Hi Joseph,
Great question. There is no place without crime and Costa Rica is no exception. But I wouldn’t say it’s risen to a disturbing level. I generally feel safe here, where I live in San Jose and when I travel across the country.
What I – and other expats – do worry about is petty crime – somebody breaking in my home while I’m away, snatching an unattended bag at a bus station or on the beach… stuff like that. So I take precautions of having a house sitter while I’m gone for extended periods, locking passports and jewelry in a safe at hotels, parking in guarded lots (most are). The crimes are crimes of opportunity so you don’t make your place an easy target and usually you are fine.
The police are not on the level of the U.S. They aren’t as well funded or equipped. In rural areas that means fewer officers and longer response times. That’s why preventative steps are so important.
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