Teach English in Costa Rica

TEFL jobs in Costa Rica

Living costs Key facts FAQ’s Student Story TEFL jobs in Costa Rica

TEFL jobs in Costa Rica are mostly at private language institutes, bilingual schools and in business English, centred on the San José area. A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is the usual requirement, and many teachers also train in country. Pay is modest, commonly around ₡500,000 to ₡800,000 a month for a full timetable, and the main challenge is legal status: tourist and digital nomad visas do not allow you to work for a Costa Rican employer.

TEFL in Costa Rica at a glance

Main employers	Private language institutes, bilingual and private schools, business English providers, private students
Typical pay	Around ₡500,000 to ₡800,000 a month for a full timetable, more at bilingual schools
Minimum wage	Set by occupation by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and updated each year
Hiring season	January to February, before the school year starts, with a smaller round in July; institutes hire year round
Minimum TEFL hours	120 hours
Degree	Preferred, and usually needed for bilingual schools
Main areas	San José, Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago in the Central Valley, plus Guanacaste

Who can legally teach English in Costa Rica?

Visiting. UK, Irish, EU, US and Canadian citizens can usually visit Costa Rica without a visa, with the length of stay set by the immigration officer at entry. Visitor status does not allow you to work for a Costa Rican employer.

Digital nomad visa. Costa Rica’s remote worker visa is for people working for employers or clients outside Costa Rica. It does not permit teaching for a local school.

Work and residence. Legal work for a Costa Rican employer requires residence with permission to work, which is difficult for most new teachers to obtain. Some institutes and schools support applications, and certain residence routes, such as through a Costa Rican spouse, allow work.

Many foreign teachers in Costa Rica work informally on visitor status. This is not legal and carries real risks, including fines, refusal of entry and losing wages owed, so we do not recommend it. Ask any employer exactly how they will support your legal status, and see our Visa Desk for updates.

How much do TEFL teachers earn in Costa Rica?

Language institutes usually pay by the hour, and a full timetable commonly comes to around ₡500,000 to ₡800,000 a month. Bilingual and private schools pay more and offer more stable contracts, while business English and private lessons pay the most per hour. Living costs are higher than in much of Latin America, especially in the Central Valley and tourist areas, so many teachers share housing and add online lessons paid in foreign currency. See our guide to online English teaching jobs, and compare countries on the TEFL Salary Index.

What TEFL certification do you need for Costa Rica?

A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is the usual requirement for institutes, and bilingual schools typically want a degree as well. An in country course can help you meet employers, but an online certificate from a recognised provider is widely accepted. Our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course meets the standard requirement, and the Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL course can be verified on the Ofqual register, which helps you stand out for bilingual schools and business English.

Where are the TEFL jobs in Costa Rica?

Most jobs are in the Central Valley: San José, the capital, has the most institutes and business clients, and Heredia, Alajuela and Cartago offer a slightly calmer pace nearby. Guanacaste, on the Pacific coast, has demand linked to tourism and hospitality. Schools generally prefer to interview in person, so many teachers arrive around January and February.

What is it like teaching in Costa Rica?

Costa Ricans are typically friendly and relaxed, and the national motto pura vida sums up a warm, easygoing culture. Learners are often adults who need English for tourism, call centres and multinational companies, alongside children at bilingual schools. Relationships matter in finding work, punctuality is valued in professional settings, and some Spanish makes daily life much easier.

Where to find English teaching jobs in Costa Rica now

Costa Rican schools start their year in early February, so school hiring peaks in January, while language institutes in San José and the Central Valley hire through the year. These are the best ways to see what is open and plan your timing.

Browse current vacancies on our TEFL jobs board, where partner schools post roles worldwide.
Sign up for Deadline Alerts to hear about application windows before they close.
See how Costa Rica’s pay compares in what to expect from TEFL teacher salaries.
Check entry rules on the Visa Desk before you plan your move.
Use the Eligibility Checker to see which routes your passport and qualifications open.

Teaching in Costa Rica: read next

Considering Latin America more widely? Compare Mexico, Colombia and our South America country comparison.
Add online income with our guide to online English teaching jobs.
Compare pay in our TEFL Salary Index and check entry rules on the Visa Desk.

Get TEFL qualified for Costa Rica

Last updated: 4 October 2026. 2026 figures checked October 2026: minimum wages are set by occupation, from ₡373,092 a month for the lowest category, from 1 January 2026 under Decree 45303-MTSS. Pay figures are approximate typical ranges, not quotes. Immigration rules change, so confirm current requirements with Costa Rica’s General Directorate of Migration before you travel.

