Thailand and Costa Rica are two popular holiday destinations as millions of people visit them every year. Overall, these two destinations are comparable as they have certain similarities, but their differences are also enormous. So, in this post, we will show you an honest comparison of Thailand and Costa Rica.
Firstly, Thailand and Costa Rica are located on two different continents as one is found in Southeast Asia and the other is in Central America. Also, the people, culture, population, economy, travel adventures, and other factors of these two countries differ significantly. However, these two countries are similar in some areas such as tourism.
Of course, there are numerous other aspects that you need to know when comparing Thailand to Costa Rica. Therefore, this article will explain everything you need about these two countries.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Country profiles
According to Wikipedia, Thailand is located in Southeast Asia and covers a landmass of around 513,120 sq. km. The total population of this country has been estimated to be around 70 million, and Bangkok is known to be its capital city. Notably, the capital city is a metropolitan area with about 14 million residents. This Asian nation shares borders with numerous other Asian countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia.
In Thailand, the Thai Baht is the acceptable currency for different transactions. Also, the official language of the country is called Thai. The majority of the people living in Thailand are Buddhists.
Costa Rica, on the other hand, is found in Central America and has a total population of about 5 million individuals. As highlighted by Wikipedia, the land area of this nation is around 51,060 km. Therefore, Costa Rica is only about one-tenth of the size of Thailand. Also, San Jose is the capital city of the country and has only about 2 million individuals residing in its metropolitan area. Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Caribbean Sea share borders with this country.
The currency of Costa Rica is called Costa Rican colones. Similarly, the official language of the country is Spanish. In addition, Christianity has the largest followership in Costa Rica.
You can read more about the comparison of the country profiles of Thailand and Costa Rica on Countryeconomy.com.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Climate
When it comes to climate, both Thailand and Costa Rica are almost the same. Although the countries are located many miles apart, they are both near the equator. As a consequence of this, the weather is usually warm throughout the year. Thailand’s temperatures usually vary from 29 to 33°C whereas the temperatures of Costa Rica often range from about 26 to 28°C. So, if you are coming from a cooler country, Costa Rica may be more favorable to you.
Also, both countries have rainy and dry seasons. However, the dry season tends to be longer than the rainy season. Even though rain can fall a lot during the rainy season, you are still bound to see lots of sunshine during the period.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Nature
According to Touristmaker.com, Costa Rica is somewhat better than Thailand in this area. This is because the country’s nature is well-preserved. Many areas in the country are still unsullied; hence, you can experience the beauty of nature in Costa Rica. Similarly, species of animals and plants in the Central American nation are more abundant than those in Thailand.
Even the beaches in this Latin American country are more serene and beautiful than the ones in Thailand. Unluckily, most beaches in Costa Rica are dangerous with fierce ocean currents and waves. As a result of this, they are usually not safe or suitable for swimming or other water-related activities. Although Thailand also has some dangerous beaches, you can still find some that are good for swimming.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Cost of living
Due to the significant differences between the locals of these two countries, it is quite difficult to compare their costs of living. Nevertheless, we will explain certain things about the countries’ costs of living.
According to Expatistan.com, the cost of living in Thailand is relatively low. If you are a foreigner that intends to live in the country, you should have a monthly budget of more than 1,500 USD. With this budget, you can rent a modest apartment in one of the nice neighborhoods in Bangkok, Phuket, etc., and enjoy some of the best things that this Southeast Asian country has to offer. If you want a luxury lifestyle, then you may have to spend multiples of the above budget to live elegantly in Thailand.
Having noted this, it should be understood that many locals and foreigners live on a lesser amount in Thailand. However, they will have to cut down their expenses on a wide range of things. Also, they may need to eat more local food.
Comparatively, you can live comfortably on a similar budget in Costa Rica. According to International Living, an individual needs about 1,600 to 2,000 USD to live comfortably in this Central American nation. This monthly budget will cover all the important things you need such as housing, food, utilities, medical care, and even entertainment.
Like in Thailand, you will have to spend significantly more than the suggested budget if you want to live luxuriously in Costa Rica. Nevertheless, lots of people live on a lesser amount in Costa Rica too. Despite relying on lower budgets, many of these people still reside comfortably in the country without any issues.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Tourism
As stated earlier, both Thailand and Costa Rica are quite famous as holiday destinations for people, especially those from the West. As holiday destinations, both countries are affordable and great. They have tons of natural and human-made attractions that will make your visit worthwhile.
Although the two countries have other important sectors, both make lots of money from tourism. According to Statista.com, about 39.92 million people visited Thailand in 2019. Even in the previous years, more than 35 million tourists went to the Land of Smiles annually. The largest percent of the visitors during the past years came from China.
As noted by Knoema.com, tourism and travel contributed to around 21.9 percent of the total GDP of Thailand in 2019. This tells you of the significant effect of tourism on this Southeast Asian country.
