Pros and Cons of Living in San Jose

"Expats and digital nomads living in San Jose often appreciate the city's vibrant culture, friendly locals, and excellent climate. They also enjoy the city's affordability, with a low cost of living and plenty of affordable housing options. On the other hand, some expats and digital nomads may find the city's traffic and pollution to be a downside. Additionally, the city's infrastructure can be lacking in some areas, making it difficult to access certain services," said one member in San Jose.

"After the newbie excitement wears off, I doubt that there are many expats who really love living in Costa Rica. There are myriad problems and the lifestyle can actually be fairly boring. There's even a cottage industry of expats complaining about the country. However, especially for the money, Costa Rica is a more agreeable place to live than any other place I've lived. Most things, from utilities to the healthcare system, usually work, the weather is nice, and the people are friendly. Also, despite the high figures expats often toss around, $1000 a month for a single person is enough to live decently. This is more than the average local with a full-time job earns, and Costa Rica is a middle-income country, not "third world." I don't, of course, recommend that expats plan to live on this little. More is obviously more comfortable. Also, until or unless people know their way around and can navigate in Spanish, costs are usually higher. My point is rather that bang for the buck, Costa Rica offers a surprisingly agreeable quality of life. I moved to Costa Rica 14 years ago and haven't looked back. I read that half of expats leave within their first year, and that may be true. (Others stay and complain.) What works for some people doesn't work for others. However, I guess Costa Rica works for me. ," remarked one expat in San Jose.