Living costs

Pay for English teachers in Costa Rica is not the highest, which is a little ironic as it is the wealthiest country in Central America. In the capital city, living costs are at the highest, but you should also be earning more. The balance between earnings and expenses tends to work out for most people.

When the sun shines, everyone heads to the beach. It is a great place to socialise, it’s warm and it’s stunning. However, when it switches to the rainy season, it’s time to find more suitable indoor pursuits unless you particularly like getting wet. One reason to go out in the rain is to see the amazing turtles who also enjoy the soggy weather. If you would rather be inside, there are some amazing museums; you could book a spa day, take a local brewery tour and see mini craft beers hanging in a café with friends drinking coffee. The good news is public transport links are almost everywhere, and it doesn’t cost a lot. Taxis are expensive, so it’s cheaper to stick to the buses

To obtain the most up-to-date cost of living figures, we use the world’s biggest cost of living comparison website, Numbio.com.

Accommodation: USD $620–$774
Utilities: USD $52
Health insurance: Cost of a typical visit to a GP: USD $66
Monthly transport pass: USD $34
Basic dinner out for two: USD $22
Cappuccino in an ex-pat area: USD $3.49
A beer in a pub: USD $2.30
1 litre of milk: USD $1.37
2 litres of Coca-Cola: USD $2.52

TEFL jobs in Costa Rica: KEY POINTS

SALARY

₡500,000–800,000 a month at institutes

EDUCATION

BA degree preferred

MAIN JOB TYPES

Private schools, public schools, private tutoring, volunteering projects

TEFL CERTIFICATION NEEDED

120 hour TEFL Training

KEY FACTS

Popular locations for TEFL jobs: Heredia, Cartago, San Jose, Alajuela, Puntarenas, and Limon
The average salary for EFL teachers: The basic monthly salary for full-time positions is likely to be in the region of 300,00-615,000 colones (USD $345-$810) per month. Positions are often advertised with an hourly wage of around 4,000–5,500 colones (USD $7–$9) per hour.
TEFL qualification requirements: A 120-hour TEFL qualification will be required for most positions
Prerequisite university degree: Required for most positions
Term times: March 1st–December 1st
Currency: Colon
Language: Spanish
Teaching programmes: Voluntary, Language Schools, Business English, and International Schools
Age restrictions: None
Previous teaching experience: Required for most positions but not impossible without.

Facts about Costa Rica

LANGUAGE

Spanish

POPULATION

50.9 million

TEFL JOB DEMAND

Mid

CURRENCY

Costa Rican colón

CAPITAL

San José

OUR COSTA RICA TEFL RATING

3.8/5

TEFL jobs in Costa Rica: FAQS

How much can I earn as an English teacher in Costa Rica?

A full timetable at a language institute in Costa Rica commonly pays around ₡500,000 to ₡800,000 a month, usually calculated by the hour. Bilingual and private schools pay more and offer more stable contracts, and business English and private lessons pay the most per hour.

Is Costa Rica expensive to live in?

Costa Rica is more expensive than much of Latin America, especially in the Central Valley around San José and in tourist areas. Teaching pay is modest, so many teachers share housing, live slightly outside the busiest areas and add online lessons paid in foreign currency to make the numbers work.

Can I teach English in Costa Rica without a degree?

Provided you have a TEFL certification; you can find work in Costa Rica as an English teacher. However, some of the higher-paid jobs do require you to have a degree and potentially a teaching license from your home country.

What is the best TEFL certificate for teaching in Costa Rica?

An accredited TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours, such as our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course, is what most Costa Rican language institutes ask for. For bilingual schools and business English in San José, an Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL Diploma gives you a stronger application and is recognised wherever you teach, including online.

Can UK and US citizens teach English in Costa Rica?

Yes, but legal work needs a residence status that allows employment, arranged through Costa Rica’s General Directorate of Migration, and tourist entry does not allow paid work. Work permits for teaching can be slow to obtain, so ask employers how they handle it before you accept. Check current rules on our Visa Desk.

Do I need to speak Spanish to teach English in Costa Rica?

Not to teach, since lessons are in English, but Spanish makes daily life, renting and paperwork much easier, especially outside the Central Valley and tourist areas. Many teachers take classes once they arrive. For a larger market in the region, see our guide to teaching English in Mexico.