Although Thailand gets more from tourism than Costa Rica, the Central American country also receives its fair share of tourists. As stated by the Costa Rican government and reported on Ticotimes.net, Costa Rica welcomed 3.13 million individuals from different parts of the world in 2019. This means that Thailand received more than 12 times the number of international visitors who came to Costa Rica in the said year. Over 50 percent of the international visitors were from North America, especially the United States of America. This is perhaps because of the closeness of the USA to Costa Rica.
Based on the findings of Trafalgar.com, tourism was responsible for around 8.2 percent of the total GDP of this Central American nation in 2018. Also, it provided more than 211,000 direct jobs; hence, the sector contributed to 8.8 percent of the total employment level in Costa Rica.
With this, it can be concluded that tourism is important to the economy of both countries. It should be understood that the coronavirus pandemic has affected the number of tourists as well as the GDP contribution of tourism to Thailand and Costa Rica. Nevertheless, things are gradually getting back to normal.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: The friendliness of the locals
When traveling to a new place, the friendliness of the locals will affect your overall experience. In this regard, both Thailand and Costa Rica are almost on the same level as the people are known to be quite friendly to visitors. Of course, many of these locals make money from taking care of the needs of the international visitors. Therefore, it is not so surprising that they welcome tourists with open arms.
However, whether you are in Costa Rica or Thailand, you must understand that the way you treat the locals will affect how they will treat you. If you relate with them respectfully, most of them will reciprocate the right way. Therefore, when you are traveling anywhere, be friendly and respectful to them if you want good treatment from them.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Healthcare
Although no one wishes to fall sick in a foreign land, unwanted things can happen anytime. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the healthcare system of Thailand and Costa Rica.
According to International Living, the healthcare system in Costa Rica is amazing. This is because it is high quality and doesn’t cost a lot of money. If you are in the country, you can enjoy Caja, which is the government-owned universal healthcare system of the country.
With this system, residents of Costa Rica only have to pay low monthly fees to enjoy free visits to doctors, drug prescriptions, and even surgeries. Even private hospitals and clinics are quite cheap. Notably, Caja is not only meant for Costa Ricans as legal resident foreigners can also enjoy this affordable healthcare system. For a better experience, residents can also buy insurance.
In terms of healthcare, Thailand doesn’t compare to Costa Rica at all. The government-owned hospitals and clinics in the Southeast Asian country are grossly understaffed and under equipped. As a result of this, people often struggle and wait endlessly before seeing doctors or other medical professionals for healthcare services.
However, there are numerous private hospitals and clinics with adequate staff in Thailand. Hence, you can avoid the long waiting time in government-owned hospitals by going to private ones. Unfortunately, private hospitals in the Land of Smiles can be quite expensive for many residents. Nonetheless, you can help yourself by purchasing an insurance policy.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: English speakers
Expectedly, communication will form a core of your experience in either Thailand or Costa Rica. Therefore, if you are an English speaker, you will likely want to know which of these countries have the most English speakers.
Despite being a Spanish-speaking country, Costa Rica surprisingly has more English proficiency than Thailand. According to the well-known EE English Proficiency Index, Costa Rica got 520 points; thus, it is one of the highest-ranking countries in the whole of Latin America. Out of the 112 countries assessed in 2021, this Central American country was ranked 44. As a result of the score, Costa Rica got moderate proficiency in the English language.
Using the same EE English Proficiency Index for 2021, Thailand is behind Costa Rica. The Southeast Asian country got 419 points, making it one of the lowest-ranked Asian countries on the list. According to the index, Thailand is considered to be low proficiency in the English language.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will find more English speakers in Costa Rica than in Thailand. This is because the population of Thailand is significantly more than that of Costa Rica. Besides, numerous Thais speak English but are not proficient in the language.
In addition, the places you are visiting in the country may affect whether you will find many English speakers or not. For instance, if you are in Bangkok, you will likely find more English speakers there than in a remote location in Thailand or Costa Rica.
Nevertheless, you should know that you can live comfortably in these two countries even if you only understand the English language. Many restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, etc. have English speakers that you can communicate with easily and smoothly. Also, you will likely come across other English-speaking visitors in both countries.
Thailand vs Costa Rica: Safety
As long as safety is concerned, Thailand and Costa Rica are not too different. The two countries are relatively safe and peaceful. The locals are courteous and welcoming to foreigners. Although political instability can sometimes be a problem, an international visitor will likely have no issue through their stay in either of the countries.
Like most other nations around the globe, you can experience petty crime in both countries. So, be on the lookout for pickpockets, thieves, and others that may want to make some quick, illegal cash from foreigners.
Conclusion
In most areas, Thailand and Costa Rica are quite close. Also, both destinations are astounding and suitable for anyone that wants to enjoy some holidays in a developing country. Besides, both countries can be great for individuals that want to retire or live in an affordable place.
