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17 Best Places to Live in Costa RicaAugust 8, 2022

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. Many expats.warn newcomers about the high cost of housing and food. In this updated version of the best places to live in Costa Rica we cover many more locations such as Playa Flamingo, Nosara, Lake Arenal, Jaco Beach and Ojochal. This week, we highlight 7 cities & towns from our article, 17 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica:

Guanacaste Region

One member offered advice to a newcomer looking to settle on the beach in Guanacaste, "I recommend looking at Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, and Samara as moderate size beach towns (small compared to full size CR cities) with decent stores and restaurants conveniently available. You could also look at Playa Grande, Potrero, Playa Flamingo, Playa Hermosa, etc for smaller town options - basically, drive along the coastal towns west and south of Liberia to find the right 'vibe' for what you want. You just need to find a town that feels right." Here are 3 popular cities in Guanacaste:

Playa Flamingo, Brasilito & Potrero

Brasilito, Playa Flamingo and Potrero (pop. 1-2k seasonally). "Excellent Expat communities but integrated with the local culture. Also they have two excellent accredited schools if you bring the kids. I would definitely check out Flamingo/Potrero," advised one member. The schools mentioned are La Paz Community School and Costa Rica International Academy (CRIA). Brasilito is 15 minutes north of one of Guanacaste's most famous beaches, Playa Conchal. Playa Flamingo and Potrero are just a few minutes up the coast from Brasilito," said one member. If you're on a look-see trip, you can enjoy sunset at Coco Loco at Flamingo Beach.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo (pop. 6.8k) "My wife and I live in Tamarindo - it has a very nice beach with many restaurants close to the beach. The sand drops off very gradually into the ocean, so you can play in the waves in the shallow water, and perhaps body surf or rent a boogie board (if not a surfer). Just find a stretch where you will not be run over by the numerous surfers coming in from deeper water. There are many expats in Tamarindo, but there's no real "meeting places." Breakfast at Nogui's on the beach is sometimes popular with expats. Tamarindo has about 80 restaurants, so it is a good place to find a variety of choices for eating," wrote one member living in Tamarindo.

Lake Arenal

Lake Arenal (pop. 17k+) is not a coastal area, but a lake 2 hours inland from the Pacific Coast. Lake Arenal includes numerous towns such as Volcan Arenal, Lago Arenal, Nuevo Arenal, La Fortuna, Tronadora and Tilaran. "People in this region, if they are not native to Costa Rica, are generally retired or have formed their own businesses, which is legal in Costa Rica as long as you have your legal residency. [The area is made up of] A very diverse community consisting of the locals (Ticos), US, Canadian, Austrian, Dutch, German, Spanish, Australians, etc. Life at Lake Arenal is very social and active. We have many social gatherings, fundraisers, water sports, and tourist activities for visiting friends and family. Ladies of the Lake, a large, diverse group of women who meet monthly to share their experiences, challenges, great food, and involvement in local charitable and fun activities," wrote one member. Visiting Lake Arenal? Moya's Place in Nuevo Arenal for dinner and live music can't be missed.

Puntarenas Province

Puntarenas Province is the south of Guanacaste and is the largest province in Costa Rica. Puntarenas makes up the majority of Costa Rica's pacific coastline. Here are 2 popular beach towns in Puntarenas (one is in the Costa Ballena region):

Playa Jaco

Playa Jaco (pop. 10k) "Foreigners move to Playa Jaco for the beaches, fabulous sunsets, close proximity to an international airport (SJO) and convenient shopping. Additionally, the community has a relaxed vibe, full of great restaurants, plentiful beach access, recreational activities and other expats and expats to socialize. Many beach locations in Costa Rica are expensive. However, Playa Jaco has a strong mix of locals and tourists which helps to keep the cost of living lower. You will find many types of housing here from single family, condominium complexes and beachfront homes in a multitude of price ranges to fit all budgets. The community has a local farmers market (feria) which is always a good deal to purchase locally from regional farmers. The price of fresh fish is an incredible value," described one expat in Playa Jaco. Checking out Playa Jaco? Get beachside seafood at Tacobar or El Hicaco.

Costa Ballena

The stretch of coastline in Puntarenas Province, called Costa Ballena, is home to a number of beautiful beaches and noted for the relatively large enclave of north American and foreign baby boomers, retirees and expats and expats residents. Ballena means "whale" in Spanish and this area is the mating area of the humpback whales seasonally from December to April. Additionally, there a whale's tail shaped beach (pictured above) that juts off the coastline in Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita.

Ojochal

Ojochal (pop. 1k estimated) "I just spent a month in Ojochal housesitting. It is a small village, with several nice features including a great ex-pat community, who pride themselves on contributing to the area and the people in many ways," remarked one member in Costa Rica. "There's a large US, Canadian and French contingent there, but you can also find residents from every continent," added another. "Ojochal has a great international community with nearly every continent represented in restaurants alone. The geography in the area is stunning with the largest mountain backdrops closest to the coast in the entire country. Zoning laws have been strictly upheld in the area with limits on height so NO high rise buildings and less deforestation than elsewhere in the country," described one member. In town to look around? Castillo's Kitchen at El Castillo hotel has delicious food and an amazing view of the ocean.

The Central Valley

Central Valley covers a very, very large area surrounding San Jose in all directions. "The Central Valley is at 4000 feet and perfect weather besides being close to the international airport which is key to our traveling back to the states and afar," explained one member. People choose the Central Valley for its cooler climate and close proximity to good hospitals and doctors, international schools, jobs, shopping and other amenities. Here are 2 of The Central Valley's popular cities:

Escazu

Escazu (pop. 15k)If you need to be near schools and San Jose, Escazu is an upscale suburb popular among expats. "Escazu is a very nice suburb outside of San Jose. It is busy and offers everything from shopping to convenience," said one member. Another said, "Escazu has some very nice areas and offers more in the way of stores, restaurants, medical care and entertainment." Those who prefer living in Atenas and other towns would debate that Escazu has a lot of crime, traffic and too many stores. We say, judge for yourself. If you're moving with kids and want a safe, suburban feel, Escazu may be the perfect spot.

Heredia

Heredia (pop. 125k) The city of Heredia is home to the European School, a pre-K through 12th grade school. "Heredia is large, by C.R. standards and busy. It's very close to beautiful mountains to the north and good proximity to San Jose," described one member. "The Heredia area has a variety of climates. It is cooler where I live. 15 min. drive up the mountain from me, it is even cooler. You can buy whatever you need locally and it is a fairly short trip to San Jose (capitol) which has museums and other attractions. If you like nature, just up the mountains there are amazing the forests and parks such as Barva Volcan. I like it here but it would not be for everyone," said another.