Costa Rica is a relatively small country; once you land in San José, you can get to just about anywhere in one to six hours. All things considered, Costa Rica strikes a balance that is hard to find in other expat locations around the world. With rent, very baseline costs will come at about $900 for internet, rent, utilities, then stack food, transport, and activity costs on top of that. While not a typical cost of living post, Nadine shares helpful information about being an expat and tourist living in Costa Rica. 12. Grecia is a mountain town known as one of the more affordable communities in Costa Rica. By Steve Linder of Pacific Lots and Homes of Costa Rica. Costa Ricans live up to this, with a welcoming and inclusive culture—in many towns, the expats fold right into the fabric of everyday life. Jason Holland is the editor of International Living’s Costa Rica website. His post shares great information and he reports that couples can live on $2,000 a month in Lake Arenal. Mike and his wife spend $1,500 a month for an ocean-view villa, and the bulk of the rest of their budget comes from expenses related to their cars, private health insurance, and extracurricular activities (like golf, tennis, and travel). Costa Rica is making a name for itself as a destination that offers the opportunity to achieve a more relaxed way of life, for a lower cost of living than you may find in your home country. That gamble paid off. Tamarindo costs $3,101 per month to live and work remotely with 7 mbps internet speed, is a okay place for digital nomads to live. Costa Rica is firmly on the tourist radar and visitors come every corner of the world. Compare Uvita with: We need more contributors for Uvita to increase our data quality. Lisa and Scott Norman are USA-Expats living in Costa Rica who want to share their stories with others who are visiting and/or considering a move to Costa Rica. Most expats living in the Arenal region live along Lake Arenal, where life is rural and generally quiet. With so much geographical diversity, picking the right place to relocate to ultimately comes down to personal preference. Expats can average $1,100 per month on a tight budget, but even the most budget-conscious retirees and digital nomads will do best with a $2,000 a month budget. Mike acknowledges that there are much cheaper rentals, and foregoing the two cars and A/C would lower costs considerably. 17 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica Costa Rica has a lot to offer expats with its tropical climate, eco-friendly culture, beautiful beaches, welcoming people, good healthcare system and relative safety. But you’ll pay for that difference. Uvita, Costa Rica Tour - Costa Rica Expat Mom - Duration: 15:40. They have experienced the highs and the lows of making a big move and will continue writing about their experiences here, on their Costa Rica Living Blog. 11 Tips for Living in Ojochal, Costa Rica. Health Insurance: Just $150 a month offers you full coverage under Costa Rica’s national public health insurance system. On the up side, there is a heck of a lot of local expats blogging about their life. The Costa Rica Literary Companion is intriguing as it’s a collection of 26 stories, each focusing on a different region of the country—great for expats looking to understand how the quality of life differs in each area. There’s little to sacrifice of your old life if you move to San José or adjacent. The Southern Zone region is known as being more old school Costa Rica, with beaches and lush jungles, toucans, howler monkeys, and sloths. How much does it cost to live in Costa Rica? Overall, the cost of living in Costa Rica is 26.6% lower than living in the United States. Your use of this service is subject to our, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course, McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal), Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat), Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car), Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car), Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment, 1 min. Life is laidback, so much so that walking around in barefoot is perfectly respectable. The price ranges wildly differ, and that’s because there is a strong higher-end retirement industry here. And it’s present at every level; Costa Rica leads the world on responsible tourism. If you expect to eat the same food you eat at home, it will be costly. Although neighboring Panama also has a large expat community, both countries have very different cultures. