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Closing Costs Calculator

by rpetersen

What Are Closing Costs in Costa Rica?

When you purchase residential real estate in Costa Rica, the transaction involves a set of legally mandated fees, taxes, and stamps that must be paid at closing. Unlike in many countries where closing costs are negotiable or vary by lender, Costa Rica’s closing costs are established by law and applied uniformly to all property transfers registered through the National Registry (Registro Nacional).

These costs cover the government’s transfer tax, a series of stamps that fund various public institutions, and the professional fee of the notary public — who in Costa Rica must be a licensed attorney — along with the applicable VAT on that fee. As a buyer, understanding these costs upfront is essential to accurately budgeting your total investment.

Fee Schedule

What’s Included in Costa Rica Closing Costs?

Costa Rican real estate closing costs are composed of three main categories: the property transfer tax, government and institutional stamps, and the notary’s professional fee. Below is a breakdown of each component commonly included in a property transfer.

Government Tax
Property Transfer Tax Impuesto de Traspaso
1.50%
Paid to the Costa Rican government upon registration of any property transfer. Calculated on the declared sale price or fiscal value, whichever is higher.
Government Stamp
National Registry Stamp Timbre de Registro
0.50%
₡5 per every ₡1,000 of value. Funds the Registro Nacional, the public institution responsible for recording and verifying property ownership.
Government Stamp
Agrarian Stamp Timbre Agrario
0.15%
Assessed on residential property transfers under Ley 8683. Funds agricultural development programs. The rate varies by housing category; standard residential property applies 0.15%.
Government Stamp
Municipal Stamp Timbre Municipal
0.20%
Paid to the municipality, or cantón, where the property is located. Required before the Registro Nacional will process the transfer inscription.
Institutional Stamp
Bar Association Stamp Timbre Colegio de Abogados
Fixed
A fixed fee determined by the transaction amount on a graduated scale set by the Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica. Typically ranges from ₡1,100 to ₡55,000.
Institutional Stamp
National Archives Timbre Archivo Nacional
₡20
A nominal fixed stamp paid to the Archivo Nacional. Although small, it is a legally required component of every property deed.
Professional Fee
Notary Fee Honorarios Notariales
Variable
Calculated on a graduated scale under Decreto N° 41457-JP: 2% on the first ₡11 million, 1.5% on the next band, 1.25% up to ₡33 million, and 1% on the remainder. Minimum fee applies.
Value Added Tax
VAT on Notary Fee IVA sobre Honorarios
13%
Costa Rica’s standard Value Added Tax, or IVA, is applied to the notary’s professional fee. This is charged in addition to the base notary fee.
Important: Closing costs may vary depending on the declared transfer value, fiscal value, transaction structure, financing, escrow requirements, and any additional legal or registry work required.

How the Exchange Rate Is Applied

Because property transactions in Costa Rica are typically negotiated and contracted in US Dollars but all government fees are calculated in Costa Rican Colones, the exchange rate plays a meaningful role in determining your total closing costs.

The government applies rates in a specific way that creates a slight spread in cost:

Step 1 — Convert to Colones: Your USD sale price is multiplied by the Sell rate (the higher rate — what you pay when buying Colones) to establish the Colones basis for all fee calculations.

Step 2 — Convert back to USD: Once all fees are totaled in Colones, the results are divided by the Buy rate (the lower rate) to produce the USD equivalent shown in your closing statement.
Closing Process

How a Property Transfer Works in Costa Rica

Understanding the closing process helps you know when and how these costs come into play. Here is a simplified overview of a standard residential property purchase in Costa Rica.

1

Purchase Agreement (Opción de Compra)

Buyer and seller sign a purchase option agreement outlining the purchase price, conditions, due diligence period, and closing timeline. A deposit is held in escrow.

2

Due Diligence & Title Search

Your attorney conducts a thorough review at the Registro Nacional to verify ownership and confirm whether there are liens, encumbrances, easements, annotations, or legal restrictions affecting the property.

3

Closing Cost Calculation

The notary prepares the transfer deed, (escritura de traspaso) and calculates all applicable transfer taxes, stamps, notary fees, and VAT. Both parties review and agree on the final cost breakdown before closing.

4

Signing & Payment

Buyer and seller appear before the notary to sign the transfer deed. Full payment is made — purchase price plus agreed closing costs — typically by bank wire, escrow disbursement.

5

Registro Nacional Registration

The notary submits the executed deed and pays the required stamps and taxes to the Registro Nacional. Once the transfer is inscribed in your name, the transaction is officially completed. Registration typically takes a few weeks.

Practical tip: The exact timing of a closing can vary depending on title issues, escrow requirements, banking compliance, seller documentation, corporate ownership, and municipal or registry processing.
Costa Rica Closing Costs Calculator
Official Fee Schedule · Law-Based Calculation

Costa Rica Closing
Costs Calculator

Estimate real estate transfer taxes, stamps, and notary fees based on Costa Rican law, with live exchange rates.

₡ Exchange Rate (CRC / USD)
₡
₡
Enter rates manually or fetch from Banco Nacional.
How rates are applied: The Sell rate (higher) is multiplied by the USD sale price to get the Colones equivalent — the basis for all fee calculations. The resulting Colones totals are then divided by the Buy rate (lower) to produce the USD equivalents shown in the results.
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