Greece taxes all worldwide income once you become a tax resident (top rate: 44%). Costa Rica does not - only locally-sourced income is taxed. This is a fundamental structural difference that affects your total effective tax burden.
Exit tax applies in one jurisdictionCritical
Greece has an exit tax. If you establish residency and later wish to leave, you may owe tax on unrealized gains or assets at departure. The other country in this comparison does not have an exit tax.
CFC rules apply in one jurisdictionReview
Greece has Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) rules. Owning a foreign company as a resident may trigger local tax on undistributed profits - even if the company pays no dividends. The other country in this comparison does not have CFC rules.
Not tax advice. Tax laws change frequently. Verify with a qualified professional before making residency decisions.
Dimension Breakdown
Tax
Costa Rica: 100+48Greece: 52
Costa Rica100
Greece52
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Corp Tax Rate30%22%
Capital Gains15%22%
Crypto CGT0%22% (same)
Territorial SystemYesNo
IP Box RegimeNoYes
Tax Treaties1257
VAT Rate13%24%
Funding
Costa Rica: 60-25Greece: 85
Costa Rica60
Greece85
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Gov GrantsYesYes
EU FundingNoYes
Active VCs816
Avg Seed Check$200K$500K
Visa
Costa Rica: 90+5Greece: 85
Costa Rica90
Greece85
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Startup VisaYesYes
E-ResidencyNoNo
Digital Nomad VisaYesYes
Path to PR3 yrs5 yrs
Processing Time45d120d
Residency
Costa Rica: 58-2Greece: 60
Costa Rica58
Greece60
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Citizenship (Naturalization)7 yrs7 yrs
Dual CitizenshipYesYes
CBI AvailableNoNo
Immigration Score7/106/10
Tax Res.
Costa Rica: 75+30Greece: 45
Costa Rica75
Greece45
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Tax Res Threshold-183 days
Worldwide TaxNoYes
Territorial TaxYesNo
Personal Tax Top Rate25%44%
Special RegimeNoNon-Dom / Article 5A (flat EUR 100K) and Article 5C (50% income tax reduction)
Exit TaxNoYes
Practical
Costa Rica: 78-5Greece: 83
Costa Rica78
Greece83
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Banking Difficultymoderatemoderate
100% Foreign OwnershipYesYes
Formation Days14d10d
Formation Cost$1,000$1,500
Legal Systemcivil_lawcivil_law
Remote
Costa Rica: 84+5Greece: 79
Costa Rica84
Greece79
FieldCosta RicaGreece
DNV ExistsYesYes
DNV Min Income$3,000/mo$3,815/mo
Internet Speed60 Mbps93 Mbps
Coworking/mo$200$175
PE Risklowmoderate
Family
Costa Rica: 80-5Greece: 85
Costa Rica80
Greece85
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Safety Index5554
Intl SchoolsYesYes
Healthcare7559
Cost of Living5240
Family Budget/mo$3,500$4,215
Ecosystem
Costa Rica: 40-25Greece: 65
Costa Rica40
Greece65
FieldCosta RicaGreece
Unicorns02
Talent Pool4568
Avg Dev Salary$25,000/yr$52,000/yr
Coworking Densitymediummedium
Gov Pro-Startup5/107/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Costa Rica or Greece better for startup founders?
Costa Rica scores 75/100 overall versus Greece at 70/100. The best choice depends on your industry, team structure, and personal tax situation. Review the dimension-by-dimension breakdown above to identify which jurisdiction fits your specific priorities.
What are the corporate tax rates in Costa Rica and Greece?
Costa Rica has a corporate tax score of 100/100 and Greece scores 52/100. See the Tax Breakdown section above for specific rates and conditions.
Which country has better startup visa options - Costa Rica or Greece?
Costa Rica scores 90/100 for visa options versus Greece at 85/100. Check the Visa section for specific programs, processing timelines, and requirements.
How do Costa Rica and Greece compare for family relocation?
Costa Rica scores 80/100 for family viability versus Greece at 85/100. Key factors include healthcare quality, international school availability, safety index, and cost of living.
Can I compare Costa Rica and Greece with other countries?
Yes. Use the interactive comparison tool at NomadSignal to compare up to 4 jurisdictions simultaneously. You can also view each country's full profile for deeper dimension-level analysis.
Data updated Q1 2026. Scores are based on publicly available information and may not reflect recent regulatory changes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Verify all details with a qualified professional before making relocation or incorporation decisions.