Moving to Costa Rica

"Personally, I would advise people to rent for an extended time to make sure the area is what they need it to be, then purchase an existing home, where they can see it finished, the price won't suddenly escalate or leave them with a list of uncompleted tasks, that you will be responsible for," said one expat who made the move to Costa Rica.

"Do lots of experiential travel and due diligence. It is easy to get rose colored glasses because Costa Rica is so beautiful and the people are so nice. Gringo's are viewed as wealthy and easy targets for getting taken advantage of, plus the legal system is a jungle as well. Do your work upfront, get lots of advice from others and reference everyone, even if you think they are honorable. If you want to enjoy Costa Rica, don't learn by trial and fire or it will taint your experience and enjoyment," explained one expat living in Paquera, Costa Rica.

"Very safe Condominium complexes are everywhere so you have many options that have surrounding walls and 24 hour security. Some have restaurants, pools and gyms. Many are furnished and I recommend reading the contract thoroughly. I also recommend taking a very detailed video showing condition of the unit including close ups of any damage to existing furnishings. Carefully read the fine print and if the furnishings are not adequate stipulate all changes in the contract before signing. If it's a long term lease consider hiring an attorney. It might be worth it," said one in Santa Ana.

"Decide if you like the country or the city, what size housing you prefer, what you like to do, what type of climate you prefer, there are 11 different micro climates within a short distance. Most expats I help want to get residency or citizenship, buy a house and start a business. besides enjoying the beaches, the mountains, the rain forest, etc," explained one expat who made the move to San Jose.

"Costa Rica is a great place to live and there are many options for finding a suitable location to call home. A good first step is to research the areas of the country you may be interested in and determine what type of lifestyle and accommodations suit you best. You can research online using resources such as TripAdvisor, Airbnb, and Craigslist to get an idea of what is available in each region. Additionally, there are a variety of real estate agencies located throughout Costa Rica that can help you find a suitable living space. Ask around for recommendations and make sure to select a reputable agency. Finally, you can reach out to the expat community for advice, as they are generally well informed about housing options," said one expat who made the move to Costa Rica.

"It's cheaper to live a little ways outside the city so location was influenced by that. There is also less crime outside the city. I found my apartment by asking around and doing some walking. There won't always be a sign up so, if it looks available, ask," explained one expat living in San Marcos, Tarrazú, Costa Rica.

"I was basically told in what area to live. Most expats live in Escazu, Santa Ana or Rohrmoser. Then I went with several agents to look at possible apartments. After that you start haggling!!! (Hagglig is essential. I have seen houses come down from 4500 USD a month to 2500.)," said one in San Jose.

"I traveled all over Costa Rica after purchasing a home in Ostional and not being happy. I stayed in San Jose, Arenal, and along the beach towns of the Pacific coast. I then went to an area that was not revealed in all of the social media and publications to see what it was like and stayed at an all inclusive in Tambor. This area was like a diamond in the rough to me. So, I "stumbled" upon it, just traveling around and getting to know Costa Rica," explained one expat who made the move to Paquera.

"Yes, finding the right location to live in, can be more important that finding the right home. Many expats want to live at the beach...especially from the snowy north...until they find that the heat just doesn't work for them. So, if they have purchased a home there, they could be stuck with it. So, suggest you rent for an extended time period so that you truly check out the different neighbourhoods, learn where the bus routes are, where the roosters start the earliest and the karaoke bars are located... It is said by many, that it is very easy to buy, but often very hard to sell. Many say that between 50-60% of the expats, return home within 3-4 years. Often broke. Costa Rica is no longer a cheap place to live. However, it can be a great place to live, if you can afford it," explained one expat living in Costa Rica.

"A typical expat home or apartment in Costa Rica is usually quite modern with modern amenities such as air conditioning, cable or satellite television and fast internet access. Costa Rica also offers a wide range of accommodation to suit a range of budgets – from luxury condos and villas to more affordable apartments and family homes. Many properties come with terraces or balconies that provide sweeping views of nature, and most are surrounded by lush tropical vegetation like banana trees, mango trees and palms. Depending on the location, some expats also benefit from on-site amenities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums and patios," explained one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Lower, the average costs varies according to your lifestyle, so between $1500 to $3500 a month," commented one expat who made the move to San Jose.

"I rent because I do not want to be tied down to a piece of property. Also property is expensive. My rental agreement was easy to understand, only about 4 pages (2 of them inventory of furnishings). I negotiated the terms from 12 months to 6 and the rent amount. It was not difficult at all," explained one expat living in San Jose, Costa Rica.

