Quick answer: In the Central Valley and established coastal towns, fibre internet is widely available and connectivity is straightforward. In remote coastal, mountain and rural areas, Starlink is the standard gap-filler — available in Costa Rica since late 2022, with residential plans starting around US$62/month (Standard) and roughly US$440 in equipment. Electricity and water are reliable in populated areas; setting them up as a new resident is quick once you have a DIMEX and a local account.
Electricity and water
Power (via ICE/CNFL and regional providers) and water (via AyA or the local ASADA) are reliable in populated areas. To set up or transfer service you generally need identification, proof of your address, and a way to pay — which is one more reason to sort your DIMEX and bank account early. If you bought raw or rural land, remember that a confirmed water connection (the water letter) is a buildability issue, not just a setup step — see why the water-availability letter matters.
Internet: fibre vs Starlink
Fibre is widely available in the Central Valley (Escazú, Santa Ana, and the wider San José area) and in established coastal hubs, at competitive local prices. For remote work this is usually the limiting factor, and in these areas it rarely is.
Starlink covers the gaps. Available in Costa Rica since November 2022, its residential Standard plan runs about US$62/month for 25–100 Mbps, and a Priority plan about US$77/month for higher speeds, with equipment around US$440. For a hillside home, a remote finca or a coastal spot beyond fibre, it has made genuinely remote living workable. [VERIFY: current Starlink Costa Rica plans and pricing, which were accurate as of late 2025 and change]
Mobile
A local SIM or eSIM (Kölbi/ICE, Claro, Movistar) is cheap and easy on arrival, and useful as a backup connection. Coverage is good in populated areas and patchier in remote terrain.
Setup checklist
- ☐ Local SIM/eSIM on arrival for immediate connectivity.
- ☐ Confirm fibre availability at your address; order it if available.
- ☐ If remote, order Starlink (equipment + monthly plan) and check the coverage map for your exact location.
- ☐ Set up or transfer electricity and water accounts with ID, proof of address and payment.
- ☐ Arrange automatic payments to avoid missed bills.
Practical notes
- Coastal power can be less stable in storms — a UPS or backup is worth it for remote-work reliability.
- Time zone advantage — with solid connectivity, Costa Rica’s one-to-three-hour US offset makes remote work genuinely practical.
- Check before you buy remote land — connectivity and utilities availability should be part of your diligence, not an afterthought.
Fibre, Starlink, or both — matching connectivity to location
Your connectivity plan should follow your address, not a general preference. In the Central Valley and established coastal towns, fibre is widely available at competitive local prices and is more than adequate for remote work — here connectivity is rarely the constraint it once was. The moment you move to a hillside home, a remote finca, or a coastal spot beyond the fibre footprint, Starlink becomes the standard answer, and increasingly people in fibre areas keep a Starlink dish as a backup for outages.
The practical step before committing to a remote property is to check the actual coverage and service situation for that exact location — fibre availability at the specific address, and the Starlink map for that GPS point. Connectivity should be part of your property diligence, not an afterthought discovered on move-in day. For remote workers in particular, confirming a reliable primary connection plus a backup is worth doing before you sign, because Costa Rica’s one-to-three-hour US time-zone alignment only pays off if the link is solid.
Setting up, and keeping it running
To open or transfer electricity (ICE/CNFL and regional providers) and water (AyA or the local ASADA), you generally need identification, proof of your address, and a payment method — which is one more reason the DIMEX and a local bank account come first. Set up automatic payments from the start; a missed utility bill is a needless disruption when it is easily automated. A local SIM or eSIM on arrival gives you immediate connectivity and a useful backup.
A few resilience habits pay off, especially outside the cities. Coastal and rural power can wobble in storms, so a UPS on your work setup and, for remote homes, a small generator or battery backup protect against outages. Keep the Starlink firmware and positioning optimised, and know your providers’ outage-reporting channels. None of this is onerous — it is simply the difference between connectivity that mostly works and connectivity you can actually rely on for work and daily life.
Make connectivity part of property diligence
For anyone working remotely or buying outside a town, connectivity belongs in your property diligence, not your move-in week. Check fibre availability at the exact address and the Starlink coverage map for the specific GPS point before you commit, and plan a primary connection plus a backup. Costa Rica’s one-to-three-hour US time-zone alignment only pays off if the link is genuinely reliable, so confirming it in advance protects both your work and your peace of mind.
Frequently asked
Is Starlink available everywhere in Costa Rica?
Coverage is broad but not universal — check the official map for your exact location. It has been available in-country since late 2022 and is the standard solution beyond fibre.
How much does Starlink cost?
Around US$62/month (Standard) to US$77/month (Priority), plus roughly US$440 in equipment, as of late 2025. Confirm current pricing, which changes.
Is fibre good enough for remote work?
In the Central Valley and established towns, generally yes. Starlink covers remote areas. Connectivity is rarely the limiting factor now.
What do I need to set up utilities?
Identification, proof of address and a payment method — easiest once your DIMEX and local bank account are in place.
Do I need both fibre and Starlink?
In fibre areas, one solid connection is usually enough, though many keep Starlink as a backup. Beyond the fibre footprint, Starlink is the primary solution — check the coverage map for your exact location before buying.
What do I need to set up power and water?
Identification, proof of address and a payment method — easiest once your DIMEX and bank account are in place. Automate the payments to avoid missed bills.
Should I check internet before buying a property?
Yes — verify fibre at the exact address and the Starlink map for that point during diligence. For remote work, plan a primary connection plus a backup.
How reliable is power outside the cities?
Generally fine but wobblier in storms. A UPS on your work setup, and a generator or battery for remote homes, protects against outages.
Need a hand with this step?
This is exactly the kind of task our client-services team handles day to day for people relocating to Costa Rica. If you would like us to walk you through it — or take it off your plate entirely — request concierge support and we will pick it up from wherever you are.
This guide is general, practical information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Costa Rican procedures, fees and thresholds change and are applied to individual circumstances; details here are current as of July 2026 and should be confirmed with the relevant authority or your advisor before you act.