StartAbroad Review: The Best Relocation Service for Digital Nomads?

I’ve moved countries before, but planning a move to Portugal while juggling remote work as a copywriter and full-time travel was a whole different beast.

Between the visa process, housing, tax numbers, bank accounts, and everything in between, it started to feel less like an adventure and more like a second full-time job.

That’s when I stumbled across StartAbroad, a relocation service that promises to handle the bureaucracy so you can actually focus on moving and settling in. I was skeptical at first, but after going through the process myself, I realized just how much time and stress it saved me.

In this review, I’ll break down what StartAbroad offers, how much it costs, and what my experience was really like. If you’re considering a move to Portugal or Costa Rica, hopefully this helps you decide if it’s the right fit for you.

What is StartAbroad?

If you’ve ever tried to move to another country as a digital nomad, you know how quickly things get overwhelming. You have to take care of visas, finding a legit rental, getting a tax number, dealing with local bureaucracy... It’s a lot.

That’s exactly why I looked into StartAbroad. They specialize in relocations to Costa Rica and Portugal (they also cover Panama and Spain), and they’re laser-focused on digital nomads, remote workers, families, and even retirees.

They actually project-manage your entire move: visa paperwork (like the D7, D8, and even Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa), housing search, contract reviews, opening a bank account, airport pickup, and even helping families find schools or figuring out how to bring your pets with you.

The company was started by Anna Sosdian and Zachary Gerth, two expats who’ve been through the chaos of international moves themselves. Together with their team, they bring over 20 years of experience and have already helped hundreds of people make smooth landings abroad.

Before trying them, I read a bunch of reviews and Reddit posts, and people seem to love them. They’ve got a 4.8-star average on Trustpilot, and most of the feedback is about how responsive and genuinely helpful the team is.

Visa and Residency Support

Visa bureaucracy is basically a full-time job. I’ve been through it a couple of times now, and it’s always more complicated than it needs to be. You have to figure out which visa you even qualify for, collect the right documents, get them legalized, translated, and submitted properly. And one small mistake can delay everything by months (which is what happened to me!)

StartAbroad walks you through the entire process step-by-step, and that’s why I decided to work with them for my move to Portugal. I went for their concierge package, which covers the full D7 or D8 visa process. They helped me pull together all the income proof, appointments, document prep, and even showed up with me at immigration. They also sorted out my NIF (Portuguese tax ID), local bank account, and made sure my rental contract met visa requirements, which was trickier than I thought.

Did you know? Both the D7 and D8 visas can eventually lead to permanent residency in Portugal, and they also give you access to public healthcare and other local benefits. 

I didn’t personally relocate to Costa Rica, but I learned that StartAbroad offers a similar setup there. They’ve got a package built around the Digital Nomad Visa, which launched in 2022. It lets you stay in the country for up to two years while working remotely, and you don’t pay local taxes on your income. The income requirement is $3,000/month solo or $4,000 with family, plus you’ll need health insurance. StartAbroad helps handle the application, works with local attorneys, and helps with car purchases, which is super useful in CR.

Relocation and Concierge Services

One of the most underrated things about StartAbroad is everything that happens after getting your visa. Things like finding an apartment without getting scammed, sorting out a phone plan, figuring out transport, or trying to decode a housing contract in a language you barely speak. StartAbroad helps with all of it.

Housing help and rental contracts

If you need help finding a place to live, StartAbroad will send you a list of rentals based on your budget and preferences, set up video tours, and negotiate with landlords. Plus, and this was huge for me, they’ll review the contract in your language before you sign anything.

Car purchase support

They also help with buying a car, especially in places like Costa Rica, where public transport isn’t always ideal. They’ll help you narrow down listings, book mechanical inspections, and even negotiate the price, so you don’t end up overpaying.

Arrival logistics

StartAbroad handles a lot of the arrival-day chaos that most people don’t think about until they’re already on the plane, including airport pickup, your first week of lodging and transport, getting your SIM card, and even a mini tour of your neighbourhood, so you’re not starting from zero when you land.

Pets and family relocation

If you’re moving with kids, they’ll connect you with people who can help with school searches and getting familiar with the local education system. And if you've got a pet, they’ll hook you up with vetted providers who know how to handle the travel paperwork and make the move as stress-free as possible.

À la carte support

Not everything has to be bundled. So, if you only need help with specific parts of your move, like sorting out health insurance, tax planning, or shipping your stuff, StartAbroad can connect you with vetted local pros who actually know what they’re doing.

Coaching calls to plan your move

If you're still figuring things out, StartAbroad also offers 30- and 60-minute coaching calls. Lots of people use them to get guidance on their scouting trips, ask relocation questions, or clarify what steps to take next, even if they’re not ready to sign up for a full concierge package.

StartAbroad Pricing: What to Expect and Budget For

When it comes to costs, StartAbroad keeps things pretty transparent.

Their “Get-to-Portugal” package starts at around US $2,145 for the main applicant, plus about US $395 per dependent. It includes visa application support (D7 or D8), rental search, NIF setup, and a few other essentials. On the more premium end, their “Concierge Relocation” package for Portugal (the one I chose) is listed at US $4,750, which covers almost everything, including visa paperwork, local registrations, housing help, and arrival logistics.

Over in Costa Rica, their Digital Nomad Visa package starts at about US $2,845 for the main applicant, with additional fees for dependents. It includes visa management, long-term rental search, car purchase support, airport pickup, access to a dedicated relocation specialist, and four 1:1 coaching calls to walk you through the whole process.

