I really don't know about the other countries. But when I pulled them up on blogs, it seemed their rent was not much different. Anyone can find a hole in the wall, but would you be comfortable enough?

For us, we live alot cheaper here than in south Florida. But we do not have a car, nor do we want the complications of one - expensive gas, insurance, maintenance, possibility of an accident.

Also, although a tad more complicated, we chose to buy a house after being here a year and a half. But the real estate insurance is about 1/10th of what it is in Florida.

We also use Magic Jack to call a few in the U.S. and it costs about $60 a year and then we just have prepaid phone for local calls here which amounts to next to nothing.

We rarely eat out but for us it is not important other than coffee drinks at cafe with friends 4-5 days a week.

So I cannot compare with other countries from experience. But I believe that CR has from what I have heard maybe a better quality of life. Although we are very frugal in comparison to some people, when buying something, we usually don't go for the cheapest. We like quality.

I have heard some people carry on about how expensive CR is, but when I see and hear how they live, well it would be expensive for them wherever they live.

For instance, I know of a couple that is returning to Canada because they claim CR is too expensive. Yet, they chose to ship a lot of, what I would call junk here, at a high price. Then they walk nowhere, and take taxi downtown every day, and have him wait on them, They eat out at expensive restaurants, or eat in a way that is expensive and then gripe about the price. They have few if any friends. And now returning and hauling a bunch of their junk back. In watching them live, they just make alot of unwise financial decisions. I believe you need to choose what you want to splurge on and keep a within a budget if you need to - and just enjoy life.

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My understanding is that Costa Rica does have the highest cost of living in Central America but also the highest standard of living. I say you get what you pay for, I have lived here for five years and while it's certainly not cheap it's for me.

La vida es Buena, if you can afford it!

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It's harder for a Canadian to live here than for an American because the Canadian dollar is very low.

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I love your no-frills way of approach to life!

I sure hope we can catch up with you over coffee during our visit. We plan to be there for the first time from 3/26-4/6.

Don

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Be glad to. Send personal message with email and phone number closer to time to arrive, or anytime. and will put on calendar.

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you can achieve more in other countries, but social stability and real owner ship of properties is 100% guarantee in Costa Rica, besides, peace, potable water, cleaning, and social care does not have price..!!

www.costaricahostandguest.com

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The alternative to being a 'slave to the grind' can outweigh through a typically N. American (haughty) viewpoint, paired WAY back; reset your life...my intent!

In few words, adjust yourself & live and spend locally, re-build the inexpensive LIFE-style with resourcefulness. It's Costa Rica! Central America.

Cheers,
MjC

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Exactly! I understand that African continent is "cheaper", although....

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I chooseta' look positively towards opportunity, and alter my own LIFE-style costs accordingly. I am a guest there, suggest this thinking instead of a 'resort' mindset.

Liberate, you
MY .02.

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C. America not for everyone long-term. Use ur' own brand of due diligence; read, ask, learn...prepare

Suggestion: Enjoy Chris Howard's VERY concise guidebook, New Golden Door to Costa...Jam-packed with LIFE-style direction, tips and expectations.

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Sure! If you just can't shake-off 'Americana'. Keep an open mind, be astute and let-go

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I live in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The cost of living in Nicaragua is substantially lower. Many Americans have moved from CR to Nic for this reason. Restaurants, Entertainment, Labor, Housing, and Transportation are much cheaper in Nicaragua. Both countries are beautiful with natural resources, mountains, and beaches. The inflation that caused housing costs to rise in CR is beginning to hit Nicaragua.

The key to living a frugal lifestyle in Central America is to try not to live the way you lived in the US. Try to live like the locals. The more Americans that live in a certain area, the more expensive the housing will be. Eat where the locals eat; avoid the fast food restaurants. Instead of taxis walk or take the bus. If you are careful with your money, you can have an inexpensive lifestyle anywhere in Central America.

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Mate, that seems like the answer I expected. Living in a good area may be an expense I would not compromise on but everything else would be. After the rent living in most Central American countries should be similar.

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mate...
Do you live 6 months in each country?
I just spent 6 nights in Nicaragua and I loved it!
I told my husband that one day after we get the Permanent Residency (we have the temporary one) here in CR maybe we could think about living in both countries.

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mate31658649, did you obtain residency in both countries? We live in CR and will have permanent residency next year, but we are considering spending substantial time in both countries to spend time with family that lives in Nica. I am interested in possibly gaining residency in Nicaragua while also maintaining my residency in Costa Rica.

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I have never been to Nicaragua, but have a friend that has gone there often. The one thing that drives him crazy, is that the taxi drivers rip off foreigners and up the price even for very short distances. He gets so mad that when they quote him a ridiculous price, he just walks a long way instead.

Has any of you that have been there alot heard the same?

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Freedom16
Some other points of interest- When I was sick, the doctor made a HOUSE CALL, stayed 30 minutes and charged $17. My Chiropractor charges $10. Property Taxes on a 4 bdrm 3 bath house is $28 per year.

