Costa Rica vs Ecuador: safety comparison
Costa Rica vs Ecuador: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
| 🇨🇷Costa Rica | 🇪🇨Ecuador | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 26 / 100 | 47 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Normal Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | avoid all but essential travel to parts of country |
| US State Department advisory | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) | Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #54 | #129 |
| Drug law | Strict | Strict |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Exercise Caution |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | marriage | marriage |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | CRC | USD |
Costa Rica vs Ecuador: common questions
Is Costa Rica or Ecuador safer to visit?
Costa Rica has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 26/100 vs 47/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Costa Rica or Ecuador safer for solo female travellers?
Costa Rica is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Ecuador is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Costa Rica and Ecuador?
Costa Rica: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Ecuador: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State).
More comparisons
Colombia vs Ecuador · Colombia vs Costa Rica · Ecuador vs Peru · Costa Rica vs Nicaragua · Costa Rica vs Panama · Costa Rica vs Honduras · Costa Rica vs El Salvador · Ecuador vs Panama
Planning the trip? Check Costa Rica visa requirements and Ecuador visa requirements.