Startup tech occupiers in San José typically cluster in Paseo Colón / La Sabana, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out ($85–125/sqft), and pay around 240 USD/sqft ($22 USD) on Class A.

• Preferred submarket: Paseo Colón / La Sabana.
• Typical fit-out spec: Mid ($85–125/sqft).
• Plan ~130 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 240 USD/sqft ($22 USD).
• Typical lease: 5 years with 6 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in San José: 76/100.

TL;DR

• Preferred submarket: Paseo Colón / La Sabana.
• Typical fit-out spec: Mid ($85–125/sqft).
• Plan ~130 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
• Class A rent context: 240 USD/sqft ($22 USD).
• Typical lease: 5 years with 6 months rent-free.
• Talent depth in San José: 76/100.

Where they cluster

Startup tech occupiers in San José typically anchor in Paseo Colón / La Sabana. Banking, government, professional services, healthcare.

What they pay

Class A rent in San José runs 240 USD/sqft ($22 USD) on a 5-year lease with 6 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical startup tech fit-out targets mid specification at $85–125/sqft. Functional Cat-B with branded reception and standard meeting-room mix is standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 130 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount startups office in San José typically targets 13,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Series B–D scale-ups prioritize flexibility and signature loft stock to attract engineering talent away from incumbents. Strong BPO, IT, finance back-office, and bilingual customer-service talent. Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), TEC, INCAE Business School anchor the regional pipeline. Multilingual (Spanish, English) talent supports international BPO tenancy.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 30%. Costa Rican gross structure (rent inclusive of management fees). USD-denominated for Class A typically. 5-year terms standard. Rent-free of 4-8 months on 5-year terms plus USD 100-300/sqm TI typical.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Where do startup tech occupiers lease office space in San José?

Most cluster in Paseo Colón / La Sabana. Rent runs ~240 USD/sqft ($22 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do startup tech occupiers run in San José?

Typically mid at $85–125/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a startup tech occupier plan in San José?

Plan ~130 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 13,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the startup tech vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 541511, 541512, 518210.

What is the talent index in San José?

76/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Related

• Startup tech — global overview
• San José — full city profile
• Financial services in San José
• Asset management in San José
• Investment banking in San José
• Legal services in San José

Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Class A Atlas Editorial Desk — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

Primary sources for this page

• CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
• JLL Office Insight — JLL
• Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
• Savills World Research — Savills
• Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

Full sources index · Submit a correction

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