The canton of Alajuela is like a visiting card of the province and a mandatory crossing point for those coming or leaving Costa Rica. It is home to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, ...
What's New?
in Costa Rica Can non-resident foreigners own Property in Costa Rica? The short answer? Yes. The long answer? It depends on what …
The Costa Rican tax system is based on the principle of territoriality, one of the most favorable for people who earn income from outside the country....
For years, Costa Rica was seen as a corner of paradise where you could retire, grow orchids, and eat papaya while counting your pills. Then ...
The Sardinal district, part of the Carrillo canton in the Guanacaste province, Costa Rica, is a community in full transformation, where rural traditions intertwine with tourism...
What's New?
The canton of Alajuela is like a visiting card of the province and a mandatory crossing point for those coming or leaving Costa Rica. It is home to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, ...
in Costa Rica Can non-resident foreigners own Property in Costa Rica? The short answer? Yes. The long answer? It depends on what …
The Costa Rican tax system is based on the principle of territoriality, one of the most favorable for people who earn income from outside the country....
For years, Costa Rica was seen as a corner of paradise where you could retire, grow orchids, and eat papaya while counting your pills. Then ...
The Sardinal district, part of the Carrillo canton in the Guanacaste province, Costa Rica, is a community in full transformation, where rural traditions intertwine with tourism...
What's New?
The canton of Alajuela is like a visiting card of the province and a mandatory crossing point for those coming or leaving Costa Rica. It is home to the Juan Santamaría International Airport, ...
in Costa Rica Can non-resident foreigners own Property in Costa Rica? The short answer? Yes. The long answer? It depends on what …
The Costa Rican tax system is based on the principle of territoriality, one of the most favorable for people who earn income from outside the country....
For years, Costa Rica was seen as a corner of paradise where you could retire, grow orchids, and eat papaya while counting your pills. Then ...
The Sardinal district, part of the Carrillo canton in the Guanacaste province, Costa Rica, is a community in full transformation, where rural traditions intertwine with tourism...
Analysis by Cantons - Greece
Area: 141.52 km2 / Population: 76,898
Canton of Greece – “Clean, cool and sweet like a good coffee”
Grecia Canton is often considered one of the cleanest cities in Costa Rica and is recognized for its unique central church building made of… iron!
Yes, the entire church is made of red metal panels, brought from Belgium at the end of the 19th century.
But Greece is more than a fairytale town – it’s an area with authentic, very well-organized local life, and a community that seems to have understood the balance between rural and urban.
Administrative data:
Number of districts: 5
Capital: Greece
Average altitude: 1,000 m
Climate: eternal spring – mild, without extremes
Districts (most famous):
– Grecia – the city proper, with all the essential services
– San Roque, Tacares, Puente de Piedra – agricultural areas, but well connected
– Bolívar – rural, with a lot of tradition and coffee farms
✅ Strengths:
- Considered one of the cleanest and safest cities in the country
- An area with a stable economy, based on agriculture and trade
- Respectful, discreet and hardworking people
- Quick access to the General Cañas highway (the road to San José)
- Increased presence of expats who prefer the tranquility and pleasant climate
❌ Weak points:
- Some services may be limited in rural areas (especially Bolívar)
- The cost of living has started to increase due to the demand for real estate
- Lack of large hospitals – for serious emergencies, go to Alajuela or San José
Main income
Agriculture, manufacturing, growing expat community
Development & infrastructure
Hi. It has clinics, big stores, decent streets.
Standard of living
Good, stable
Recommendation
Ideal for expats who want something quiet but not isolated.
Observations
Milder weather.
Grecia Canton
Investment Opportunities
(one of the most developed cantons in the western area of the Central Valley)
Why Grecia?
It is only 40 km from San José, connected by Route 1 and Route 715, close to Juan Santamaría International Airport. In addition, it has a stable climate, fertile soil and a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
An important detail:
Greek authorities are open to public-private collaborations and support initiatives that benefit the community without altering the local lifestyle.
What types of investments are promising here?
Greece is not just a place where you see clean streets, flowers, and welcoming people – it’s a constantly expanding canton, with a rare combination of decent urban infrastructure, strong traditions, and a clean, small-town air.
– Modernized Agribusiness – Traditionally, Greece is known for coffee, sugar and vegetables. Processing, packaging, export and even farm-to-table shops can be developed. Organic farming is increasingly gaining local support.
– Rural and cultural tourism – Greece has beautiful areas like San Isidro, with natural miradores and typical-style villages. Small guesthouses, story-filled cafes and themed tours (history, gastronomy, handicrafts) are becoming increasingly popular.
– Production and light industry – Grecia is part of the area of influence of the El Coyol industrial park. Small workshops, processing halls or logistics companies can open here, taking advantage of the strategic position and lower costs than in the capital.
– Services for the middle class – In recent years, the working population has increased. There is demand for: kindergartens, educational centers, medical practices, veterinary services, fitness centers and small businesses in aesthetics or consulting.
– Smart real estate projects – Greece attracts retirees, young families and digital nomads. They are looking for quality, yet affordable, sustainably developed housing. Even tiny homes or eco-friendly community projects are starting to be sought after.
– Technology and digital education – The area has good internet connectivity, and young people are open to online learning, training, digital marketing, and IT projects. A small digital hub or educational platform could work well here.
real estate investments
Real estate sector in the Grecia Canton
The Grecia Canton has become an increasingly attractive area for real estate investments, both for locals and foreigners looking for a calmer, yet still well-connected alternative to San José.
Recent trends
The demand for family homes in semi-urban areas (such as Puente de Piedra, San Roque or Tacares) is growing.
There is an expansion towards gated communities (condominios), with an emphasis on security and shared facilities (swimming pool, green areas).
Agricultural lands in the higher areas are sought after by expats and developers who want to build guesthouses or eco-friendly houses.
What attracts investors?
- Pleasant climate all year round
- Quiet and safe area
- Quick access to highway and airport
- Good basic services (education, health, commerce)
What to evaluate
- Legal status of the land (posesión vs escritura)
- Building and zoning regulations
- Water, electricity, sewage infrastructure
Grecia is perceived as a quiet canton
Safety in the Grecia Canton
In the first 5 months of 2025, 126 crimes were recorded in the canton of Greece.
The most common are simple thefts and robberies, but there is also a lack of burglaries and vehicle thefts.
Official data from the OIJ shows:
- Simple theft – 36 cases
- Robbery – 12 cases
- Vehicle theft – 37 cases
- Grafted theft – 23 cases
- Vehicle theft – 7 cases
- Homicide – 0 cases
🔴 High-risk areas
- NOT EXISTING
🟡 Note: Greece is perceived as a quiet canton, with a good climate and peaceful people — and for the most part it is indeed so. But this very image also attracts opportunists.
Statistics clearly show that car theft is the main problem in the area, followed by home burglaries and petty theft.
No filters - No superficiality
Personal Observations
Greece has always given me the feeling of an organized community, like a small Swiss town in the tropical version.
The people are quiet, they smile politely at you and go about their business.
If I were to recommend a place for someone who wants to settle in CR without being too far from civilization, but not in the middle of chaos either, Greece would be in the top 3. Perfect for families and for those looking for a balanced life.
Neighboring cantons in the region
