Costa Rica closing costs calculator
Enter the purchase price to see a rough range of the taxes and fees on top of it. Then ask a lawyer for the exact figures for your property.
Key points
- The result is a rough estimate; every rate is estimated from secondary sources.
- Items: transfer tax, stamps and registry, and notary fee. The lawyer fee is quoted separately by each firm.
- Not included: annual taxes, survey, company set-up, financing or exchange costs and association fees.
- Ask your lawyer for an exact written quote before you sign anything.
Figures and rules labeled estimated come from secondary sources (law-firm and press summaries) and have not been confirmed against the current official text as of 2026-10-28. Confirm them with a licensed lawyer before you rely on them.
Estimate your closing costs
| Item | Rate | Estimated range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total (excluding items to be quoted) |
Not included: .
Rates used by the calculator
| Item | Rate range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax (impuesto de traspaso) | 1.5% | Paid by the buyer on the registered value of the property. |
| Stamp duties and registry fees | 0.5% to 0.7% | Government stamps and registration of the deed. |
| Notary fee | 1% to 1.5% | The notary who prepares the public deed. Often negotiated or set by a fee schedule. |
| Lawyer fee for due diligence and contract review | Quoted by the firm | Quoted by each firm. Ask for a written quote. |
How closing costs work in Costa Rica
On top of the price, a buyer normally pays taxes and fees that are collected when the sale is formalized and registered. The main groups are the transfer tax, stamp duties and registry fees and the notary's fee. Legal fees for your own lawyer are separate. The tool above applies a percentage range to the price to give you a first idea of the total.
The percentages are applied to a value defined by the law and the registry, which is normally the price in the deed. That is why the number on the deed matters, and why you should be careful with any suggestion to register something other than the real price. The transfer tax base is reported to be the highest of the declared price and the tax or market values the Treasury uses estimated.
What the estimate does not include
- Annual property tax and municipal charges
- Survey, inspection or appraisal fees
- Company set-up costs if you buy through a company
- Financing or currency exchange costs
- Condominium or association entry fees
How to use the result
- Add the estimated range to your budget, then add a margin for items that are quoted separately.
- Ask the seller or agent who pays what, and have it written in the purchase agreement.
- Ask your lawyer for an itemized written quote before you sign anything.
- Compare the lawyer's figures with this estimate. A large difference deserves an explanation.
Example: reading the result
Say you are looking at a property priced at a round figure. The tool shows each item as a percentage and as a range in dollars, then adds them. Treat the low end as a best case and the high end as the number to budget with. If your lawyer's quote is outside the range, ask which item differs and why. The reason is often a different taxable value, a company structure or an extra fee that the generic tool does not know about.
Ways to keep costs down, legally
- Negotiate who pays which item in the purchase agreement, before you sign.
- Ask for the notary and legal fees as separate, written quotes and compare more than one firm.
- Ask whether the structure you plan (personal or company) changes the taxes and the annual obligations.
- Do not under-declare the price. It can create tax and title problems later, and your lawyer should refuse to do it.
Questions to ask your lawyer about costs
- What is the exact tax base for this property and where does it come from?
- Which fees are fixed by law and which are negotiable?
- Is there anything specific to this property, such as a concession or a condominium fee, that adds cost?
- When is each payment due, and who collects it?
For the whole process, read the buying guide. To see what a lawyer checks, read the real estate attorney guide.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives a rough range, not a quote. Rates, fees and what counts as the taxable value change, and each property is different. Ask a lawyer for an exact written breakdown.
Who pays closing costs in Costa Rica?
It depends on the contract. Many costs fall on the buyer, but the split is negotiable and should be written in the purchase agreement.
Is the price on the deed always the real price?
The registered value is the basis for taxes, so it must reflect the real transaction. Ask your lawyer about the risks of any suggestion to register a different value.
Are legal fees included?
Not in the estimate. Lawyers quote their own fees. Ask for a written, itemized quote that separates legal, notary, registry and tax items.
Does the estimate change if I buy through a company?
It can. Buying through a company adds set-up costs and may change taxes. Ask a lawyer to compare both options.
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