A Guide to Teaching English in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is by far the most affluent country in Central America and much of this wealth is derived from the country's close relationship with the USA. There is a governmental resolution to encourage English language education and English is taught in all primary schools. Most TEFL jobs for foreign teachers are to be found in the capital San Jose, the second city, Alajuela, and the tourist town of Manuel Antonio.
TEFL Opportunities in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is safe, politically stable and relatively affluent, so it’s a pretty good choice if you want to teach English in the region. The government’s plan to create a bi-lingual workforce has created more TEFL jobs in Costa Rica and there are more opportunities to teach English in the country than ever before.
TEFL Hotspots in Costa Rica
These are our three top picks for teaching English in Costa Rica. They're all great places to live and work, and each has a pretty well-developed TEFL jobs market.
TEFL Jobs in San Jose
San Jose is the capital city and the centre of the economic, political and cultural life of the country. It is also home to the majority of Costa Rica's English language schools.
TEFL Jobs in Alajuela
Alajuela is a clean modern city and although it's not famed for its beauty it has a laid back charm that is often missing in San Jose. The TEFL jobs market is not as large as San Jose, but the cost of living is a little lower.
TEFL Jobs in Manuel Antonio
The town of Manuel Antonio is the main base for tourists exploring the nearby national park. It is very much a tourist town these days and there is a steady demand for TEFL teachers from locally run language institutes.
Wages and Cost of Living
Salaries range from US$500 to US$1000 (250,000 colones to 500,000 colones) a month depending on your experience, how many hours you teach and where you're living. The cost of living isn't too high in Costa Rica: you can expect to pay around US$175 (90,000 colones) a month for a simple studio apartment. Once the rent is taken care of the rest of your expenses are pretty low.
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