"Buying a home in Costa Rica can be a great investment. It can provide you with a steady source of income through renting or reselling, while at the same time providing you with a beautiful tropical paradise to call your own. Renting, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to move after a few months or years without having to worry about reselling or waiting for the real estate market to improve. Ultimately, it all depends on what your individual needs and preferences are. If you want the security of owning a home, then purchasing may be the best option for you. However, if you prefer the freedom to move around, then renting might be a better solution," said one expat in Costa Rica.

"I wish I had brought my small appliances like bread maker, ice cream maker and deep fryer. I wish I had left my books, formal dresses and jacket at home," said one expat in Paquera.

"On one occasion we had traveled to San Jose to see our attorney and were lost. When we spoke to the doorman of what we thought was his office building we could see that whoever he was speaking to on the phone he was describing us as being dressed very trashy, as we were not wearing business attire. We were dressed in jeans and t-shirts. Most people dress in business attire in the city," said one expat who made the move to Samara.

"It is important to avoid touching someone's head or using certain nicknames as both are considered offensive in Costa Rica. Additionally, be sure to dress conservatively in public and avoid public displays of affection, as they are seen as disrespectful.Beyond that, it is important to be respectful when discussing religion, particularly since the majority of Costa Ricans are Catholic. Disrespecting local customs and religious ceremonies should also be avoided. Finally, it’s important to be mindful of how much you are drinking in public, as public drunkenness is considered inappropriate," explained one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Most foreigners who voluntarily move to San Jose, Costa Rica do so for the nice climate, lower cost of living, and friendly people. Some of course move here for work, usually in the multinationals, while a few are running from someone or something (often the law)," replied one expat when asked about moving to San Jose.

"Ojochal is a well known international residential community, not a tourist town. It has a larger percentage of foreigners than nearly any other town in Costa Rica. It is often referred to as "the Culinary Capital of Costa Rica" since many expats have opened restaurants there offering food from their home countries. Ojochal was the starting point of the Costa Ballena Women's Network, now with hundreds of members. There's a large US, Canadian and French contingent there, but you can also find residents from every continent. We now have an Indonesian restaurant, 2 French bakeries -- and Italian, Mexican, French, Thai, Tico and World cuisine. There's one of the most extensive collections of cooking ingredients of any grocery store anywhere in Costa Rica, in fact if you like to cook, this is the place to be. The little supermarket in Ojochal sells everything from Caviar to Curry, 5 kinds of Capers, Spring roll wrappers, Nori, Pickled ginger, polenta, cous cous and everything else you could think of. The expat community has been thriving for over 25 years. The crime rate is also lower than most other areas since it is a residential community and not a tourist town. It is also located south of the passport control checkpoint on the Baru River, criminals north of this point don't want to cross that bridge. The beaches in this area are stunning: Playa Tortuga, Playa Ballena, Playa Ventanas. Plus, it is is also where the mouth of the longest navigable river in all of Costa Rica reaches the ocean (the Terraba River). There are at least 10 phases of development for expats in Ojochal and lots of activities for both expats and Ticos. The neighborhood community interacts more with Ticos than in many other parts of Costa Rica," stated one expat who made the move to Ojochal.

"In Costa Rica, you must be a resident of the country to qualify for CAJA also know as the national socialized medicine. Additionally, this is not an option but a requirement of your residency here. The monthly fee is calculated based on your income. The local clinic also known as EBAIS is centrally located. If you are in the area, familiarize yourself with it's location. If you are not a resident, there are several private care physicians in the area and they are well educated and professional. If you do not speak Spanish, there are many that are bilingual. I know of at least one that has a 24 hour facility for emergencies. Additionally, specialists from the Central Valley visit these private care facilities on a monthly basis so if you need specialized care, it is available. At present, a general office visit in a private care facility is $40-$45," said one expat living in Playa Jaco, Costa Rica.

"If you're a resident you pretty much have to enroll in the Caja, the public health system, and if you aren't, you can't. So there's that. Whether or not you enroll in the Caja, if you have the funds, private insurance is nice. INS, the state insurance company, sells a pretty good policy for not too much money, and (ahem) it's darn near customary not to mention pre-existing conditions on the application. After a year or so INS doesn't care, and it does pay. Blue Cross and others have now entered the market, but I doubt they're as lax as INS. Of course, you can always pay out-of-pocket for private at prices about a third of US prices, but even a third adds up. Me, I'm only in the Caja now, since I let my INS policy lapse, but that's because I'm poor. People of some affluence usually do both--private for ease and comfort, public as a backup. Oh, in the Caja plan on speaking Spanish. Most Caja docs will know a little English and a few will be fluent, but the system operates in Spanish and you can't count on anyone speaking English. In the private system almost everybody speaks English," offered one expat living in San José.

