Last Updated: November 26, 2025
We originally wrote this post back in 2013, just nine months after moving to Costa Rica with our eight suitcases overflowing with our belongings. At the time, we thought we had it all figured out. Now, after more than 10 years of living here, we have a much clearer picture of what you actually need when moving to Costa Rica.
This post shares our lessons about what we brought that we didn’t need, what we use all the time, and what we wish we’d packed. Whether you’re planning your own move or already have your flights booked, we hope this helps you pack smarter.
What We Brought That We Didn’t Need
Looking back, here are the things that ended up being unnecessary or that we should have left behind:
Blender – Every house we’ve lived in has had one. Save the space and weight.
Dressy clothes – Costa Rica is very casual. We rarely dress up beyond a casual dress or polo shirt, even for nice dinners out.
Hairdryer – It’s so hot and humid here that Jenn usually air dries her hair.
Bathrobe – Unless you’re in the mountains of Monteverde or another high-altitude location, it’ll be too hot for a bathrobe.
Dressy shoes and heels – Sandals and comfortable walking shoes are what you’ll actually wear. Plan on one pair of nicer shoes for trips to San Jose or more formal appointments (doctor, lawyer, etc.)
Leather – Leather molds like crazy in the humidity. We learned this the hard way with belts, shoes, and bags. If you really want to bring leather, plan to keep it in a dry room.
Cold-weather Clothing – Unless you’re planning trips back to cold climates, you won’t need sweaters or heavy jackets. The mountains can get cool in the evenings, but a long-sleeved shirt or light sweater is all you’ll need.
What We Brought That We’re So Glad We Did
These are the items we’ve used consistently over the past 12+ years:
Electronics – Computers, phones, tablets, cameras, action cams, and accessories. The selection of electronics in Costa Rica is much more limited and significantly more expensive.
When we’ve needed a new computer, we imported one because we couldn’t find one locally that met our needs. It actually wasn’t that expensive overall because the import tax duty on electronics isn’t too high unlike other types of items.
For more information on importing things into Costa Rica, read our post on Getting Mail and Packages.
Make sure phones are unlocked so you can use a Costa Rica SIM card.
Quality kitchen items – Quality pots and pans and knives and any specialty cooking tools you love. Many people bring things like a Vitamix, Kitchen Aid mixer, good food processor, and Dutch oven. Quality kitchen items are harder to find here and expensive when you do find them. If you enjoy cooking, these are worth the luggage space.
Favorite personal care products – Your favorite shampoos, conditioners, skin care products, and cosmetics. While you can find these here, brands are limited and prices are higher.
It’s also harder to import these as anything that goes on or in your body requires a special permit from the Ministry of Health. This isn’t a big deal if you use a local shipping company, but it’s more expensive and makes it take longer to arrive.
Women should also be sure to bring tampons as they are expensive and harder to find here.
Sunscreen – Sunscreen is expensive in Costa Rica and the choices are limited (especially for natural products). If you have room, pack several bottles.
See our general Packing List for travel to Costa Rica for the specific sunscreens we prefer.
Insect Repellent – Being in the tropics, Costa Rica does have quite a few mosquitoes. You’ll want repellent when you’re on the trail or even at home during peak biting hours. DEET is easy to find. If you’d rather use a different type of product like Picaridin or something more natural, it’s best to bring it.
See our post on Mosquitoes in Costa Rica for information on which repellents we find work best.
Medications and supplements – Over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, allergy medicine, and cold/flu medications are usually sold individually (by the pill) and can be pricey. Bring a good supply of anything you use regularly, including vitamins.
Razor refills – Quality razor blades are expensive here. Stock up before you come.
Quality footwear – Good hiking boots or trail shoes, comfortable walking sandals, and flip-flops that will last. Cheap flip-flops are easy to find here, but quality footwear in larger sizes can be challenging or very expensive.
Headlamps or small flashlights – Power outages happen, and these are invaluable. They’re also good if you’re traveling to a remote destination like Drake Bay or Tortuguero.
Tools – If you’re handy around the house or want to do some home projects, bring anything you think you might need. Smaller hand tools (hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, etc.) are readily available at local hardware stores but much more expensive for good quality. Power tools are sometimes double or triple the price so a grinder or cordless drill could be worth the space and weight. Don’t forget to throw in a few masonry drill bits, since most construction here is concrete.
Electronic copies of important documents – Scan and save digital copies of passports, birth certificates, medical records, insurance policies, etc. Store them securely in the cloud where you can access them if needed.
External hard drives – For backing up photos, videos, and important files. These are expensive here.
Quality sunglasses – You’ll wear these every day. The sun is intense.
Kids Clothes and Shoes – Updating this list now that we have kids. Quality kids’ clothing and shoes are often retail priced and much more expensive. It’s a good idea to bring what they’re currently wearing and the next size up.
Moving to Costa Rica with kids? Be sure to check out our separate post on moving with kids, which covers schools, social aspects, medical care, and vaccines.
