Comments on: Costa Rica: What’s the Cost of Living?

By: Elena Kalugina

Elena Kalugina — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:47:23 +0000

I have a few vegan raw food friends who live in Costa Rica and they love it. Personally I would not like bugs, like you don’t like barking dogs (“drives me completely crazy!”) The haphazard road deaths are definitely a red flag for me me since I love living not having to constantly worry about drivers – “driving defensively” makes me think of Mad Max and car wars. I also love riding my electric scooter, roller blades, and bike. I would love the warm tropical water and beaches… yet right now while our son is 7 we are getting a VERY low cost of living in our new town on the outer perimeter of of Las Vegas! (silly how people only think of Vegas as gambling it’s like thinking of NY city as just Central Park) I look forward to increasing our non-location based vegan businesses and traveling to Costa Rica (and Panama, Dominica, Mexico, Bermuda, Hawaii, Bali…) in the next few years. Thanks for all your insightful tips!

By: george richard willcox

george richard willcox — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:29:47 +0000

thanks looking forward to info on other tropical places

By: george richard willcox

george richard willcox — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:21:41 +0000

live in colorado springs colorado now but plan to move to another country in the next couple of years.I have been to cr two or three times already and I really like the smaller towns outside of the capital city of SRosa
I have not been to other country’s yet but so far for the weather, the fruit
and the friendly people CR is the favorite on my list

By: Frederic

Frederic — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:09:18 +0000

Hi Heidi,

For your information, I have a complete course on “How to Move to a Tropical Paradise” that features much more details about moving to Costa Rica, part-time or full-time. Check it out at: http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/tropicalparadise.html

To answer your question, costs really depend on what you want. Generally from $500 for something nice all the way up to $3000.

Buying a car is the way to go if you’re going to stay here long-term (more than a few months). Otherwise renting a car can be expensive, like $50 a day minimum.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:57:14 +0000

Thank you very much for sharing this information. Would you be able to share how much it would cost to rent either a condo or an apartment in the area that you live in in CR? Also, you mentioned that you live in a quieter area, which is what I would also be interested in doing. How much would it cost to rent a car — I imagine that if you are out in the quieter areas that you might need a vehicle to get around to do errands, day trips, etc.

Merci beaucoup Fred!
Heidi
Ottawa, Canada

By: cecilia

cecilia — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:27:07 +0000

“I don’t buy organic unless I can find it.” – does this mean, it is hard to find organic grown (or at least untreated) fruit in costa rica? how do they usually treat their produce? you are raw for years, aren’t you – so how do you get along with eating pesticide loaded fruit, greens, etc?

& another question about getting residency: what does it take to get residency in cr? can anybody get it or do you have to meet certain conditions?

thank you for all of this information!
ceciila

By: Frederic

Frederic — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:15:15 +0000

I like the Pacific coast, from Quepos to Uvita and Ojochal. In all of these areas you can live in the hills where you get the ocean breeze.

By: Frederic

Frederic — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:14:33 +0000

It is true: lots of driving accidents in Costa Rica. Most victims are motorcyclists, cyclists and people walking on the side of the road. You have to drive defensively. Follow driving rules and you should be okay. I don’t think it’s as bad as it seems, but I would recommend against walking on a busy or curvy street and cycling in general in this country, as well as riding a motorcycle.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:42:07 +0000

Hi Frederic, Thanks for the interesting article on Costa Rica. How big are the spiders? Whats a good place to live or visit on “higher ground” near the mid Pacific coast?

By: donna

donna — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:33:45 +0000

Great article – thank you! I’ve been doing some research on other countries for a future move and have read many good things about Costa Rica. However, I would appreciate your view on something negative I read about it: that being that Costa Rica is the most dangerous country in the world for driving, with the highest number of fatalities. Wondering what your take on this is, please.