"Costa Rica has a comprehensive healthcare system that provides a wide range of services to its citizens and foreign residents. The public healthcare system is funded by the government and is available to all citizens and legal residents. The quality of public healthcare is generally good, with modern facilities and well-trained staff. Foreign residents have access to the public healthcare system, although they may need to pay a fee for some services. Expats in Costa Rica can use the public healthcare system, but they may need to pay a fee for some services. Expats can also opt for private healthcare, which is more expensive but offers more comprehensive coverage," wrote one expat living in Costa Rica.

"Costa Rica has excellent medical care with a two prong system, both public and private. All legal residents and citizens of Costa Rica are eligible to participate in the public healthcare system which is basically free although you have to be a member of the CAJA and pay a % based on the income level you declared when you applied for residency. A tip for expats is to show evidence of enough income to qualify for their residency programs but perhaps not to show all your income if not needed to qualify. (You have to show proof of a pension, annuity or government program that pays you at least $1000 per couple to qualify for their pensionado program). If you don't qualify by those means, you can also apply as a rentista, (renter), an inversionista (an investor) or as a foreign sponsored national with a work visa. You can also marry a Costa Rican... Keep in mind that there is also a private healthcare network available, which is often the preferred option to many expats. There is often a waiting time to get seen under the public system, even things like lab work might take longer than you want to wait. The private healthcare system is generally available immediately and insurance can be purchased to cover you in those facilities. You can also often offer to pay at the CAJA and be seen quicker than those not paying for service. In an emegency, the CAJA will take anyone. Costa Rica uses a local clinic methodology where they locate clinics nearly everywhere based on population needs. These clinics are referred to as the EBAIS clinics and can be found in nearly every town of any size. Major operations, whether in the public or private healthcare system, will likely be performed in San Jose. The private healthcare networks consisting of Clinica Biblica, CIMA and Hospital Mexico, offer great service for a fraction of the cost in the US. Clinica Biblica has an international medicine center, assigns patients a health navigator to help with things like language barriers and offers services that may not even be available in the states. I have had nothing but great experiences there, everything from blood work, orthapedics, dentistry, colonoscopy, endoscopy, stress test and EKG, bone density scans, lipids exams, urinalysis, hearing and eye tests, ultrasounds and more. I have stuff done that I could never afford to do in the states and pay a fraction of the cost I would in the US. The facilities are all impeccably clean and the doctors don't seem to be afraid of their patients and lawsuits. In our area in the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, we have one of the newest CAJA hospitals in all of Costa Rica. The Hospital de Osa is an 88 bed, 80,000 square foot facility complete with emergency room, pharmacy and more. I recommend everyone should try the Costa Rican healthcare system to see what we are missing in the US," commented one expat living in Cortez.

"Residency to obtain public health care (CAJA) seems to be taking about 18 months, so you will have to use private care until you obtain residency (if that is what you plan on doing). Even with CAJA, many people continue to use the outstanding private facilities available in and around San Jose (possibly in other areas, but I am only familiar with San Jose). There are many expat health insurance plans available and I highly recommend obtaining one if you are under 70. There may be some available over 70; I don't know. I presently do not have any insurance and have been paying out of pocket for some serious medical issues. I suggest you have a fund of $6-10,000 tucked away if you don't have private insurance or have a high deductible," commented one expat who moved to Grecia, Costa Rica.

"I moved here in the middle of a 5 year treatment plan. I retired early, and had no medical insurance. To stay on my treatment, I was able to buy the medication OTC for $60 a month," remarked one expat in Florencia.

"Costa Rica offers a wide range of medical services, including both public and private healthcare. The public healthcare system is free for all citizens and legal residents, and is generally of a high quality. Private healthcare is also available, and is often more modern and efficient than the public system. Costa Rica is home to a number of world-class hospitals and clinics, offering a range of treatments and services. Many of these facilities are staffed by highly trained and experienced medical professionals, and offer the latest in medical technology. Costa Rica is also home to a number of specialized medical centers, offering treatments for specific conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders," wrote one expat living in Costa Rica.