Costa Rica’s Surge in Global Millionaire Migration—And What It Means for Our Local Real Estate Market

Costa Rica Luxury Real Estate • High-Net-Worth Buyers • Investment Migration • Costa Ballena Market Insights

A quiet but powerful shift is underway in global migration—and Costa Rica is suddenly one of the world’s most desirable destinations for millionaires seeking a new home, lifestyle, or safe haven. According to the 2025 Henley Private Wealth Migration Report, an estimated 350 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are expected to relocate to Costa Rica next year. That places Costa Rica #1 in Latin America and #5 worldwide for the fastest-growing millionaire inflows, outranking countries like Latvia and our southern neighbor, Panama.

For a nation of just over five million people, this trend represents a major validation of something we have long felt here in Costa Ballena:
Costa Rica has become one of the most compelling lifestyle-luxury destinations in the world.

Why Millionaires Are Choosing Costa Rica

This wave of interest is not just about beaches, jungles, and year-round sunshine—though those certainly help. Wealthy global buyers are looking for:

• Peace and privacy

• Stability and strong institutions

• An elevated lifestyle without the pressure of major metropolitan cities

• A wellness-driven culture with deep connections to nature

• Safe, trustworthy avenues for investment

Costa Rica delivers all of this with ease.

The report highlights that nearly $2.8 billion in new private wealth is expected to follow these migrating families into Costa Rica. This isn’t just real estate investment—it includes business creation, service sector expansion, asset diversification, and long-term lifestyle planning.

Today’s Lifestyle-Luxury Buyer Wants More Than a Home

You see this firsthand in Costa Ballena, especially in Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal, Hatillo, Escaleras, and beyond. High-net-worth relocators increasingly arrive with:

• Private chefs

• Wellness practitioners

• Security teams

• Bilingual tutors

• Remote-work support staff

• Executive assistants

• Global financial & legal advisors

These families often split time between Costa Rica and their home country, while running international businesses from a hillside villa or modern jungle home. They require concierge-quality services—and local providers are rising to meet the standards.

A recent example from the report mirrors what we see locally:
One family moving into the hills outside Santa Ana purchased a luxury estate, hired a vegan private chef, brought on a bilingual education specialist for their children, and contracted a local architecture firm for a major renovation. Another family in Guanacaste brought a full-time assistant with them and collaborates weekly with local logistics and events teams.

Costa Rica is no longer a “vacation home” market—it is a global lifestyle hub.

How This Migration Shapes Costa Ballena

This shift is already influencing our market in the South Pacific. We are seeing:

• An influx of luxury listings priced between $1.5M and $7M

• A surge in under-contract properties as buyers visit during the pre-election months

• Growing demand for modern architecture & turnkey homes

• Rising interest in gated communities, private estates, and acreage

• Increased valuation of prime land, especially ocean-view holdings

These buyers are not speculative “flippers.”
They are long-term lifestyle investors prioritizing wellness, tranquility, nature, safety, and community.

Their presence also elevates—and energizes—the surrounding economy: private chefs, boutique wellness centers, property managers, contractors, architects, transportation services, and boutique hospitality businesses all benefit.

As Clari Vega of The Agency Costa Rica says in the report:

“High-net-worth clients expect global standards delivered locally. The most successful providers are those who offer seamless, intuitive service.”

This aligns perfectly with the evolution we’ve seen in Costa Ballena: our region is becoming a sanctuary for the global elite seeking connection, meaning, and a more balanced life.

Why This Trend Matters for Costa Rica’s Future

High-net-worth migration is not simply about wealth. The report outlines several key impacts—many of which we already experience in our region:

1. Foreign Investment Increases Stability

The financial inflow acts like export revenue, strengthening local currency and stabilizing the economy.

2. New Business Creation

Entrepreneurs and founders often launch companies here, creating high-quality local jobs.

3. Capital Market Growth

Millionaire migration boosts investment in local markets and improves access to capital.

4. Upscale Service Demand

Luxury hospitality, fine dining, wellness, boutique retail, and education grow rapidly.

5. Rising Property Values

Prime markets—like Costa Ballena—see strong appreciation from concentrated demand.

6. Strengthening of the Middle Class

The surrounding ecosystem creates upward mobility through professional and skilled-service roles.

In short:
This migration is a catalyst for long-term economic vitality, not just short-term real estate gains.

What’s Ahead for Costa Rica in 2025?

The global elite are increasingly driven by quality of life, not just financial considerations. Costa Rica offers:

• Modern infrastructure

• Strong international connectivity

• A wellness-forward culture

• Nature at your doorstep

• Community, safety, and freedom

• A stable democracy and trusted legal framework

And here in Costa Ballena, we offer something even more rare:
a sense of belonging.
This is why our region continues to attract high-value families who eventually become long-term residents.

Our Take at Osa Tropical Properties

After more than 20 years serving this region, we’ve watched Costa Ballena transform from a hidden gem into a global destination. This new wave of lifestyle-luxury buyers is not a coincidence—it's part of a global shift toward meaning, well-being, and place.

Costa Rica isn’t simply attracting millionaires.
It’s attracting people who want to live deeply, live freely, and live consciously.

For our team, this is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Our mission remains the same:
to provide trusted guidance, high-level service, deep local knowledge, and the kind of relationship-based support that wealthy relocators depend on when choosing a new home country.