Pombinha
I live in Nicaragua 4 mo, CR 4 mos, 3 mos in Florida, & 1 mo travel to other places.

ShermanWC
My wife of 41 years was born in Nicaragua. This makes it easier for us to travel.

Lindyluvscr

The taxis in Nicaragua don"t have meters, but if you negotiate the price first, you will find the fares are cheap; otherwise the taxi driver will take advantage of the tourists.

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mate ...
Can you adopt me?-LOL!

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I arrived CR in 1991..moved the family in 95.

Loved it, but as it became increasingly oppressive..COL, regs, marcharmo, traffic cameras, along with the possibility of having your home retitled (stolen..not uncommon) by one of their attorneys of unmatched integrity...

Moved south to David 2011...the COL is half...no hassles with any of the above. Extremely convenient, and Boquete has the same cool climate as SJ.

Still love Rohrmoser of that era, but that place that I knew no longer exists.

Did I mention mandatory health ins...administered by docs ...some of whom have been convicted of organ harvesting??

And these laws are not written in stone, so as they get closer to default (recent bond downgrade) expect more of the same.

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bill27, I really missed your over the top negativity (not) about Costa Rica! The "harvesting organ's" story is as old as the hills and twice as dusty.

Thought your great new life in COL (??) would keep you too busy to troll our site?

Pura Vida!

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Oh yeah--Panama is great--well just the occasional union uprisings where they riot and chop folks up with machetes. I had a trip planned to Bocas del Toro but had to cancel because of that type of fun. And attorneys stealing titles is old news---certainly not common today by any stretch. Oh well guess this guy got bored and needed some attention.

Gill Phelan
www.gvecr.com

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thug-life

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Hey Luv..how's the wife...

as mentioned, you will never be able to depart CR,...she has a lifetime pension thanks to you.

The kicker is she no longer has to clean...when that was what you hired her to do...

She sniffed out an easy mark...that's you, Gomer.

Just for laughs try to cross the border some time....believe me, you can't.

I was living in CR before you could find it on the map...most likely you still can´t,..

It's been fun...thanks....you never disappoint.

To get back the question, yes it is expensive, and from my experience over 25 years plus it is getting much worse....as in a recent law ...CR will now hold 15 percent of your money, as a tax, when you try to wire funds out such as in the sale of a property....

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You are off topic ...people catching on to the hell hole the carib coast of CR is...??

I smell the flop sweat, pal.

Do your due dilligence prior to moving...retitling property in CR is an ongoing problem

Do a google search on the carib coast of CR... as it is best to be avoided.

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Oh yeah--hell hole all right--only has a new megaport, you know a tiny little billion dollar project, another 1.4 Billion investment the brand new hydro project--the largest in Central America, brand new hospital, brand new main road expansion, new paved road the whole length of the coast! You don't have a clue of what you are talking about--stay in Panama and mind your business there as you obviously know nothing about the Caribbean of Costa Rica. Funny thing is there is a thing called the internet??? People can check all this out themselves and don't need your useless, uninformed negative bs.
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Costa_Rica_adds_hydroelectric_dam_to_clean_energy_grid_999.html

http://news.co.cr/port-project-aims-make-costa-rica-major-logistics-center/56553/

Gill Phelan
www.gvecr.com

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I'm not sure I'd call the Province of Limon a "hell hole" exactly, but I do understand your sentiments. My ex is from Guacimo and both her brother and uncle were murdered in the street (on separate occasions). No, they weren't involved in the drug game, merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. Couple that with the stifling heat and humidity and one quickly comes to the conclusion that the Meseta Central is a far more attractive option where there are still some nice areas away from San Jose.

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You are off topic

And the google search reveals..."Canadian Tourist stabbed to death in Puerto Viejo, Limon CR"
Costa Rica Star 11 hours ago

There are no big resorts on that coast, as too many negatives there..drugs, etc.

May I add as you search for CR info, careful with the RE salesmen that patrol this site...it is no longer the utopia of the 80s. and early 90s.

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Oh my!!! A crime committed in Costa Rica!!! What a hell hole it must be---still idiotic bs based on trolling the internet. Pay attention to Panama if you actually live there. Yeah Real Estate salesmen---gosh how can you trust someone who spends 10 years and millions of dollars building 10 miles of roads and electric and beautiful houses--I mean you have to find someone with skin in the game right? What a joke

Gill Phelan
www.gvecr.com

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You are off topic once again.

Getting to you though, huh??

I am back to CR frequently. 25 years experience there.

Owned two apts, and a home in Rohrmoser.

People write here for an objective opinion by those knowledgeable about CR

Kudos...very bright investing like that in the hell hole of CR.



And finally to answer your question once again....the col is rising and these are the types you want to avoid.

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No it's just you and your negativity and off base opinions were not missed--been a much better forum without you. No worries I am just fine and dandy you just annoy me.

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I agree that the lowlands around Guacimo and the wetness of Guapiles is not something most gringos would be looking for. Our project is in the foothill of the mountains with a pretty much constant breeze making life without A/C easy--just fans. As in all Costa Rica just a few miles difference can be quite different in many ways.