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Cost of Living While La Fortuna de San Carlos is the most well-known destination in Arenal, the high number of tourists tend to repel expats. We continue to discover for you. While Spanish is helpful, you do not need to speak Spanish in Coco as many of the locals speak English—due, in part, to the tourist nature of the town. There is a blog called Gluten-Free Tamarindo which features tips for restaurants and shops, as well as recipes, and you should pick up a gluten-free restaurant card for Latin America as well. Costa Rica is one of the most popular expat destinations in the world for a reason. From the cost of housing to the price of healthcare, here’s everything you need to know about the cost of living in Costa Rica. (Keen to access this information offline? The cost of food in Puntarenas is more expensive than Costa Rica average and earns a score of 3 out of 10. As noted, Costa Rica has a huge range of expats, and Mike shows that you can get a lot for your money if you have it. Living in Uvita, Costa Rica – Your perfect home in paradise. According to Roxy, rental houses run from $500 to $1,500 per month for a family-size house. Let’s take a closer look at the costs of retiring in Costa Rica. From the cost of housing to the price of healthcare, here’s everything you need to know about the cost of living in Costa Rica. The average cost to retire in Costa Rica is about $18,000 per year. All Cost of Living estimates are for a single person. The capital of Costa Rica, San José, is located in the Central Valley at about 3,000 feet. Read reviews and choose a room with Planet of Hotels. It has the vibe of a classic touristy beach town, but it’s not overrun either. Costa Rica: Cost of Living by Region and Residency Options. More than most places, the country even lives up to that idyllic image. The Dennings are a family of eight who were living in Uvita. Living in Costa Rica is often appealing to foreigners. The country has one of the highest life expectancies in the world and plans to … You won’t find rock-bottom prices, but Costa Rica has that je ne sais quoi that many expats simply can never quite describe. Greg shared a detailed breakdown of their cost of living Grecia, and as a couple, he and his wife live on $1,500 a month. It is a popular tourist destination for its tropical climate and impressive natural scenery and quality of life. Living in Costa Rica is more affordable than the U.S., but it’s not rock-bottom budget prices either. The following are collected for use in calculating cost of food: meats, dairy products, produce, bakery products, miscellaneous grocery products, fast food, and average casual restaurant. Escazú is pretty great—it’s a big city suburb that feels like a small town. Expat communities are denser in the Central Valley and the Gold Coast. Located about five hours from San José, near the Nicaraguan border, the Gold Coast is a popular spot among expats who love to surf or lounge on a beach and enjoy beautiful sunsets. You can live like a local for far less than some of these expats shared below. Nadine is an expat living near Tamarindo with her husband, Rob. Compare the average costs of living in cities in Costa Rica like San Jose, Puntarenas, Uvita, Manuel Antonio. Restaurants. While they may not always ask to see this, don’t risk entering without it or they may not even let you on the plane. Uvita is an affordable town and there is also a good bilingual expat school in the town. We continue to discover for you. It’s also lower than the UK’s which stands at 71.05. Book a room at Hotel El Paso de Moisés in Uvita, Costa Rica. The cost of housing in Costa Rica is one of the major points that make living there so affordable. Today it's 28°C with good air quality (25 µg/m3). These fluctuate by region/city. The majority of the population lives outside the city centre, expats live in suburban communities like Escazú, a 10-minute drive from downtown San José with gorgeous views over the city. For my full review policy click here. Uvita – More of a beach “downtown” than a beach town, this is where you will find larger food markets, banks and other convenience stores. Expats living in Costa Rica talk about Pura Vida, deciding where to live in Costa Rica, meeting people and more. Uvita, Costa Rica, located in the Southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica has become the commercial and tourist center for the area. What we do want to do is to give you a clear picture of what you could expect in your day-to-day life living in Costa Rica. Let’s take a closer look at what it’s like in Costa Rica, the quality of life, and the cost of living in the country’s most popular expat spots. Located in northwestern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua, Playas del Coco—which is more commonly called Coco—is a beach town, popular with both expats and Costa Ricans. Their baseline rent in Coco is $400, and that covers a one-bedroom loft in a nice neighborhood, Las Palmas—she reports that $500 for a partially furnished place is a good expectation for Coco, though you can find cheaper options further out-of-town. Costa Rica offers a pretty good value for quality of life. The lake is beautiful and relatively untouched by tourists. Jason lives in Escazú, which is a popular expat suburb that counters the rumours that the capital is only filled with traffic, congestion, and chaos. Pickpockets and muggings are common in city centres like San José. > Plan to spend $1,100 for very tight budgets, up to $4,000 for mid-range expats. Another thing we loved was its pure convenience. Sami reports that, as a couple, their budget has never exceeded $2,000 a month. You’ll have few big city amenities here, and life revolves around all that beautiful nature: hikes, time on the lake, quiet time in a hammock. Now also living so close to Panama enables me to purchase gas for almost half of the cost it is in Costa