Living in Escazú: A Guide for Home Buyers

Escazú sits just west of San José, where the Central Valley meets the Escazú hills. It is one of the areas where GAP Real Estate works, and it combines large shopping centres and private healthcare with residential neighbourhoods and hillside homes with valley views. This guide covers what living in Escazú is like: where it is, the climate, shopping, healthcare, the homes you will find and what to check before you buy.

Where Escazú is

Escazú is a canton of the province of San José, on the capital’s western side. Behind it rise the Cerros de Escazú, which the IMN, Costa Rica’s national weather service, describes as part of the southern edge of the Central Region. According to the Municipalidad de Escazú, the canton has three districts:

Escazú, the central district;
San Antonio;
San Rafael.

To the west, Escazú borders the canton of Santa Ana, according to the Santa Ana local government.

The climate

Escazú is part of the western Central Valley, where the IMN reports average daily highs of 26.7°C (about 80°F) and lows of 16.5°C (about 62°F), based on 1961–1990 records. The dry season generally runs from December to March and the rainy season from May to October. The IMN also notes that higher areas are a little rainier and cooler, so a home up in the hills can feel different from one lower down.

Two-storey yellow townhouse with arched windows and a covered carport beside a paved driveway

Shopping and dining

Multiplaza Escazú, in San Rafael de Escazú, says it has more than 350 brands and concepts, a food court and cinemas.
Avenida Escazú is a mixed-use development with shops, restaurants, a hotel, offices, medical offices, fitness facilities and residences.

City Place, in neighbouring Santa Ana, adds more restaurants, shops and a cinema.

Healthcare

Hospital CIMA, a private hospital, is in San Rafael de Escazú. Hospital Metropolitano has a medical centre at Plaza Boulevard in San Rafael de Escazú and a hospital in Lindora, Santa Ana. The country’s three national public hospitals are in San José, according to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). Before you buy, check which services each location offers and which insurance it accepts.

Infinity pool in an open living area looking out over a city in a valley below green hills

The homes you will find

Condos and townhouses, often in communities with shared security, gardens or pools, and monthly fees.
Family homes in residential neighbourhoods.
Larger homes and estates in the hills, some with views across the valley.

What to check before you buy in Escazú

Title and liens in the National Registry, and the survey plan.
Condominium rules and fees, if the home is in a condominium.
Water service documentation and permits for the construction and any additions.
Access and drainage for homes on steep hillside lots, ideally checked in the rainy season.
Your daily routes to work, school and shopping, driven at the times you will actually use them.

Our buyer’s due diligence checklist covers each step.

Couple walking along a garden path beside a house with columns, flowers and green hills behind

Is living in Escazú right for you?

Escazú suits buyers who want shops, restaurants and private healthcare close by, a mild climate and quick access to San José. If you would rather have the ocean on your doorstep, compare the two in Central Valley or the beach?

Buying or selling with GAP Real Estate

GAP Real Estate works with buyers and sellers of any nationality, and Costa Rican residency is not required. Your attorney can confirm the closing costs for your transaction. Sellers pay GAP Real Estate only when the sale closes, with a commission agreed in the listing agreement. For buyers who need financing, GAP Equity Loans lends against titled property from US$50,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is living in Escazú like?

It combines large shopping centres, private healthcare and restaurants with residential neighbourhoods and hillside homes, in the mild climate of the western Central Valley.

What districts make up Escazú?

Escazú, San Antonio and San Rafael, according to the Municipalidad de Escazú.

Is Escazú cooler than the beach?

Yes. IMN averages for the western Central Valley are highs of about 26.7°C, compared with about 31–33°C on the Pacific coast.

Can foreigners buy a home in Escazú?

Yes. Foreigners can buy titled property, and residency is not required to buy through GAP Real Estate.

This article is general information only and is not legal, tax, medical or financial advice. Climate figures are IMN long-term averages. Shopping and hospital details come from each organization’s own website and can change.

Looking for a home in Escazú? Browse Costa Rica properties, list your property or email info@gap.cr.