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Needs list: Realistic?

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Hominid
  12/5/2017 17:06 EST

Hey folks, I've just joined the forum and have been using the search function to find answers to a lot of my questions. Seems there are a few locations in CR that stand out as desireable, however there's nothing like boots on the ground experience...

So, before we commit to a fact-finding trip (likely in spring 2018), I'm wondering if those who live there now would find the following needs list unrealistic. Here goes:

• Some or most locals speak English (service people, retail)
• Walk / bike to markets
• Not too hot, e.g. Panama lowlands too muggy...
• 3 bedroom furnished or unfurnished
• Max budget of $1,730 USD
• One hour drive to ocean
• High speed Internet

Feedback MUCH appreciated. I'm not totally stuck on CR; Panama keeps coming up for us as well.

Thanks in advance,

--H

Kohl
  12/5/2017 17:46 EST

• Some or most locals speak English (service people, retail)
Some...but don't expect it, especially if in a more rural area.

• Walk / bike to markets
Depending on where you choose to live.


• Not too hot, e.g. Panama lowlands too muggy...
Don't live at beach, if you don't like heat & humidity. However. many interior places have humid areas to, during the rainy season

• 3 bedroom furnished or unfurnished
• Max budget of $1,730 USD
Getting a 3B home in a nice neighborhood, within one hour to the ocean, with hi speed internet access and is reliable, including utilities.and being able to eat out regularly for $1730 a month may/could be difficult, especially if you intend to have and maintain a vehicle. During the electrical storms Apr -Nov ( rainy season), it is recommended that computers, etc be turned off

It is no longer a inexpensive place to live, if on a strict budget and imported food isn't cheap.

https://costaricalaw.com/costa-rica-legal-topics/immigration-and-residency/residency-general-information-and-summary/

Definitely should visit prior to making any decisions. preferably multiple times.

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ILuvCR
  12/6/2017 07:54 EST

A) no, it's Latin America
b) walk anywhere you like, the Tico's do but it probably won't be that safe or fun unless you're in a park,
c) live in the mountains
d) three bedroom is not that common but are out there
e) $1730 per month will get some people buy but it would be tight
f) as there are two coast lines much of the country is one hour from a beach,
g) "high" speed internet is a relative term and C.R. is not know for it's technology

La Vida es buena, (if you can afford it)

Pura Vida!

Roseanna
  12/6/2017 08:37 EST

I live in Uvita on the Pacific side near the Whales tail. We are 2 1/2 hours from the border of Panama, and depending on what beach you want most here are within 10 15 ins, not hours away. I live IN Uvita and could (if I wasn't in a wheelchair) walk or bicycle to town it is maybe 2 blocks (USA type reference not 150 meters etc...) Many locals speak English and Uvita is one of the most up and coming expat moving here destinations. I find your budgets of under 1800.0 US dollars would fit well. We do get humid but are cooler than some if you live just a bit up the mountain areas. There are less mosquitoes. Most roads in town other than the highway are dirt but bicyclists ride on them all the time. If you are looking for a low key type of living with less pressures or time constraints it is lovely. If you want a faster pace type of life not so much, but still lovely. Good amount of varied restaurants and we are growing more expat type stores but that is also a slower rate... No big malls here we go to San Isidro or San Jose for those. Walk your dogs unleashed on beaches. Waterfall pools, The whales tail where you can watch whales in Dec... Places to get fresh fish. If you are a church go-er a wonderful English speaking Spanish Spanish speaking worship and service that Pastor Payton does each Sunday with a men's group on every second Monday and Wednesday night service. Come join us anytime.

lindyluvsCR
  12/6/2017 09:44 EST

1 I don't believe most stores have English speaking, but may,be a little broken. You can make do, and some do for years without speaking Spanish, but I believe it is rude.
2 My husband and I walk everywhere, or take taxi when too much rain or big things to carry, but not often. A lot cheaper and less complicated than having a car.
3 We live in Grecia Alajuela and need no a/c or heat.
4 Yes you can find 3BR rentals. Look at grecia real estate.net and go dutch realty for pics and prices.
5 You say "I". I definitely could make it on that much alone and have more than enough. For 2 depends on lifestyle. But haven't scrutinized our spending lately, but we live on that much for both of us.
6 Don't know exactly how long in car.
7 Speed is relative. Just go get a snack or something while waiting.

Hominid
  12/6/2017 10:12 EST

Hi lindyluvsCR ... Thanks for your response. By *I* I mean *we*... two of us. Grecia seems like a nice place, and is in my top 5 list. Our monthly budget will me more than that, but I'm trying to get a feel for the whole thing. Maybe we'll meet up some day. ;-)

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lindyluvsCR
  12/6/2017 13:56 EST

Roseanne - Uvita sounds nice. Just curious, do you have a car? About what is your temp high in Jan-April? What is your electric bill, and do you run a/c and if so how many hours a day?

lindyluvsCR
  12/6/2017 14:00 EST

Roseanne, and also, what is the name of your church, about how many? (We are musicians and play in church, just curious).

lindyluvsCR
  12/6/2017 14:16 EST

Homind - be glad to meet when you come next year. Send personal message with your email when you are coming. Be glad to answer more specific questions about Grecia if you want.

We used to live cheaper than we do now. Kind of opened our wallets wider but only because we discovered we can. But, we do not have car by choice. Don't eat out much, but that is by choice also. We prefer eating at home for health sake. But we do split an iced capucchino without sugar or cream, most days at cafe with Gringos. Have a favorite pizza place that cooks them on a wood burning kiln that I love better than any I have had anywhere. Then one time a week we eat a typical breakfast at a soda at the central market. We've tried them all, and is our favorite.

You need to have a cushion to cover residency, if you are getting one, and furniture etc if you don't get furnished. Where we first lived, we ended up replacing the furniture one by one, starting with bed and mattress that came over on the Mayflower. They had a storage room to put their stuff in.

Then after adding 2 dogs, there was no fence, so had to buy a house for the dogs. Ha Ha

lindyluvsCR
  12/6/2017 14:25 EST

Homidid - Forgot to say - I noticed you mentioned a one hour trip to beach which I am assuming meant you want to have a car.

I believe that the max budget amount you are stating, is too low to include a car. Between $5-6 a gallon for gas and the crazy cost of a car, in my opinion, would put you in the rice and bean level. You need to have leeway for at least a trip to private doctor or dentist once in a while. You don't want to be living right on the edge.

Hominid
  12/6/2017 15:18 EST

Ya, makes sense lindyluvsCR - thanks for that. Our budget will be somewhat more than what I mentioned, but I wanted to at least start somewhere to test out the waters. Thanks...

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lindyluvsCR
  12/6/2017 18:47 EST

Sorry I kept misspelling your name.

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