Best Portfolio Tracker for Costa Rica Investors

One dashboard for your USD, CRC, and global holdings — built for expats and investors in Costa Rica who keep their money working worldwide.

Why tracking investments in Costa Rica is different

Costa Rica is one of the most popular relocation destinations in the Americas for US and Canadian expats, retirees, and digital nomads. The country's territorial tax system is its single biggest draw for investors — only income sourced within Costa Rica is subject to local taxation. Foreign-source investment income, including capital gains, dividends, and interest from accounts held outside the country, is not taxed by Costa Rica. This means an expat living in San Jose or Tamarindo with a brokerage account at Schwab, Fidelity, or Interactive Brokers pays zero Costa Rican tax on those investment returns.

The challenge for Costa Rica-based investors is not taxes — it is tracking. Most residents keep their investments in US or Canadian brokerage accounts, denominated in USD or CAD, while daily expenses are split between USD (widely accepted) and the Costa Rican Colon (CRC). The Colon fluctuates meaningfully against the dollar, and local costs in CRC can shift your real purchasing power even when your USD portfolio is performing well. Add in a Canadian RRSP, a US 401(k), or scattered accounts across multiple brokerages, and getting a clear picture of total net worth becomes a spreadsheet nightmare.

FlashFi is a multi-currency portfolio tracker that brings all of this into a single view. It handles USD, CRC, CAD, and 30+ other currencies with live exchange rates, giving Costa Rica-based investors a consolidated dashboard across every brokerage and every currency. No bank linking or credential sharing — just a private tracker that works from Escazu, Nosara, or anywhere else you call home.

Key challenges for Costa Rica investors

Living in CRC while investing in USD

Costa Rica operates as a dual-currency economy where USD is widely accepted for larger transactions but everyday expenses — groceries, utilities, local services — are priced in Colones. The CRC/USD exchange rate has fluctuated between 500 and 700 Colones per dollar in recent years. For investors whose portfolios are entirely in USD, understanding what those dollars actually buy in local terms requires constant FX tracking that most US-centric portfolio tools do not provide.

Fragmented accounts across US, Canadian, and international platforms

Costa Rica has minimal local investment infrastructure. There are no major domestic brokerages offering access to global markets at competitive rates. Nearly every serious investor here holds accounts at US platforms like Charles Schwab, Fidelity, or Interactive Brokers, or Canadian equivalents like Questrade or Wealthsimple. Retirees may also have 401(k)s, IRAs, RRSPs, or TFSAs sitting in separate accounts. Each platform reports in its own currency with no awareness of the others.

No local brokerage ecosystem for portfolio consolidation

Unlike countries with established local brokerages that offer portfolio reporting, Costa Rica simply does not have this infrastructure. The Bolsa Nacional de Valores (Costa Rican stock exchange) exists but is tiny and focuses on fixed-income instruments. This means Costa Rica-based investors cannot rely on a single local platform to see their full picture — they need a separate tool that works across all their international accounts.

Visa income requirements and proof of assets

Costa Rica's Rentista visa requires applicants to demonstrate at least $2,500 per month in stable income for two years, often from investments or pensions. The Pensionado visa requires $1,000 per month. Tracking investment income streams across multiple accounts and currencies is essential for both visa applications and renewals — you need a clear, consolidated view of where your income comes from and how much it actually is.

How FlashFi helps Costa Rica investors

Multi-Currency Dashboard

See your entire portfolio converted to USD, CRC, CAD, or any of 30+ supported currencies in real time. FlashFi pulls live FX rates for CRC/USD, CAD/USD, and more so you always know the true purchasing power of your global holdings in the currency that matters to you.

Unified Net Worth Across All Accounts

Track your Schwab brokerage, Fidelity IRA, Interactive Brokers account, Canadian RRSP, pension income, and cash holdings in a single dashboard. One net worth figure covering everything you own, fully up to date across every currency.

No Account Linking Required

FlashFi uses manual portfolio tracking so it works with every US, Canadian, and international brokerage without handing over credentials. Enter your holdings and FlashFi automatically pulls the latest prices and FX rates. This is especially valuable in Costa Rica where no aggregator supports local banking.

Real-Time FX Impact

See exactly how CRC/USD exchange rate movements affect your local purchasing power. FlashFi separates asset performance from currency impact so you understand whether your net worth changed because your investments moved or because the Colon did.

Frequently asked questions

Does Costa Rica tax my US brokerage account?

No. Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system, which means only Costa Rican-sourced income is taxable locally. Capital gains, dividends, and interest from US or other foreign brokerage accounts are not subject to Costa Rican tax. However, US citizens still owe US federal tax on worldwide investment income regardless of where they live.

Can I track my Schwab and Fidelity accounts in FlashFi?

Yes. FlashFi works with every brokerage because it uses manual portfolio entry rather than account linking. Enter your Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard, Interactive Brokers, or any other holdings and FlashFi pulls the latest prices and FX rates automatically. No API keys or credentials required.

Does FlashFi show my portfolio in Costa Rican Colones?

Yes. You can set CRC as your base currency to see your entire portfolio converted to Colones using real-time exchange rates. You can also switch between USD, CAD, CRC, and 30+ other currencies at any time to see your net worth in whichever denomination is most useful.

Is FlashFi useful for meeting Rentista visa income requirements?

FlashFi gives you a consolidated view of all your investment accounts and their income in one dashboard, which helps you understand whether you meet the $2,500 per month income threshold. While FlashFi is not an official document for visa applications, it helps you monitor your income streams and total net worth across currencies so there are no surprises during the renewal process.

Can Canadian expats use FlashFi in Costa Rica?

Absolutely. FlashFi supports CAD as a base currency alongside USD, CRC, and 30+ others. Canadian expats can track their RRSP, TFSA, Questrade, and Wealthsimple holdings alongside any US or international accounts — all in one dashboard with live FX rates between CAD, USD, and CRC.

By David Brougham