Central Valley Costa Rica real estate is one of the most active relocation markets in Latin America right now — and Pilar Vargas has spent nearly 20 years watching it grow. In Episode 294 of the Costa Rica Real Estate and Investments Podcast, host Richard Bexon sits down with Pilar, a relocation, investment, and real estate specialist who knows the Central Valley inside and out.
Pilar breaks down why Rohrmoser, Escazú, and Santa Ana remain the top relocation destinations, where the hidden buyer’s market zones are, and the mistakes newcomers consistently make when moving to Costa Rica. Whether you’re a family planning a move, an investor sizing up modern towers, or a buyer trying to figure out if you’re in a buyer’s or seller’s market, this conversation is the on-the-ground reality of investing in 2026.
Why Central Valley Costa Rica Real Estate Stands Out in 2026
Richard Bexon
2026 has been a very volatile year globally, and that doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon. How has that impacted your work and real estate in Costa Rica?
Pilar Vargas
When things happen around the world, or when the world goes a little bit crazy, Costa Rica is always a good place to be. We’re in the right place right now. The weather is amazing, the technology is good. We have a lot of things that people like about Costa Rica.
Richard Bexon
And if you were to look at transactions, or just in general at people looking to relocate, has it been a busy year compared to last year?
Pilar Vargas
Yes, definitely. People are very excited about moving to Costa Rica, and not only the coast. Areas like Escazú and Santa Ana are the ones people like the most in the city. Rohrmoser, Escazú, Santa Ana. You can feel it.
Understanding Central Valley Costa Rica Real Estate
Richard Bexon
When we talk about the Central Valley, I always say to people, look, it’s Alajuela, it’s Heredia, it’s San José. And then some people lump Atenas into it, sometimes Grecia and San Ramón. But it’s all that central highland area of Costa Rica.
People sometimes ask, why would I want to move to Costa Rica and move to the city? And it’s like, no, no, you don’t get it. Costa Rica is very mountainous — the weather is basically 85 during the day and 65 at night. So it’s very cool. What makes the Central Valley such an attractive place to live and invest?
Pilar Vargas
You have different options, depending on your goals and what you’re looking for. Right now, people love Rohrmoser because it’s more of a city kind of lifestyle — a nice lifestyle where you can go walking.
There are a lot of very modern towers, restaurants nearby, the park in front. There are a lot of expats and a lot of young people buying apartments.
You can find the smallest apartment for around $150,000, and you can get that amazing view of the park and everything for more than $1 million. So you get both in Rohrmoser. Downtown is closer to San José.
Then you get Escazú, where you can get views, gated communities, townhouses. The prices range from around $150,000 to $200,000 and go wherever you want.
Richard Bexon
The sky’s the limit.
Pilar Vargas
Yes. And then you get Santa Ana, which is flatter, with more gated communities. It’s more for families who want to build their house and everything. So here you’ve got everything that you want.
The Western Expansion: Grecia, San Ramón, and Atenas
Richard Bexon
I did a podcast two episodes ago with Andrey Quesada from Grecia, and that area is just expanding. Everything appears to always move west in Costa Rica — from Santa Ana to Ciudad Colón, then to Los Reyes, then to Coyol. It seems to have stopped a little out there, but now it’s started to move up towards Grecia and San Ramón.
Pilar Vargas
Of course. Atenas and those places close by have amazing weather. The Atenas weather is famous all over the world. They have beautiful views. It’s more of a country lifestyle, where you get your big land, your big property with your swimming pool.
It depends on your goals, depends on the lifestyle you want from Costa Rica. You can get everything you want.
Rent or Buy? Pilar’s Advice for Newcomers
Richard Bexon
Do you think people should rent or should they buy when they first come to Costa Rica?
Pilar Vargas
My advice is, come and see the country, see what you like, get a good realtor, get to know the country. And if there’s a good opportunity, do it.
