Coliving was the thing that made my first year in Costa Rica actually work. I arrived knowing nobody, rented a solo apartment, and spent three weeks feeling productive but isolated. Then a friend convinced me to try a coliving space for a month, and everything clicked — instant community, shared meals, people who understood the nomad lifestyle without needing it explained. Costa Rica’s coliving scene has grown significantly since then, and there are now options for every budget, personality type, and location preference. Here is what is available and how to pick the right fit.
What Coliving Actually Looks Like Here
Coliving in Costa Rica generally means shared accommodation with private bedrooms, communal living spaces (kitchen, lounge, pool), and either on-site or nearby coworking. Some places are structured programs with curated groups and scheduled events. Others are more like shared houses where remote workers happen to live together. The price range is broad — from $800/month for a bed in a shared room to $2,500+ for a private suite in a premium program. Most include WiFi and basic utilities; some include meals, cleaning, and community programming.
The Surf-and-Work Coliving Scene
Coworksurf is probably the best-known coliving brand for the surf-and-work crowd. They run locations in Jacó, Nosara, and Playa Hermosa, each combining coworking space with accommodation near consistent surf breaks. The formula is simple and effective: work during the day, surf mornings and evenings, and share the experience with like-minded people. The community tends to be active, outdoorsy, and under 40. If your ideal day splits between a laptop and a surfboard, this is built exactly for you.
WiFi Tribe takes a different approach — they organize month-long “chapters” in destinations including Santa Teresa and Puerto Viejo. Each chapter brings 20-30 pre-screened remote workers together, with accommodation, workspace, and community events arranged in advance. The curation is the selling point: everyone in the group is a verified remote worker, which creates a more professional and focused dynamic than what you might find at a random hostel. I did a WiFi Tribe chapter early on and still keep in touch with people from that group.
Longer-Term Coliving Options
Cocoon CoLive in Nosara is one of the more established coliving communities in the country. The setting is beautiful — think open-air common spaces surrounded by tropical gardens — and the community attracts wellness-oriented nomads who are in Nosara for the yoga, surf, and healthy living. It is quieter and more intentional than the party-oriented options.
Uvita Coliving in the Southern Zone combines coliving with coworking, high-speed internet, a UPS backup system, pool, and shared kitchen. Uvita is one of the more affordable coastal areas in Costa Rica, and the coliving setup here is ideal for people who want community without the high price tag of Nosara or Santa Teresa. The Southern Zone is also less crowded and more nature-oriented — whale watching, waterfalls, and jungle hikes are all at your doorstep.
Stolas Guesthouse in Santa Teresa provides a more independent coliving experience with an international community, shared spaces, and an on-site market. Cowork CR in San José combines coworking with coliving in the capital — a good option if you want the Central Valley’s infrastructure with built-in community.
The Selina Factor
Selina deserves its own mention because they operate across Costa Rica — Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Jacó, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, La Fortuna, and more. Their model is hostel-plus-coworking, and while it is not coliving in the traditional sense, the monthly packages can function similarly if you are staying long-term. The quality varies between locations, and the crowd skews younger and more transient. Selina works best as a first stop — a way to land somewhere with instant community and workspace while you figure out your longer-term plan.
How to Choose the Right Coliving Space
The most important question is: what do you actually need from a community? If you are extroverted and want a full social calendar, the structured programs (WiFi Tribe, Coworksurf) are ideal. If you are more introverted and want community available but not mandatory, the independent coliving spaces (Cocoon, Uvita Coliving) give you more control. If you are testing Costa Rica for the first time and want a low-commitment way in, Selina’s monthly packages are hard to beat for convenience.
Other practical factors: check the internet speed (ask for a speed test), understand what is included in the price (meals? cleaning? coworking?), and read recent reviews — coliving spaces can change character quickly depending on who is managing them. I have also found it helpful to ask about the average age and profession of residents. A space full of 22-year-old party travelers is a very different experience from one with established freelancers in their 30s.
Browse all coliving and coworking options in our full directory, or explore specific locations in our guides to Nosara, Santa Teresa, and Tamarindo.