Foreign buyers get blindsided by Costa Rica closing costs. Enter a price and see the full breakdown, transfer tax, stamps, notary, the optional extras, then download it as a clean PDF. Selling? See exactly what you walk away with.
Neutral third party holds funds until closing, recommended for foreign buyers.
~0.15%Confirms clean title, no liens, correct boundaries.
$450Updated registered survey of the parcel.
$350Many foreign buyers title through a CR company.
$700Certified EN/ES translation of closing documents.
$250Transfer tax 1.5% (Impuesto de Traspaso, paid by buyer by law) · National Registry fee 0.5% · Documentary stamps 0.55% (municipal, fiscal, agrarian, bar-association & registry stamps) · Notary & legal fees 1.5%. These are typical 2026 figures applied to the higher of price or registered fiscal value, your notary confirms the exact amounts.
Costa Rica charges 15% capital gains on the profit since 2019. Leave blank to skip, your primary residence may be exempt.
Closing costs are often split with the buyer by negotiation.
~1%Estimate only, for planning. Final amounts are set by your notary from the registered fiscal value and the specifics of your deal. Folio gives you exact figures.
Costa Rica closing costs typically run about 3.5% to 4.5% of the purchase price. Most of it is fixed by law, the 1.5% transfer tax, National Registry fees and documentary stamps, and the rest covers notary and legal work. Here are the questions buyers and sellers ask us most.
Folio puts Costa Rica's official land records in your pocket.