Living in Atenas, Costa Rica: climate, costs and what the town is like
A warm, small Central Valley town with an established retiree community, close to the airport and the highway to the beach.
Atenas is a small town on the western side of Costa Rica’s Central Valley, known for warm weather and a long-established community of American and Canadian retirees. It is about 30 to 45 minutes from the main international airport and a little over an hour from the Pacific coast.
Atenas at a glance
| Where | Alajuela province, about 25 miles (40 km) west of San José |
| Elevation | About 2,300 feet (700 meters) in town; higher in the surrounding hills |
| Weather | Days in the 80s°F (27 to 31°C), nights in the 60s°F (17 to 20°C) |
| Size | A canton of roughly 30,000 people, with a compact town center |
| To the airport (SJO) | About 30 to 45 minutes |
| To the beach (Jacó area) | A little over an hour |
| Nearest hospitals | Public hospital in Alajuela; private hospitals in Escazú and San José, 35 to 60 minutes |
| Long-term rent (estimate) | $600 to $1,300 a month for one or two bedrooms |
| Suits | Retirees and remote workers who want small-town life near the city |
Drive times are rough and depend on traffic.
The weather
Atenas calls itself the town with “the best climate in the world,” a slogan painted on its buses. The claim is marketing, but the climate is the reason most foreigners choose it.
At about 2,300 feet, Atenas is lower and noticeably warmer than Grecia, San Ramón or the hills above Heredia. Afternoons are warm enough for a pool, and evenings cool off. Many homes have fans and no air conditioning, though some people add it for the hottest weeks in March and April.
- Dry season, about December to April. Sunny and dry, with strong winds from December to February. The hills turn brown by March.
- Rainy season, about May to November. Clear mornings and afternoon rain, heaviest in September and October.
Homes higher in the hills are a few degrees cooler and windier. If temperature matters to you, check the elevation of the specific house.
What the town is like
Atenas is a working Costa Rican town, not a resort. Life centers on the park and church, with a weekly farmers market, supermarkets, banks, hardware stores, pharmacies, a handful of restaurants and cafés, and a few places that cater to foreign residents.
The foreign community is mostly retirees, with a smaller number of remote workers and families. It is large enough to have clubs, charity groups and English-language social events, and small enough that people know each other. Spanish is useful every day; outside the expat circles, most business is done in it.
There is little nightlife, and shopping beyond the basics means a drive to Alajuela or the western suburbs of San José.
Where people live and what homes cost
Most foreigners live in the hills around the town, in gated communities or on individual lots with valley views, a five- to twenty-minute drive from the center. Roads to hillside homes can be steep and narrow.
- Renting. About $600 to $1,300 a month for a one- or two-bedroom home, more for a larger house with a view and a pool. See renting in Costa Rica.
- Buying. Prices vary widely with the view, the lot and the build quality. As an estimate, simple Costa Rican-style houses can be found under $200,000, and view homes in gated communities commonly run from about $250,000 to $600,000 or more. The same house is often listed with several agents at different prices.
These figures are estimates for early planning. Agents in Costa Rica aren’t licensed by the state, so see real estate agents in Costa Rica and buying property in Costa Rica before you make an offer.
Healthcare
Atenas has a public Caja clinic for residents enrolled in the public system, plus private doctors, dentists, labs and pharmacies in town. For a hospital, the public one for the area is in Alajuela, and the large private hospitals are in Escazú and San José, usually 35 to 60 minutes away by Route 27.
That distance is short compared with most beach towns, which is part of Atenas’s appeal for retirees. See healthcare in Costa Rica.
Getting around
- By car. Route 27, the toll highway between San José and the Pacific port of Caldera, passes south of town and is the quick way to the airport, the city and the beach. The older road through the hills is slow and winding.
- By bus. Regular buses run to Alajuela and San José.
- In town. The center is walkable. For a home in the hills you will want a car. See driving and owning a car in Costa Rica.
Things to check before you commit
- Water. Atenas has had water supply problems, with dry-season shortages in some neighborhoods and limits on new connections at times. Before buying land or a home, confirm the water source and get the water availability letter in writing.
- Wind and heat. Visit in January for the wind and in March or April for the heat.
- The road to the house. Drive it in October, or ask someone who has.
- Schools. Atenas has local public and small private schools. The larger international schools are in the western suburbs of San José, a commute many families find too long. See schools in Costa Rica.
- Internet. Fiber reaches much of the town; confirm it for a hillside address.
- Security. Atenas is generally calm, and burglary of empty houses is the main concern. See is Costa Rica safe to live in.
Atenas compared with nearby towns
| Town | How it differs from Atenas |
|---|---|
| Grecia | Higher and cooler, a larger town, similar prices |
| San Ramón | Cooler and cloudier, further from the airport, lower prices |
| Escazú and Santa Ana | Suburbs of San José with private hospitals, malls and international schools; higher prices and heavy traffic |
| Alajuela | A city next to the airport; busier and less of a retiree destination |
For the rest of the region, see living in the Central Valley. For the wider picture, see the best places to live in Costa Rica, and rent in Atenas for a few months, including part of the dry season, before you buy.
Common questions
Is Atenas, Costa Rica a good place to live?
Atenas suits people who want a small Costa Rican town with warm weather, an established community of foreign retirees and quick access to the airport and San José's hospitals. It is less suited to people who want nightlife, a wide choice of restaurants, international schools nearby or life without a car.
What is the weather like in Atenas, Costa Rica?
Atenas is warm all year. Daytime temperatures are typically in the 80s Fahrenheit (about 27 to 31°C) and nights in the 60s (about 17 to 20°C). The dry season runs from about December to April, with strong winds in the first months, and the rainy season from May to November brings afternoon showers.
How far is Atenas from San José and the beach?
Atenas is about 25 miles (40 km) west of San José and roughly 15 miles (25 km) from the main international airport. By the Route 27 highway the airport is about 30 to 45 minutes away, and the Pacific beaches around Jacó are a little over an hour. Traffic can lengthen all of these.
How much does it cost to rent in Atenas?
As an estimate, a one- or two-bedroom long-term rental in Atenas runs about $600 to $1,300 a month. Larger homes with views or a pool in gated communities cost more, and simple houses rented mostly to Costa Ricans cost less. Check current listings before relying on these figures.
Sources
This page is general information, not professional advice. Rules and amounts change, and officials apply them differently. Confirm the details with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you act on them.