Doctors in Costa Rica

Costa Rican doctors are excellent, very well trained, have years of experience, and have multiple, related specialties. On average they seem to be very pleasant to work with and are very positive fun loving people who are passionate about their work. Most doctors in Costa Rica are bilingual, but they are far more prevalent in the private hospitals and clinic than in the public facilities.

Most doctors have degrees from the best university in Costa Rica (UCR), a North American school, or European university, or they have multiple specialties. They usually work part time for the government to obtain a salary and then in their own private clinics where they make bonuses seeing patients.

Government paid doctors make between $2,000 and $4,000 a month. If they do what they call 'guardias' (night shifts), they get paid extra up to $100 extra per shift. With their private practice, they can make around $50,000 a year additionally which is a far cry from the bloated salaries you see in North America, but still provides a very nice living in Costa Rica.