Rica. Cost of living in Costa Rica. There’s a comfortable familiarity to life in Costa Rica. It’s a good compromise if you’re a city person looking to escape the U.S. You could choose to live in a lush, temperate rainforest, or head to the beaches for a hammock and the slow life. Each story includes the exact details for family, couples, and singles. We provide several metrics to compare the cost of living including cost of groceries, transportation, and more. Currency: Sticky Currency Switch to metric measurement units. The Cost of Living in Costa Rica by Province and City. There are more lively places, however, if you’re a younger expat or digital nomad looking for more to do (take a look at Uvita). The cost of living here is a bit more than some other places in Costa Rica, but there are a lot of Western amenities and options, too. Costa Rica Expat Forum: Uvita. Compare prices and read real guests reviews to book the right room. Cereal, specialty grains like arborio rice and couscous, cheese, etc. There is a good mix of ages, so retirees will feel at home, as will digital nomads looking for coffee shops and jazz clubs. That said, there are certainly cities and towns outside of the tourism radar—we’ll take a close look at those too. Decades later, the country has a very high literacy rate and good public schools. Access this information offline along with additional information detailing the questions you should ask when comparing multiple destinations. Ceviche and olla de carne are also popular. Whether you're searching for 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartments, studio apartments or any other rental condos, browsing through Point2 listings has never been easier. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans), Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL), Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child, International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child, 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...), Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre, Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre, Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate. This averages living costs across many months—you may spend more getting set up. It adds to the price of building a new home in Costa Rica, but it’s a small cost considering you can be confident all is well during the building process. In smaller cities, a monthly income is roughly $450 (which just above the country’s minimum age). Located in a unique and quiet area, the facility is 500 square meters. Housing Costs in Costa Rica. The house is in the middle of a peaceful environment full of trees, as you can see in the pictures. A note from Paul about our Costa Rica Cost of Living reports: “Sometimes I think we should call our monthly budget article “what we spend every month in Costa Rica” instead of “cost of living” or “our monthly budget.”We’ve had suggestions to that effect over the years. It’s because the amazing benefits easily outweigh the bad, in the minds of most expats. Though there are incredibly high-end suburbs (Bello Horizonte), a two-bedroom local-style apartment in San José runs $450 per month, and a nicer one would run about $875. And like all Central America expat spots, for Americans there is an added incentive that it’s on the U.S. time zones and flights are reasonably priced. With its rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes it is easy to see why numerous families have decided to make this paradise their home. And by all accounts, these are both activities in which the country excels. The vibe in the Gold Coast is made up of Tico culture and traditions and expats from around the world. Paul and Gloria are baby boomers who moved to Costa Rica in 2009 and regularly share their monthly expenses, which average at about $1,900 a month across a year. Mike lives in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica and is on a higher budget than some of the others profiled here. Your use of this service is subject to our Expats report a fair range of restaurants, art galleries, and enough options to keep life interesting. These guides include thorough breakdowns of the culture, quality of life, vibe, and—importantly—budget breakdowns so you can better plan which spot in the world best meets your needs. If you’re planning on moving to southern Costa Rica, or at least spending a considerable amount of time there, then Uvita, Costa Rica, is a place you’ll probably end up frequenting. Each region offers a different cost and quality of living, research and read local expat stories before you arrive. The Fun and Funky Costa Rican Beach Town of Dominical. Plus, by living in the Central Valley, you’re close to major infrastructures; San José is only an hour drive. It offers a great mix of nature, tours and beaches, along with the best shopping options between Palmar Norte and Quepos. But the Volcan Arenal is nearby across the lake, and that brings in a fair number of tourists. It’s because the amazing benefits easily outweigh the bad, in the minds of most expats. She also echoes what is a common refrain—owning a private car and then buying gasoline is expensive. 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