Costa Rica real estate agent fees: agreed, or the usual rate.
// Short answer
Costa Rica's Commercial Code sets no commission rate: a broker earns what was agreed with the party they acted for, and if nothing was agreed, the usual rate in the market. No law licenses real estate agents; the only registration is an anti-money-laundering one with SUGEF, which is not a licence. IVA at 13% applies to the fee.
Rules and rates as of October 2026.
On this page
How much does a Costa Rican real estate agent charge?
What was agreed, or failing an agreement, the usual and current rate in the market. That rule (Commercial Code article 309) is written for sworn brokers (corredores jurados) and is the closest the law comes to private agents.
So get the percentage in writing. Every other cost: Costa Rica property buying costs.
Who pays the estate agent in Costa Rica, buyer or seller?
The party in whose interest the broker acted (article 309).
If you hire your own agent as buyer, you owe their fee.
Is IVA charged on agent fees in Costa Rica?
Yes, at the 13% rate that applies to all taxable operations.
Taxes once you own: Costa Rica property tax for foreigners.
Costa Rica agent guide
Choosing an agent in Costa Rica? The questions to ask first
No law licenses agents, and an offer letter with a deposit can already be the sale. The 12 questions, what SUGEF registration means, title versus concession, a first-call script and a worksheet in dollars.
Do Costa Rican real estate agents need a licence?
No law licenses real estate agents. People who buy and sell real estate professionally must register with SUGEF for anti-money-laundering purposes, and SUGEF states that this registration is not an authorisation to operate.
The Commercial Code bars a sworn broker without a licence (patente) from claiming commission (article 298); whether that reaches private agents is not established. So check the person, the company and the property yourself. The title rules near the coast: the maritime zone explained.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real estate commission in Costa Rica?
Who pays the real estate agent in Costa Rica?
Are real estate agents licensed in Costa Rica?
Header photo: Tamarindowiki, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.