Richard Bexon
I feel there are a lot of opportunities here in the city, Pili. I constantly look at real estate here, because it doesn’t act like the beaches do. The beaches are very much cash buyers, expat foreigners, whereas the city is heavily more local. There’s a lot of supply, there’s good demand as well, but I do feel there are a lot of opportunities.
Pilar Vargas
Definitely. Depending on what you want, you can get very good opportunities. We’re starting with the modern towers, which is something new for Costa Rica. Ten years ago, there were none. Right now, you can get beautiful penthouses. There are a lot of opportunities for people who want to come to Costa Rica.
For anyone evaluating Central Valley Costa Rica real estate in 2026, the smartest first move is spending time on the ground before committing to a long-term purchase.
Best Central Valley Costa Rica Real Estate Areas for Families
Richard Bexon
If you had a family — mom, dad, two kids, say 10 and 12 — looking to move to Costa Rica and specifically looking at the Central Valley, what areas would you suggest?
Pilar Vargas
Definitely Escazú and Santa Ana. You have me as a mom, so I know what people are looking for — good schools, good hospitals close by, good after-school programs for the kids.
Knowing the area and knowing all of this — that’s the good thing about Escazú and Santa Ana. Some of the best private schools in Costa Rica are in both areas. You get swimming classes, paddle, golf classes — you get everything around the area.
Richard Bexon
We’ve helped a lot of families move to Costa Rica, and they just love the Central Valley because of the convenience. It’s a halfway point. Maybe they lived in a city or somewhere metropolitan back in the States — but here it’s not really metropolitan.
The country’s population is 5 million, and I think we’ve got about 3 million in the Central Valley. Even though traffic can be a bit nuts sometimes, it doesn’t feel hugely overpopulated. There’s still a lot of green space.
Pilar Vargas
It doesn’t feel crowded at all.
Richard Bexon
It’s also a halfway step into moving to Costa Rica. Culturally, there’s still a little westernization, whereas the beaches are very Costa Rican sometimes. The beaches are rural, spread out, fewer conveniences — whereas the city has that Costa Rican vibe but still has the conveniences of modern schools and everything.
Pilar Vargas
In Santa Ana, there’s a gated community called Valle del Sol — it’s a golf course. If you build your house close to the end of the neighborhood, you’ll get all kinds of birds. You can hear the monkeys. It’s amazing, and you’re living right there.
The Biggest Mistakes Newcomers Make
Richard Bexon
What are the common mistakes that you’ve seen people make when looking to relocate to Costa Rica, Pili?
Pilar Vargas
Depending on what you’re looking for — going far away from everything that you need. Traffic could be a little intense at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. People think Costa Rica is less cars, less traffic, less of a city lifestyle. But there’s a lot of movement every day.
It depends on your commute. You have to look for places close to Ruta 27, which is the main road here. That’s why it’s good to have a good realtor by your side who can really understand your goals — we can help you find that perfect place.
Richard Bexon
If you’ve got kids, you probably want someone representing you who also has kids and truly understands that. Everything revolves around the school, and then traffic. I plan my whole day around traffic. If I need to go to the city today, I’m going at lunchtime, and then I’m staying until 7:00 or 7:30 at night so the traffic dies down. I’m not coming home between 3:30 and 5:30. It’s smart to choose the school first and then stay close to it.
Pilar Vargas
Exactly. It’s school, and your commute to work. Those two things are very important. If you have a good realtor, use them. Ask as many questions as you want. Relocation is one of those decisions that’s so important in your life. Be in good hands.
Lifestyle and Cultural Differences for Expats
Richard Bexon
What are the lifestyle and cultural differences that expats and foreigners should be prepared for when moving to Costa Rica?
Pilar Vargas
Most people in Costa Rica speak decent English, so it’s not going to be hard on that side. But if expats are surrounded in an area where there are more expats, they really like that.
