For many years, Costa Rica has been advertised as one of the best refuges in the world. With a stable democracy, a growing economic government friendly to foreigners and a tropical climate, as well as incredible natural beauty, literally earned the phrase "Switzerland of Latin America."
Is that still true?
Is it as expensive as Switzerland?
Pensioners still come here?
Should they still consider Costa Rica?
For many people, there appear to be less expensive retirement points, such as Panama or Nicaragua. For others, Costa Rica has become too touristy. Still others believe that Costa Rica is full of gringos.
I want to debunk these concepts and others, and suppose that Costa Rica is still a great place to retire or start a new life if you have not retired, especially if you choose your location and activities carefully.
Costa Rica is too expensive!
I have been living in Costa Rica for about two years, but I have often been in the country and leave the country since 1989 and founding my extensive trips around the country in connection with my “Boomers in Costa Rica Pension Tours”, I found that there is still inexpensive areas to live in, especially if you stay away from the nearby suburbs of San Jose.
Take, for example, the beautiful city of San Ramon, an agricultural town of 70,000 people, located on the northwestern edge of the Central Valley. Home to three former presbyters, including Don Pepe, who abolished the army in 1948 and created the foundation for today's robust democracy, San Ramon offers a peaceful environment in which to live, but it offers all the services of a larger city, including numerous supermarkets , a shopping center with a three-screen theater, numerous outstanding restaurants and warm, hospitable locals. It is also only 40 minutes from Alajuela International Airport, one hour from San Jose and 40 minutes from the Pacific Coast.
San Ramon also offers a wide selection of lots to build retirement homes alone, or in the mountains, which Tico Times calls Tuscany or Provence Central America, or the stunning properties of the ocean view, where you can see the Nicoya Peninsula, The Pacific Ocean and the bustling port city of Puntarenas.
Land prices are still low, and some lots are cheaper than $ 15,000 for a batch of half acres, up to $ 75,000 for an incredible 2.25 acre ocean view boat. With another $ 60,000 to $ 75,000, you can have an incredible view of the ocean and a house full of all the services you need, worth less than $ 200,000. If you decide that you don’t want ocean views, you will pay even less, perhaps around $ 100,000 for good work and a home.
Property taxes are very low, only 0.25% of the registered value of your home / land. I paid $ 66 for property taxes for a whole year! The local government service even asked me if I wanted to pay my taxes quarterly!
If you rent more of your style, you can still find beautiful two-room, modest homes for rent under $ 200 a month. The low cost of housing, combined with very low prices for food and utilities, makes San Ramon a great deal. The cities of Greece, Sarki, Atena and Naranjo also offer excellent value; you just need to know where to look for or contact an experienced and knowledgeable local or gringo to help you.
I also eat cheaply, sometimes $ 1.50 for breakfast, $ 2.00 for lunch, and then I spend for dinner, sometimes $ 4 $ 6, and that is if I go out to eat! Of course, if you visit the wonderful outdoor markets of this country, you will find the freshest meat products, fruits and vegetables and be able to cook for yourself and spend even less.
I need good and convenient medical care!
Some foreigners living in Costa Rica complain that the medical system is full, and it often takes many hours to see a doctor. Yes, in some areas per capita less than in the United States, but this generally applies to people living in the San Jose area, and often refers to people who choose to get into the CAJA system, the most basic medical insurance program ruled by the government, to which most Ticos belongs.
As soon as you leave the San Jose area, even if you are in CAJA, the lines are smaller and more often than you, you will get excellent relationships with an English-speaking doctor who is well prepared, and in some cases, will even call home calls. There are other private programs that allow you to see any doctor, and even these programs are much cheaper than state insurance programs.
There are also several distinguished hospitals in Costa Rica that provide the same level and quality of care as in the United States. CIMA San Jose Hospital, which is connected to the Baylor Medical Center in Houston, is a brand new facility with all the new technologies that you will find at any top hospital in the United States. In fact, my doctor at CIMA has more advanced technology in his office than my doctor in New York. Clinica Biblica, also close to San José, is also another hospital with the same quality of care as CIMA.
Too many tourists!
