Before you pay anyone, find the lot
Tap the lot on Folio's free map and press Scan property: the finca number, lot area, perimeter and boundary appear on screen. The registered owner, liens, the plano, the title history and the exact maritime-zone position are in the $29 Folio report.
Open the free mapPublished prices, quoted from the firms
| Firm | Service | Published price | Notes on the page |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEGAL co/op Costa Rica | Full due diligence by their real estate attorney | US$1,440 + 13% VAT | One to three weeks, depending on the property and documents |
| CPG Legal (Christopher Pirie Gil) | Legal due diligence | US$900 | Paid to the lawyer; survey and house inspection paid to the surveyor and inspector at $700 to $1,000 plus tax |
| CPG Legal | Notary fees for the transfer deed | 2% under ₡10M; 1.5% from ₡10M to ₡15M; 1.25% from ₡15M to ₡30M; 1% above ₡30M | Percentages of the property value, as stated by the firm |
| CPG Legal | Setting up a corporation to hold the property | $850 to $1,500 | Optional |
| Bufete de Costa Rica | One-hour virtual consultation | ₡102,548 including VAT (about $224) | Prepaid; the firm says its estudio de registro fee varies |
Every figure above was read on the firm's own page on 21 October 2026. Prices change; ask for a written quote.
Why most firms do not publish a fee
Bufete de Costa Rica explains that the cost of a registry study varies with the type of property, the number of registry entries to review and the depth of the analysis, and that the Registry's own fees are charged on top. That is why two quotes for "due diligence" can differ by hundreds of dollars: they rarely cover the same work.
What to ask before you hire
- Scope in writing. Registry study only, or also land use, permits, taxes, the maritime zone, water and access?
- Fixed fee or hourly. And whether the 13% VAT is included.
- What is paid to others. Survey, inspection, Registry fees and the notary's percentage are usually separate lines.
- Who the lawyer works for. Hire your own, not the seller's.
- Timeline. LEGAL co/op publishes one to three weeks for a full due diligence; ask for a date in writing.
Where Folio fits, and where it does not
Folio is not a law firm and does not replace your own lawyer or the notary who signs the deed. It does the reading and the legwork before that conversation, at fixed prices:
| Folio product | Price | What it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Free map | $0 | Finca number, lot area, perimeter and boundary |
| Folio report | $29 | Registered owner, liens, plano, title history and exact maritime-zone position |
| Registry study | $49 | Every lien, easement and annotation read in full and summarised |
| Complete due diligence | $1,000 | Registry, plano, land use, municipal taxes, corporate layer, environmental screen, attorney coordination where the law requires it; single finca up to about 3 hectares |
| Closing package | $2,400 | Complete due diligence plus a coordinated topographic survey |
If a $29 report already answers your question, you do not need the $1,000 engagement. See what Folio's due diligence includes, or compare the official Registry fees for a title search.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Costa Rica real estate lawyer charge for due diligence?
Among firms that publish a price, LEGAL co/op lists US$1,440 plus 13% VAT and CPG Legal lists US$900, with survey and inspection extra. Most firms publish no price.
How much are notary fees on a Costa Rica property purchase?
CPG Legal states a sliding scale: 2% of the property value under ₡10 million, 1.5% from ₡10 to 15 million, 1.25% from ₡15 to 30 million, and 1% above ₡30 million.
Is the survey included in the lawyer's due diligence fee?
Not at CPG Legal, which says the survey and house inspection are paid directly to the surveyor and inspector at $700 to $1,000 plus tax. Ask any firm to say so in writing.
How long does due diligence take?
LEGAL co/op says one to three weeks depending on the property and documents. Folio's complete due diligence is typically two to three weeks.
Can Folio replace my lawyer?
No. Folio is not a law firm. It finds the parcel, reads the registry and coordinates the checks, so the lawyer you hire starts from a clear file.
Sources
Fees and service descriptions were read from the original documents on 21 October 2026. Dollar figures are approximate, converted at the Ministerio de Hacienda reference sell rate of ₡457.54 per US dollar published that day.
- LEGAL co/op Costa Rica, Due Diligence (published price)
- CPG Legal, Costa Rica real estate closing costs (published prices)
- Bufete de Costa Rica, Estudios de Registro en Costa Rica (published consultation fee)
- Ministerio de Hacienda, US dollar reference exchange rate (21 October 2026)
Start with the $29 report
Registered owner, liens, plano and title history for one finca, before you pay for hours.
Find the lot on the mapThis page is general information, not legal advice. Fees change; confirm the current figure with the Registro Nacional or the firm before you pay. Folio is not a law firm.