CR · AmericasES · Europe
Costa Rica vs Spain: tax rates compared
Between the two, Spain's income tax rate (48.6%) tops Costa Rica's (25%) by 23.6pp. The 200-country average is 28%: Costa Rica sits below it, Spain sits above it.
Verified data covers five of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
At a glance
| Tax | CR | ES | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 25% | 48.6% | ES +23.6 pplargest gap |
| Corporate Tax | 30% | 25% | CR +5 pp |
| VAT | 13% | 21% | ES +8 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 15% | 30% | ES +15 pp |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 3.5% | ES +3.5 pp |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 25% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Spain | 48.6% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −23.6 pp | Spain higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 30% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Spain | 25% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +5 pp | Costa Rica higher |
Between the two, Costa Rica's corporate tax rate (30%) tops Spain's (25%) by 5pp. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 13% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Costa Rica (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-30 |
| Spain | 21% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Spain (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2025-12-31 |
| Difference | −8 pp | Spain higher |
Between the two, Spain's VAT rate (21%) tops Costa Rica's (13%) by 8pp. The 181-country average is 15%: Costa Rica sits below it, Spain sits above it. Costa Rica's figure is dated 2026-06-30 and Spain's 2025-12-31, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 15% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Costa Rica (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-06-30 |
| Spain | 30% | Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Spain, Individual - Income determination · as of 2025-12-31 |
| Difference | −15 pp | Spain higher |
Between the two, Spain's capital gains tax rate (30%) tops Costa Rica's (15%) by 15pp. The 175-country average is 10.3%: both sit above it. Costa Rica's figure is dated 2026-06-30 and Spain's 2025-12-31, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Net wealth/worth tax rates (quick chart) · as of 2026-06-30 |
| Spain | 3.5% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Spain (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2025-12-31 |
| Difference | −3.5 pp | Spain higher |
Between the two, Spain's wealth tax rate (3.5%) tops Costa Rica's (0%) by 3.5pp. The 193-country average is 0.1%: Costa Rica sits below it, Spain sits above it. Costa Rica's figure is dated 2026-06-30 and Spain's 2025-12-31, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Not covered for both countries yet: Crypto Tax.