If you’re serious about relocating to Portugal or Costa Rica and want someone to handle the heavy lifting, the price feels reasonable for the value. Especially if you’re juggling remote work or just want to avoid the stress of doing it all yourself.

That said, if you’re only applying for a visa and prefer to DIY the rest, there are lighter options out there, or you could pick à la carte services. But when you factor in the time, risk of mistakes, and how complicated relocation can get, the full packages make a lot of sense.

Relocating to Costa Rica or Portugal as a Digital Nomad

I’ve spent time in both Costa Rica and Portugal, and honestly, they each have something unique going on. They’ve both become top spots for nomads, and with StartAbroad handling your relocation, they’re way easier to settle into than you’d expect.

Costa Rica: surf, jungle, and slow living

There’s something about Costa Rica that slows you down in the best way. Locals live by “pura vida”, and it’s not just a slogan but how things actually feel. Days start slow, usually with a surf or hike, and it’s not weird to take meetings from a balcony with the jungle in the background. Towns like Santa Teresa, Tamarindo, and Puerto Viejo have become little nomad bubbles with coworking spaces, yoga classes, and solid nomad communities.

It’s not the cheapest place in Central America, but it’s manageable. Rent usually falls somewhere between $600 and $1,200/month, coworking is $150–300, and food is affordable if you go local. Internet’s reliable in most nomad-friendly areas, though rural zones can be hit or miss.

StartAbroad makes the move smooth by helping you apply for the Digital Nomad Visa (which lets you stay for up to two years without paying local income tax), find a long-term rental that meets the visa requirements, and even help with buying a car if you’re not planning to stay in San José. It was way less stressful than trying to piece it all together on your own.

Portugal: cafes, culture, and a high quality of life

Portugal is a whole different energy. It’s more structured, but still relaxed in that Southern Europe kind of way. Cities like Lisbon and Porto are full of life, with plenty of coworking spots, cafes with strong Wi-Fi, and a huge international crowd. And then you’ve got Madeira or the Azores, which have become full-on digital nomad hotspots with their own community events and meetups.

The cost of living is higher than in Costa Rica, but still lower than in many European destinations. You can live well without blowing your budget. Food is great, healthcare is solid, and the pace of life is slower than most of Europe, but with great infrastructure when you need it.

StartAbroad supports you through the D7 or D8 visa process, depending on your work situation, and takes care of all the admin: NIF, bank account, immigration appointments, you name it. They also help you find an apartment that meets the visa requirements, which can be a real headache in places like Lisbon.

How to Get Started with StartAbroad

Getting started with StartAbroad was way easier than I expected. Here’s how it went for me:

1. Booking the first call

I started with a free 15-minute consultation through their official website. It was short but super helpful. We talked about my plans, where I wanted to move (Portugal, in my case), and what I already had sorted out.

2. Choosing the right package

After the call, they laid out all the options really clearly. I went with one of their concierge packages, which meant they handled almost everything, including the visa process and settling in once I landed. But they also offer lighter options if you only need help with specific things like the visa or finding a rental.

3. Making the payment

Once I decided which package I wanted, payment was simple. I just selected it on their website and paid securely with my credit card. No hidden fees and everything matched what they explained in the call and what’s listed on their website.

4. Getting the checklist

Right after booking, I got a confirmation email with a link to schedule my kick-off call and access the StartAbroad Client Portal. Inside the portal, I found a personalized checklist with all the steps laid out: what documents I needed, what had to be legalized, key deadlines, and even templates and guides to help me get started right away.

5. Sorting the paperwork and logistics

This part can normally be a nightmare, but they made it straightforward. They helped me collect and prep all the visa paperwork, handled the NIF and bank setup, and even scheduled my immigration appointments. When we started looking for housing, they made sure every option matched the visa requirements.

6. Preparing for arrival

Before I even got on the plane, they had arranged my airport pickup, my first week of transport and lodging, and even helped set up a SIM card so I could stay connected right away.

7. Settling in and ongoing support

Even after I moved in, they stayed in touch. They sent me referrals for insurance, accountants, and even pet relocation help for when I bring my dog next time.

Final Verdict: Is StartAbroad Worth It? 

If you’ve got the time, patience, and energy to deal with visa paperwork, legal translations, housing contracts, and immigration appointments… Then, sure, you can probably figure it out on your own. But for me, trying to do that while working remotely and planning an international move was just too much.

That’s why I ended up going with StartAbroad. The price can seem steep at first, but when you factor in how much time and mental bandwidth it saves, it feels absolutely worth it. It let me focus on the exciting parts of moving abroad instead of getting stuck in endless admin.

I think StartAbroad is a great fit if you’re serious about moving to Portugal or Costa Rica and want someone to walk you through the whole thing. Not just the visa, but everything that comes with building a life in a new place. Especially if you’re juggling remote work, family stuff, or just don’t want to get buried in admin.

It’s not about taking the “easy” way out. It’s about not letting bureaucracy drain all the energy out of what should be an exciting chapter of your life. For me, having someone take care of the heavy stuff meant I could actually enjoy the process of moving abroad, and that made a huge difference.

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Written by Angelina Bertoni

After trying the conventional life, I packed everything into a backpack and started walking the world. I feel the energy of the spaces I explore — and that’s what I write about.

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