Costa Rica, of course, travels well on tourism and sees more than 1 million holidaymakers per year. If you visit the beaches of Manuel Antonio, the Monteverde rainforest or the Arenal Volcano in the dry season, yes, you will see many North Americans and Europeans. However, living here, especially in cities such as San Ramon or Greece, you can hardly find out that this is the tourist season. These cities and other people see few tourists and move on their own unhurried, but consistent pace of the year.
In fact, visiting the tourist destinations in the off-season is a significant benefit for living here, especially considering that prices are significantly lower than in the high season.
Costa Rica counts about 40,000 North Americans among its residents, mostly from the United States. They come for various reasons, not wanting to leave their corporate career for more meaningful work, just wanting to retire and enjoy the slower, more relaxed pace of life that Costa Rica suggests.
Although these expatriates are scattered throughout Costa Rica, most of them live in the suburbs surrounding San José, such as Escazú, Santa Ana and Quidad Colon. Quite a lot of ex-pats live in beach communities up and down the Pacific coast, while fewer people live on the Caribbean coast. However, many people are beginning to notice the small towns in the Central Valley, such as Greece, Sarki, Naranjo and San Ramon, as well as even smaller pueblos surrounding these cities. These cities and the pueblo offer a relaxed pace of life, reasonable property prices and total cost of living.
That way, you can live in Costa Rica and not feel overwhelmed by gringos or high prices in other parts of the country. However, if you want to live among "kind", you can do it too!
Historically, Costa Rica was a country that is primarily attractive to retirees; those people in the late 50s or early 60s (and in some cases much older) who wanted a small house and could live much cheaper than in North America or Europe. However, Costa Rica is also beginning to attract many baby boomers, especially people who are not yet ready to retire.
In addition to a more peaceful and simpler life, these people, of course, are not working yet. They can own businesses that they can work from virtually anywhere. They can also be writers or artists. Still others come here to invest their time and money in new businesses. Many people have made a successful transition from corporate careers in the states to flight and breakfast, running a surf shop, offering tours, investing in real estate, and more. Costa Rica is a very business-friendly country, and the opportunities here are endless.
The roads are terrible!
As in any developing country, especially during the rainy season throughout the year, as well as with trucks and cars using the same one often, with a two-lane road, it can be difficult to keep the roads in perfect condition all the time.
Fortunately, with the new administration of the Nobel Prize winner, President Oscar Arias, important steps are being taken to solve these problems. Millions of dollars were allocated for the construction of new roads and repairs. Costa Rica has come a long way in improving its infrastructure, and it is only improving.
No hablo espanol!
Although you can do without knowing the Spanish language, you will have the best experience if you try to learn at least some keywords, phrases and sentences. Also, being a tico (hopefully bilingual!) It will be a long way to help you do everything here.
For example, on our retirement tours, we provide a post-travel transplant service, where we connect our clients with Tico to help with some of the critical “post-transfer” tasks, such as obtaining a driver's license, connecting electricity, telephone and Internet services, as well as many other things. I could not do without my “Tico connections”, and my Spanish is getting better.
But Costa Rica is in Central America!
Central America has a reputation as a very poor population, and historically the region is overwhelmed with complete political chaos, dictators, communists, and intervenes in foreign countries. However, Costa Rica has a continuous and stable democracy since 1948, and the transition to new administrations was as peaceful as in the United States. Yes, there are poor people here, but this is nothing more than impoverished poverty, for example, in Nicaragua or Honduras.
Costa Rica also did not experience the gang war that rages in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. In these countries, it remains somewhat dangerous, and political systems are still not completely stable. Housing and land can be much cheaper, but is it worth paying less to live if you experience a reduction in power for six to eight hours every day (as is the case with Nicaragua laTely) or, more importantly, live in fear?
I also found that people are much more gringo-friendly than in other countries in the region, and not just friends with us for our money. They are very hardworking, genuinely interested in exploring North Americans, and for us it is not difficult to integrate into the society of Costa Rica. I can’t tell you how many parties and dinners I’m inviting to Tiko’s houses since I moved here. They are friendly people!
With millions of baby boomers in North America — more than 70 million of them — retire now or over the next 20 years, and they live longer than previous generations, it will take a lot to live well in retirement, especially in the United States. money. Costa Rica remains a good alternative? Yes! Will you succeed here and enjoy yourself? Absolutely! Come and meet wonderful people and the natural environment that we still call paradise. We are here, living our dreams and happy to help you! You can even email me at: boomersincostarica@gmail.com.
