Employment overview in Costa Rica
Hiring in Costa Rica requires a registered local employer to handle payroll, taxes, and statutory benefits. With EOR World, our local entity becomes the legal employer — so you can hire any candidate in Costa Rica without setting up your own subsidiary.
The local currency is CRC and the standard payroll cycle is bi-weekly / monthly (13th salary). The official working language is Spanish / English, and contracts must comply with Costa Rica employment law.
Key employment laws in Costa Rica
- Working hours48 hrs/week
- Probation periodUp to 3 months
- Notice period1 day – 1 month (tenure)
- Paid annual leave2 weeks (50 weeks worked)
- Public holidays11
- Minimum wageSector-based
Payroll, taxes, and benefits in Costa Rica
Payroll in Costa Rica runs bi-weekly / monthly (13th salary). Employers are responsible for income tax withholding, social security contributions, and any mandatory benefits.
Estimated employer cost on top of gross salary: ~26.5% on top of gross. EOR World handles all calculations, deductions, and statutory filings on your behalf.
Estimated cost of hiring in Costa Rica
Total cost = gross salary + employer contributions (~26.5% on top of gross) + EOR fee starting at $299/month. There are no setup fees, no hidden charges, and no per-country surprises.
Get an exact quoteWhy use an EOR in Costa Rica?
- Hire in Costa Rica in days — without registering a local entity (which can take months and cost $15,000+).
- Stay 100% compliant with Costa Rica employment, tax, and labour law.
- Pay employees in CRC on time, every cycle.
- Provide compliant local benefits and a great employee experience.
- Avoid permanent establishment risk and misclassification penalties.
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