Dimension Profile - Costa Rica vs Sao Tome and Principe
Tax Regime Comparison1
🇨🇷Costa RicaTerritorial/25%
🇸🇹Sao Tome and PrincipeWorldwide/25%
Tax system mismatchCritical
Sao Tome and Principe taxes all worldwide income once you become a tax resident (top rate: 25%). Costa Rica does not - only locally-sourced income is taxed. This is a fundamental structural difference that affects your total effective tax burden.
Not tax advice. Tax laws change frequently. Verify with a qualified professional before making residency decisions.
Dimension Breakdown
Tax
Costa Rica: 100+83Sao Tome and Principe: 17
Costa Rica100
Sao Tome and Principe17
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Corp Tax Rate30%25%
Capital Gains15%0%
Crypto CGT0%0% (same)
Territorial SystemYesNo
IP Box RegimeNoNo
Tax Treaties123
VAT Rate13%15%
Funding
Costa Rica: 60+20Sao Tome and Principe: 40
Costa Rica60
Sao Tome and Principe40
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Gov GrantsYesNo
EU FundingNoNo
Active VCs80
Avg Seed Check$200K-
Visa
Costa Rica: 90+40Sao Tome and Principe: 50
Costa Rica90
Sao Tome and Principe50
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Startup VisaYesNo
E-ResidencyNoNo
Digital Nomad VisaYesNo
Path to PR3 yrs0 yrs
Processing Time45d42d
Residency
Costa Rica: 58+2Sao Tome and Principe: 56
Costa Rica58
Sao Tome and Principe56
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Citizenship (Naturalization)7 yrs-
Dual CitizenshipYesYes
CBI AvailableNoYes
Immigration Score7/107/10
Tax Res.
Costa Rica: 75+20Sao Tome and Principe: 55
Costa Rica75
Sao Tome and Principe55
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Tax Res Threshold-183 days
Worldwide TaxNoYes
Territorial TaxYesNo
Personal Tax Top Rate25%25%
Special RegimeNoNo
Exit TaxNoNo
Practical
Costa Rica: 78+23Sao Tome and Principe: 55
Costa Rica78
Sao Tome and Principe55
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Banking Difficultymoderatevery_difficult
100% Foreign OwnershipYesYes
Formation Days14d30d
Formation Cost$1,000$4,000
Legal Systemcivil_lawcivil_law
Remote
Costa Rica: 84+32Sao Tome and Principe: 52
Costa Rica84
Sao Tome and Principe52
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
DNV ExistsYesNo
DNV Min Income$3,000/mo-
Internet Speed60 Mbps10 Mbps
Coworking/mo$200-
PE Risklowlow
Family
Costa Rica: 80+10Sao Tome and Principe: 70
Costa Rica80
Sao Tome and Principe70
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Safety Index5565
Intl SchoolsYesNo
Healthcare7530
Cost of Living5228
Family Budget/mo$3,500$2,600
Ecosystem
Costa Rica: 400Sao Tome and Principe: 40
Costa Rica40
Sao Tome and Principe40
FieldCosta RicaSao Tome and Principe
Unicorns00
Talent Pool4510
Avg Dev Salary$25,000/yr-
Coworking Densitymedium-
Gov Pro-Startup5/102/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Costa Rica or Sao Tome and Principe better for startup founders?
Costa Rica scores 75/100 overall versus Sao Tome and Principe at 46/100. 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
Costa Rica has a corporate tax score of 100/100 and Sao Tome and Principe scores 17/100. See the Tax Breakdown section above for specific rates and conditions.
Which country has better startup visa options - Costa Rica or Sao Tome and Principe?
Costa Rica scores 90/100 for visa options versus Sao Tome and Principe at 50/100. Check the Visa section for specific programs, processing timelines, and requirements.
How do Costa Rica and Sao Tome and Principe compare for family relocation?
Costa Rica scores 80/100 for family viability versus Sao Tome and Principe at 70/100. Key factors include healthcare quality, international school availability, safety index, and cost of living.
Can I compare Costa Rica and Sao Tome and Principe 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.