Moving from United States to Costa Rica is a container sea-freight corridor with a typical door-to-door transit of 2–4 weeks. A two-bedroom household of roughly 18–22 m³ usually lands between $6,900 and $8,800 on a full-service basis, calculated from route distance, regional handling costs and shipment volume.
On arrival, Costa Rica applies Household goods import under residency categories under Costa Rican national customs framework. Import VAT in Costa Rica is 13%, and relief is what keeps your household goods out of that charge. Shipments normally arrive through Caldera (Pacific) or Puerto Limón (Caribbean).
This page covers what actually changes on the United States → Costa Rica route: what you will pay, how long the shipment is at sea, the paperwork Costa Rica customs expects from a departure in United States, and what to do about pets, a vehicle and somewhere to live when you land.
Departures from United States normally load at New York / New Jersey, Savannah, Houston. Household goods leaving the US move under an ocean carrier booking filed with US Customs at least 24 hours before loading. Personal effects shipments are normally filed by your forwarder; you sign a power of attorney authorising them to act. Video or in-home surveys are widely available across the continental US; crews are typically scheduled 2–4 weeks ahead. The corridor covers roughly 1,973 nautical miles.
| Home size | Estimated volume | Typical method | Door-to-door range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Few Items | 3–5 m³ | LCL groupage (shared container) | $3,300–$4,200 |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | 8–12 m³ | LCL groupage (shared container) | $5,000–$6,400 |
| 2-Bedroom Home | 18–22 m³ | 20-foot container (sole-use FCL) | $6,900–$8,800 |
| 3-Bedroom Home | 28–32 m³ | 20-foot container (sole-use FCL) | $7,500–$9,600 |
| 4+ Bedroom Home | 45–60 m³ | 40-foot high-cube container (FCL) | $10,500–$13,500 |
Ranges are calculated from route distance, shipment volume and regional handling costs. This is an estimated relocation cost for planning purposes, not a binding quote. Final pricing is confirmed by a vetted international moving partner after a survey.
Booking & packing lead time
4–6 weeks in peak season (May–September), 2–3 weeks off-peak
Port-to-port sailing
2–4 weeks
Clearance & delivery
3–5 weeks typical clearance window in Costa Rica
Shipments from United States are treated as an import from outside Costa Rica's customs territory. The requirements below apply, and the supporting evidence customs will ask for — proof of address, residence history, ownership records — must be documents issued in United States.
Household goods import under residency categories — Costa Rican national customs framework
Costa Rica links duty treatment of household goods to your residency category; pensionado, rentista and inversionista applicants are processed differently from ordinary imports, through a licensed customs agent.
Conditions
Documents from United States
Rules vary by destination and may also depend on your country of origin, immigration status and circumstances. This guide is educational and is not legal, tax or customs advice.
Open the full customs guideLaw 9986 — the Attraction of Investors, Rentiers and Pensioners act — is the single most valuable filing for a foreign national moving to Costa Rica, covering household goods and up to two vehicles.
Find furnished temporary housing through our AltoVita partnership.
MyExpatGo helps connect you with temporary housing options. Availability is subject to AltoVita and provider inventory — MyExpatGo does not guarantee or book accommodation.
Costa Rica is a moderate-complexity pet destination, regulated by SENASA. Allow 1–2 months of preparation before departure from United States. Quarantine: 0 days for in-cabin or checked baggage.
Costa Rica pet import requirementsLaw 9986 allows duty-free import of up to two personal vehicles for qualifying residents. Outside the law, vehicle taxes run 50%–80% of assessed value. A vehicle registered in United States may need conformity, lighting or emissions work before it can be road-legal in Costa Rica.
Vehicle import guide
Nobel Relocation
Family-run, FAIM-certified US mover with East Coast hubs in Miami, Atlanta and Maryland.
Asian Tigers
Asia's leading relocation group with 14 country offices across the region's primary commercial centres.
ELL Worldwide Movers
UAE-based international removals specialist serving the GCC and worldwide destinations.
Elite Shipping India
India-based global relocation specialist offering fine art and pet relocation services.
Globe Moving
India's longest-established international mover, with a door-to-door network spanning 180+ countries.
Partners do not pay to be part of the matched network. How we vet partners.
Tell us what you are shipping and we will match you with vetted movers who run this corridor. Free, no obligation, and partners never pay for placement.