There are a lot of diplomats in some neighborhoods in San José — in Escazú and Santa Ana. People like to be surrounded by others who are like them. There are country clubs here, like the Country Club in Santa Ana, with a lot of expats. Kids get to know other kids who are into the same things. So that’s good.
This expat-friendly mix is part of why Central Valley Costa Rica real estate continues to attract international buyers year over year.
The “Switzerland of Central America” Price Tag
Richard Bexon
One thing also is people just think Costa Rica is going to be really cheap, and it’s not really cheap. They’ve always called it the Switzerland of Central America, and it’s definitely starting to feel like it.
Pilar Vargas
We have an amazing country. It’s beautiful, it’s green. But you have to pay the price for how beautiful it is.
Richard Bexon
Electricity is not that expensive if you’re not cranking it all the time. Food can be — but if you go to the local market rather than Auto Mercado, which is higher-end, prices drop. Fruits and everything can be half the price at the local market.
Pilar Vargas
I go to the local market every Sunday. Amazing prices, good quality. I see a lot of expats over there with their kids having breakfast on a Sunday morning, the orange juice and everything. It’s a whole experience, and it’s way cheaper than Auto Mercado.
You have plenty of options — PriceSmart is kind of a Costco locally, you have Walmart, you have different prices for different kinds of meats.
Understanding the true cost of living is essential when budgeting for Central Valley Costa Rica real estate, especially as the market continues to mature in 2026.
Buyer’s Market or Seller’s Market in Central Valley Costa Rica Real Estate?
Richard Bexon
Do you think it’s a buyer’s market at the moment in the Central Valley?
Pilar Vargas
That changes. A year ago, it was a seller’s market. It depends on the area. Escazú has a place called Jaboncillos, which has the most beautiful views. That’s not a buyer’s market.
If you have a house there, you put the price, and people love the place and they’ll buy it. There are a lot of older houses where people can see the space and where they can change things — but they love the location. So in good locations, I’d say it’s a seller’s market.
Richard Bexon
But in general, it’s probably a buyer’s market. Like Los Reyes, which is way further out, and Guácima — that’s a buyer’s market out there. Valle del Sol — I’m not sure. Is that a buyer’s or seller’s market?
Pilar Vargas
Valle del Sol is an old gated community. It has older houses, and it also has $5 million houses. I’d say it’s a buyer’s market because there are a lot of opportunities over there.
You can buy a house that’s next to the golf course and do whatever you want. You’re buying for the property because it’s an old house. So it’s a buyer’s market.
Pilar’s $500,000 Central Valley Costa Rica Real Estate Strategy
Richard Bexon
My last question — if you inherited $500,000 and had to invest it into a business or real estate in Costa Rica, what would you invest it in and why?
Pilar Vargas
That’s a good question. Right now there are a lot of modern towers being built — I’d think about that, or looking for a good opportunity in a good location and remodeling the house.
Richard Bexon
We’re doing a remodel at the moment, and it’s expensive to remodel sometimes. If you get it for the right price, it can work. We were doing the numbers the other day, and the contractor said, Rich, how much would I save if I just bulldozed the whole thing and redid it? And I said, maybe 15 to 20%.
Pilar Vargas
There are a lot of surprises in remodels. It depends on the price that you pay.
Final Takeaways on Central Valley Costa Rica Real Estate
Pilar Vargas brings nearly two decades of expertise to one of the most active relocation markets in Latin America. Whether you’re a family prioritizing schools in Escazú or Santa Ana, an investor eyeing modern towers in Rohrmoser, or a buyer searching for value in Grecia, San Ramón, or Atenas, Central Valley Costa Rica real estate offers an unmatched range of lifestyles and price points — from $150,000 apartments to multi-million-dollar gated estates.
If you’re considering relocating to or investing in the Central Valley, Pilar is an excellent resource as both a buyer’s representative and a relocation specialist. Reach out to the Costa Rica Investments team at info@investingcostarica.com to get connected with Pilar or to learn more about current investment opportunities in Nosara and the upcoming project in Uvita.
