’s a thriving music scene, and nightclubs playing dance music, pop, and for more Costa Rican culture, there's calypso, soca and cumbia.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. Are English teachers in demand in Costa Rica?

    Costa Rica is ever improving its English proficiency and has a lot of English teaching talent from within the country. However, persistent teachers can find a variety of teaching opportunities in Costa Rica, particularly in major cities.

  • Q. How much money can I make teaching English in Costa Rica?

    TEFL teachers in Costa Rica usually earn between $600 and $1,000/£480 - £800 in full-time employment. This varies depending on the school type, your hours, and your qualifications.

  • Q. Can a US citizen teach in Costa Rica?

    Provided a US citizen meets the criteria for the relevant work permit and visa, they can teach in Costa Rica.

  • Q. What country is easiest to teach English in?

    Provided you have qualifications, including a TEFL certificate, and you meet the requirements to emigrate to another nation, you can teach English across the world!