Gill Phelan
www.gvecr.com

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Ok, so you are selling RE, and take exception to anyone who expresses an honest, but less than enthusiastic opinion as to the direction of things in CR.

You police the site.

People access the site because they want it warts and all....not just happy talk from a RE salesman.

I have nothing to sell. I am a former US Naval officer and a federal service academy grad....you are looking for a client..good luck with that

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Agreed. The higher up the mountain the better in terms of climate and there are some very scenic spots above Guapiles. I personally have never had any issues with crime and I've spent quite a bit of time there. I just wanted to pass along what happened to a couple of my in-laws. There are rough sectiona in many cities and towns, but most locals will tell you that it's gotten worse in Guapiles and Guacimo at least.

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No honesty is what I like--to call a place a hell hole when BILLIONS of dollars in improvement--beautiful new hospital--new roads---your opinion is worthless and stupid. Heck everyone should take a look at your past vitriolic, nasty and stupid posts and they will know how worthless what you say is. Yeah yeah your a big deal and all---still stupid. bye--go back to worrying about beautiful wonderful Panama--you know---the place that is kept afloat by money laundering, drug dealing and the canal!

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You are still off topic.

I post from my experience, and when
an ad hominem attack comes along, I respond in kind.

Once again, I would caution on moving to the carib coast, as this is what you'll be dealing with.

Note .... no upscale RE salesmen from Guanacaste here....

The fact that you feel the need to police this site as a salesman....well, you don't disappoint either...thanks.

You've shown your true colors...

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Last one---for your info this site exists for all of us good or bad by the fact that PAID advertisements support it, it is not free. So your perception that somehow this site is policed as opposed to monetarily supported is as incorrect as your other warped ideas.

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Another off topic ad hominem attack.

Think of all the time you could be devoting to clients while you police this site...oh you have no clients..

Right... if you had clients you wouldn't be here.

Let's see, you have denied that retitling (stealing of titled property) is an ongoing problem in CR.
It is..and you're angry because you don't want the unsuspecting to be informed.

You never disappoint...better get back to your office....bet there's a big line waiting there....

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"Stealing properties with paperwork is profitable because Costa Rica law protects those who are assumed to be innocent third parties who purchase stolen properties and may not be so innocent. That leaves the real owner with little recourse."

Source AM Costa Rica..."Arrests made in four cases of property fraud"
January 20, 2017

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bill, dude give it a rest! we got it you don't like C.R. now why not go on about your business? must be a slow week where you live? get a life why don't you?

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What in TNOG are you talking about...you are on every thread.


I believe the point has been made as to the relative costs, and ongoing problems in CR.

I've owned homes in 6 countries....never felt the least bit defensive as to any critics..

And as I am attacked ...will continue to respond...thanks....

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hello, i am wonder and bit concern about how anger and fear can affect people from different countries and different life perspective, i love panama, my partner is hawaian and lives there, it is a great country, and yes,it is, super nice, safe and cheap, but also Costa Rica, but in different ways..each place have different things and different people, basically, one depends of the one another, as my hands...as far you can travel, as far you may arrive, even with success, the longest journey you have to do, is between your mind and your heart, peace and love for everyone..

www.costaricahostandguest.com

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'm guessing your name is Lindy? My name is Don and my partners name is Tara.

We are arriving in San Jose on Sunday 3/26. We had hoped to come to Grecia on Tues 3/28. About how long does it take to drive from San Jose to Grecia?

We also hope to spend a day or two up around Monteverde & Arenal. Again it would help us if you could offer a guesstimate as to driving distances time-wise from San Jose up to those areas.

I am 60 and looking to retire around late 2018. Tara is 50 and also considering retirement. We are both very unhappy over the political changes occurring in the USA and are interested in considering Costa Rica as a possible Plan B.

Thank you for your time!

Don

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Don, check this out and I hope that it helps. Remember things seem close but driving is very slow!

https://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/travelTime.asp#69

Pura Vida!

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Don,

San Jose to Grecia is easy, the airport is actually in Alajuela and Grecia is about a 35 minute drive from there. It might take an hour from downtown San Jose. To go to Arenal or Monteverde will be a few hours more, be sure you get on the fastest route of it could be much more. The colonial towns around the central valley are good places to live but San Jose has a big traffic problem. Many of us prefer the coastal area but it will be hotter. I chose the southern Pacific area, less crowds, great community, nice beaches and restaurants but less cultural offerings. We can drive to Quepos in an hour and have tourist central or an hour to San Isidro Perez Zeledon for big city shopping. 90 minutes to Panama is nice and the Osa region rocks for wildlife. Check out Uvita or Ojochal if you don't like the central valley

Steve Linder

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Don - like Steve said, about an hour or so depending on traffic, and 4 or more hours to Monteverde and Arenal.

For me, Costa Rica is Plan A, and US about Plan D or E.

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However, traveling from Arenal to Monteverde may take three hours...

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