Living in Costa Rica
Why Costa Rica Is One Of The Happiest Places To Call Home
Discover why Costa Rica ranks among the world’s happiest countries—and how nature, community and Pura Vida shape a different way of living.
3 min read
WHAT IF PARADISE WERE NOT A PLACE YOU VISITED?
WHAT IF IT WERE SIMPLY HOME?
Costa Rica has long been admired for rainforest, beaches and wildlife. But the country’s appeal becomes more interesting when the conversation moves beyond scenery.
In the 2026 World Happiness Report, Costa Rica rose to No. 4 globally—the highest position the country has ever achieved and the highest ranking ever reached by a Latin American country. In the 2026 Happy Planet Index, Costa Rica ranked No. 1 of 134 countries.
Those rankings measure different things, and neither can explain a life in a single number. Together, however, they point toward a larger idea: Costa Rica has built an international reputation not only for being beautiful, but for living well.
A COUNTRY THAT CHOSE DIFFERENTLY
Costa Rica has no standing army, a decision made in 1948. Its national story has instead placed longstanding emphasis on civilian institutions, education, healthcare and conservation. OECD data report life expectancy of about 81 years and coverage of 93% of the population for a core set of health services. In 2025, Grupo ICE reported that 98.6% of electricity generated in the national system came from renewable sources.
Then there is nature. World Bank data place forest cover at 60.4% of the country’s land area in 2023, while SINAC manages a protected-area system covering about one quarter of the national territory.
These are not reasons to romanticize a country or pretend everyday life is perfect. They are reasons Costa Rica feels different.
PURA VIDA, BEYOND THE PHRASE
National Geographic has repeatedly returned to Costa Rica’s Pura Vida idea—part greeting, part philosophy, part cultural shorthand for appreciating life. In practice, the expression is less about doing nothing and more about noticing what is already around you: time outdoors, conversation, family, warm weather, movement and a remarkable proximity to the natural world.
That matters when choosing a place to live.
Luxury increasingly means more than accumulation. It can mean having time. Privacy. Fresh air. The ability to walk outside in the morning. A place where a Tuesday can include work, movement, nature and sunset without requiring an escape from ordinary life.
MORE NATURE. MORE TIME. MORE CONNECTION. LESS NOISE.
Costa Rica ranked No. 4 in the 2026 World Happiness Report and No. 1 in the 2026 Happy Planet Index. The two indexes use different methodologies, but both place the country among the strongest global examples of wellbeing.
THE SUEÑOS DEL MAR CONNECTION
Sueños del Mar was conceived around a similar question: what if the qualities people travel to Costa Rica to experience could become part of home?
Just steps from Jacó Beach, the private collection of only 48 residences brings nature, wellness, privacy and community into one tropical residential environment. Biophilic architecture, indoor-outdoor living and five distinct amenity worlds are not intended to compete with Costa Rica’s landscape. They are designed to help residents live closer to it.
Perhaps that is the real attraction of Costa Rica. You arrive for the country. Then you begin imagining a life within it.
Questions & answers
Why is Costa Rica considered one of the happiest countries in the world?
Costa Rica placed fourth globally in the 2026 World Happiness Report. Researchers evaluate reported life satisfaction alongside broader social conditions; the ranking should be understood as a national indicator, not a promise about any individual experience.
Is Costa Rica a good place to live year-round?
Many international residents choose Costa Rica for its climate, nature, services and lifestyle. The right region depends on priorities such as connectivity, climate, healthcare, schools, work and proximity to the coast.
Where is Sueños del Mar located?
Sueños del Mar is in Jacó on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast, just steps from the beach and close to Herradura, Los Sueños Marina, Playa Hermosa and the wider Central Pacific corridor.