What We Wish We Had Brought
These are items we ended up buying here (at higher prices) or wishing we had:
Space Saver bags (vacuum-seal bags) – These are great for storing clothes and preventing mildew in the humid climate. Hard to find here.
Silica gel packets – Silica packets absorb moisture to help protect electronics, cameras, and anything prone to mold. Put them in drawers, storage containers, and camera bags. Better yet, make a dry box for your electronics.
Office supplies – If you work from home, bring specialty office items like screen protectors, an ergonomic mouse, wireless keyboard, etc. Basic supplies are available, but specific items can be hard to find. Finding an English keyboard can also be a challenge in some areas.
Specialty ingredients – If you have favorite cooking ingredients that are specialty items (e.g., for Asian food, Indian food), bring them. Specific spices and specialty baking items can be difficult to find.
A good cooler – This might sound odd, but a quality cooler is expensive here and incredibly useful for beach trips, storing items during power outages, and transporting groceries. Check with the airline; you may be able to pack a large cooler as a bag.
Tech and Electronics
Technology has changed dramatically since we first moved here in 2013. Here’s our current advice:
Bring:
- Unlocked smartphones (you can get affordable local SIM cards and data plans)
- Laptops and tablets (electronics are still expensive)
- E-readers (great for expat life when you can’t always find English books)
- All necessary charging cables and adapters
- Quality headphones or earbuds
- External hard drives or SSDs for backups
Skip:
- Battery backups for computers – You will need one of these due to frequent power outages but they’re heavy and can be purchased at big box stores in San Jose like Pricesmart and Office Depot.
Art, Memorabilia, and Keepsakes
We often get asked our thoughts on bringing paintings or framed artwork, antiques, or even an entire record collection. In general, the humid environment is not friendly to these items.
We often find mold or mildew on the back of our frames or paintings, especially during rainy season. We carefully clean them often to prevent this, but over time they will still suffer. If you must have these items, you’ll want a climate-controlled space to keep them in the best condition as possible.
Clothing Recommendations: What You’ll Actually Wear
Here’s what we actually wear in Costa Rica:
Everyday essentials:
- Lightweight, breathable clothing (cotton and moisture-wicking fabrics)
- Shorts, tank tops, and T-shirts
- Casual dresses or polo shirts
- Swimsuits (bring several if you’ll live at the beach) and water shirts for sun protection
- Quality flip-flops and comfortable sandals
- Closed-toe walking shoes
- Light rain jacket
- A couple of pairs of pants and light sweaters for air-conditioned spaces, cool evenings, and visits to the mountains.
For specific activities:
- Hiking boots or trail shoes if you plan to hike. Read our Packing Your Day Pack post for other trail essentials.
- Yoga/workout clothes if you exercise
- Sun-protective long-sleeve shirts for outdoor activities
Forget:
- Business attire (unless your job specifically requires it)
- Winter clothing
General Packing Philosophy
After living here for over a decade, here’s our overall advice:
Bring less than you think you need. You can buy almost anything in Costa Rica if you really need it. Yes, it might cost more, but you probably won’t need as much stuff as you think.
Prioritize quality over quantity. Bring fewer items of better quality rather than lots of cheap stuff. The humidity is tough on everything, so quality matters.
Think about your lifestyle. Are you moving to the beach or the mountains? A city like San Jose or a small town? Your specific location will determine what you need.
Don’t stress about getting it perfect. You’ll figure out what you need as you go, and you can always have friends or family bring items later or pick things up on trips back home.
What You Can Easily Find in Costa Rica
Don’t waste your luggage space on these items:
- Household basics (dishes, towels, bedding) – You may have to go to San Jose, but quality towels and bedding is available locally. Pricesmart is a great option. For high-quality linens, we recommend Katte Fine Linens.
- Cleaning supplies
- Furniture and home goods – Available in San Jose and larger towns. See our post on Furniture and Home Décor in San Jose, Costa Rica.
- Basic tools
- Most food items (with some specialty exceptions)
Conclusion
Moving to Costa Rica is definitely an adventure but having the things you need can make adjusting to your new life a whole lot easier. We hope that this post has helped you narrow your list of what to bring.
Some of the links in this post are connected to affiliate programs we have joined. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Have questions about packing for your move to Costa Rica? Leave a comment below.
Looking for more information to plan your move to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Buying a Car in Costa Rica: This is likely one of the first things you will do when you arrive. We cover our three car-buying experiences and tell you what to expect.
Buying a House in Costa Rica: Buying real estate is a little different here. Read our article to learn the process and get practical tips.
Residency in Costa Rica: Learn the process for getting legal residency in Costa Rica.
FAQs About Moving to Costa Rica: Our catchall post that answers basic questions on everything from the cost of living and work opportunities to tips on finding a place to live.
Living in Costa Rica: Read all our articles about what it’s like to live in Costa Rica. We cover niche topics like having a baby, starting a business, building a house, installing a pool, and lots more.
