Costa Rica, Portugal, Greece, Spain: Tax Rates & Startup Ecosystem Compared

Side-by-side breakdown of tax rates, startup ecosystem, startup funding, and 6 more dimensions for founders choosing where to incorporate in 2026.

Select Countries

SingaporeCyprusEstoniaUruguayPanamaPortugalCosta RicaBelizeSwitzerlandMaltaUnited KingdomCanadaGreeceItalyParaguaySpainGeorgiaUnited Arab EmiratesGermanyIrelandIndonesiaColombiaNetherlandsArgentinaMexicoThailandSao Tome and Principe
4 selectedClear all
🇪🇸Spain
69
Worldwide
🇵🇹Portugal
76
IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal para a Internacionalização de Competências e Investimento)
🇨🇷Costa Rica
75
Territorial
🇬🇷Greece
70
Worldwide

Dimension Profile

Shape = jurisdiction fingerprint. Gap = your decision.

Tax Regime Comparison4
🇪🇸SpainWorldwide47%
🇵🇹PortugalIFICI (Incentivo Fiscal para a Internacionalização de Competências e Investimento)48%
🇨🇷Costa RicaTerritorial25%
🇬🇷GreeceWorldwide44%
Tax system mismatchCritical

Spain and Greece tax all worldwide income once you become a tax resident (top rate: 47%). Portugal and Costa Rica do 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

Spain and Portugal and Greece have 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

Spain and Portugal and Greece have 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.

Special tax regime available in one jurisdictionNote

Portugal (IFICI (Incentivo Fiscal para a Internacionalização de Competências e Investimento)) offers a qualifying program that may exempt foreign-source income from local tax for up to 10 years. This can significantly reduce your effective rate compared to the standard regime.

Not tax advice. Tax laws change frequently. Verify with a qualified professional before making residency decisions.

Field-by-Field Breakdown

Green = best value per row
Metric
🇪🇸Spain69
🇵🇹Portugal76
🇨🇷Costa Rica75
🇬🇷Greece70
Dimension Scores
Corporate Tax
32
55
100
52
Funding
100
95
60
85
Visa
90
90
90
85
Residency
43
78
58
60
Tax Res.
45
45
75
45
Practical
96
91
78
83
Remote Work
64
69
84
79
Family
95
95
80
85
Ecosystem
60
90
40
65
Corporate Tax Details
Corporate Tax Rate25%21%30%22%
Capital Gains Tax28%28%15%22%
Tax Treaties96781257
Territorial SystemNoNoYesNo
Funding Details
Active VCs10048816
Government GrantsYesYesYesYes
EU Funding EligibleYesYesNoYes
Visa Details
Has Startup VisaYesYesYesYes
Processing Time459045120
Min Investment-$0-$272K
E-ResidencyNoNoNoNo
Digital Nomad VisaYesYesYesYes
Residency Details
Visa Programs Available2326
Citizenship Timeline10577
Dual CitizenshipNoYesYesYes
Immigration Score7876
Tax Res. Details
Tax Residency Days183183-183
Personal Tax Top Rate47482544
Territorial TaxationNoNoYesNo
Special Tax RegimeYesYesNoYes
Exit TaxYesYesNoYes
Practical Details
Banking Difficultyeasymoderatemoderatemoderate
100% Foreign OwnershipYesYesYesYes
Company Formation731410
Virtual Office OKYesYesYesYes
Remote Work Details
Nomad VisaYesYesYesYes
Tourist Workgray_areagray_areatoleratedillegal
Tourist Visa Days90909090
PE Risk Levelmoderatemoderatelowmoderate
Days Before Tax Res.183183-183
Internet Speed220856093
Coworking/mo$250$180$200$175
Family Details
Safety Index72825554
Int'l SchoolsYesYesYesYes
Homeschoolinglegal_with_restrictionslegal_with_restrictionslegallegal_with_restrictions
Healthcare Quality82767559
Cost of Living55685240
Ecosystem Details
Unicorns5602
English Business EnvNoYesNoYes
Talent Pool Quality70724568

Next steps

Ready to take action?

Ready to incorporate in Spain?

Recommended services used by founders targeting this jurisdiction.

Affiliate links - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Open a business bank account

Best options for founders incorporated in or targeting Spain.

Affiliate links - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Discussion (0)

A community of sovereign individuals - founders, families, and remote operators. Share what you know, ask what you don't.

No comments yet - be the first to share what you know about this page.

BEYOND SCORES

Track entities, compliance, and residency days

NomadSignal is more than country scores. Manage your multi-jurisdiction business with pathway playbooks, presence tracking, compliance alerts, and an AI advisor that knows your data.

See the platformPricing