{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/costa-rica/san-jose","updatedAt":"2026-09-16T15:02:06.794Z","place":{"city":"San José","country":"Costa Rica","countryCode":"CR","lat":9.93388,"lon":-84.08489},"safety":{"score":67,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":68,"confidence":0.92,"caps":[],"databaseScore":68,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While many visitors find San José manageable with precautions, there are concerns about rising crime targeting tourists, leading to a mixed sentiment regarding day-to-day safety.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":55,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":80,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":64,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 02 Apr 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.cri.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-05-19T10:42:25Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-09-09T09:13:42.4913163-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":17.7454798727379,"display":"17.7 / 100k","year":"2023","score":30,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":1.7,"display":"1.7%","year":"2010","score":96,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":15.5,"display":"15.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":52,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":85.9764519,"display":"86/100","year":"2024","score":86,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":67.5792602,"display":"68/100","year":"2024","score":68,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":61.6036307,"display":"62/100","year":"2024","score":62,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":56.9189193,"display":"57/100","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":64.0390444,"display":"64/100","year":"2024","score":64,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":74.5525589,"display":"75/100","year":"2024","score":75,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":335007,"display":"335k residents","year":null,"score":79,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":54.2,"display":"54.2 / 100","year":null,"score":49,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":44.44,"display":"44.4%","year":"2018","score":41,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":5.6,"display":"5.6%","year":"2018","score":74,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":7,"display":"7.0%","year":"2019","score":83,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":26,"display":"US AQI 26 · Good","year":null,"score":94,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":2,"display":"1 notice · max Alert","year":null,"score":60,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":11.370063084,"display":"11 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2022","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":28,"display":"September: highs ~28°C · heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 37 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":76,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":55,"display":"55 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":55,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Chikungunya in Costa Rica","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/chikungunya-costa-rica"},{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"San José is moderately safe for travelers, requiring increased caution due to prevalent petty crime and specific at-risk areas.","summary":"While Costa Rica is generally a welcoming destination, its capital, San José, experiences higher rates of petty crime, including theft and robbery, particularly targeting tourists. Official advisories recommend exercising increased caution. Visitors should be aware of their surroundings, avoid certain neighborhoods, and take precautions against common scams.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Robberies occur, with an increase in incidents targeting tourists, especially after dark or in quieter areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Petty theft is common, particularly in busy areas, markets, and on public transport."},"safeAreas":["Escazú","Santa Ana","Barrio Escalante"],"avoidAreas":["La Carpio","Desamparados","Pavas"],"scams":["Unofficial transport touts and fake ride-sharing services, especially around SJO Airport and within the city.","ATM skimming and fraud.","Taxi overcharging or route padding.","Street and accommodation robberies, sometimes involving distraction techniques."],"zones":[{"name":"Escazú","level":"safe","note":"Well-patrolled upscale residential area west of San José with low crime reports, popular with expats and tourists."},{"name":"Santa Ana","level":"safe","note":"Secure residential district west of San José, known for good lighting, regular foot traffic, and minimal petty crime."},{"name":"Barrio Escalante","level":"safe","note":"Trendy gastronomic zone with upscale restaurants and art galleries; generally safe during day and evening with active foot patrols."},{"name":"Downtown San José (Centro)","level":"caution","note":"Historic core with colonial architecture; petty theft and pickpocketing common, especially in crowded markets and transit hubs after dark."},{"name":"La Carpio","level":"avoid","note":"Informal settlement with elevated violent crime and robbery risk; frequent incidents targeting foreigners reported in 2026."},{"name":"Desamparados","level":"avoid","note":"Southern district with high rates of mugging, theft, and gang activity; U.S. Embassy notes increased crime targeting tourists here."},{"name":"Pavas","level":"avoid","note":"Western neighborhood experiencing spikes in property crime and ATM scams; avoid isolated areas and nighttime travel."},{"name":"Hatillo","level":"caution","note":"Northern district with moderate robbery risk; exercise caution after dark, particularly near transit hubs and poorly lit streets."}]}}