If you’ve researched living or moving to Costa Rica, one of the reasons for your move is probably the cost of living in Costa Rica.
As Costa Rica is a top retiree destination for Europeans, Canada and USA, many retirees move here because of the cost of living in Costa Rica. It’s a lot cheaper and they can make their social security check stretch far longer.
For digital nomads, they want to enjoy the great weather, beaches and fun outdoor adventures Costa Rica offers while they are able to work online.
In case you’re thinking about moving to Costa Rica whether temporarily or permanently, you can get an idea of how much living in Costa Rica will cost you.
What is the Cost of Living in Costa Rica?
Below is our personal cost of living in Costa Rica from when we used to live in Playas del Coco, back in 2014. Although our situation has changed and we don’t live there anymore, this will give you a good idea of how much it will cost to live in Costa Rica.
*At this time, we were two adults working work from home full time. No kids, no pets.*
All prices are in USD.
Cost of Living in Costa Rica: Rent
Monthly rent: $400 without utilities
We lived in Las Palmas, a popular neighborhood in Playas del Coco. Our condo was a loft, with one bedroom and one full bathroom. Our loft was quite small, about 400 square feet or 37 sq meters.
Rent was $400 USD a month without any utilities. No security, laundry, water, electricity, Internet or cable.
However, unlike other complexes in Las Palmas, ours didn’t have a pool, laundry or rancho. Most condo complexes in Las Palmas have all those things so we were able to negotiate a bit of a cheaper price back then.
Our place was not really furnished either so we bought nearly everything: bed, washing machine, couch, coffee table, tv set, dining table, chairs, curtains, etc.
Cost of living in Costa Rica for rent varies as it depends on what kind of place you want to live in. You can find very “Tico” style (like local style homes) for cheaper prices like $300-800 USD a month. Those are usually in local neighborhoods/towns and have minimal furnishings.
On the other hand, you can find luxury homes and condos for $1000 USD and up.
Location is important too
It also depends on location. Want to be in walking distance to the beach or right in downtown? It’ll be more expensive. Renting in Tamarindo, Jaco or in the nice neighborhoods of San Jose? Plan to pay a LOT more than if you were to stay in a local town like Atenas or San Ramon. Touristic coastal towns and the nice city neighborhoods are always more expensive.
*When we lived in Jaco for 6 months in 2015, we lived in Costa Linda Condominios and paid $750 USD a month for 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms with security, parking, laundry, Internet, cable and pool. This was a very nice condo in a tower with an elevator. When we lived in Villarreal in 2016, the small town outside Tamarindo, our rent was $375 for a 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, non furnished place, no utilities. We always paid 6 months in advance. This was not the nicest apartment. It was very old and needed a A LOT of maintenance.*
Electricity: ~$80
We mainly used one air conditioning unit at night and a bit during the day. Electricity isn’t that cheap in Costa Rica unfortunately. For a 400 square foot place (37 sq meters), it definitely cost more than I expected to run the AC at night in just the bedroom and a couple hours in the living room.
I know some people who left their two or three ACs on all day and night and their bill came out to be four hundred dollars a month. Depending on what your standard of living is and your tolerance to heat, your electricity bill can get much higher than $70 a month.
Water: ~$10
Internet and Phone~$80
Our Internet provider was Tigo and we have 5 mb speed. We do not have cable. If we wanted cable, it would have been $80 with the same speed of Internet as a package.
*Now we have fiber optic with Kolbi and it costs around $80 a month.
Yeison had a contract with ICE for around $25 a month for his iPhone and I have a prepaid SIM card that I normally spend about $10 a month with calls, text and data.
*Now I have a Costa Rican phone number with a paid contract, our bill is around $78 USD for both phone lines with Kolbi.
Groceries: $400
Groceries takes up a big chunk of our monthly budget. We usually did one big shopping trip every week or so. For each big shopping trip we spent approximately $150.
There are many things more expensive in Costa Rica and food is one of them in Playas del Coco, particularly meat. Depending on how big your family is or what you buy, your expenses can skyrocket past $400 a month easily.
We used to shop a lot at Super Luperon and Auto Mercado in Playas del Coco but now in 2021, the Pricemart in Liberia is open so we go there for a lot of things now. If you plan to live in Costa Rica long term, we highly recommend purchasing a Pricemart membership for grocery shopping. (Pricemart is exactly like a Costco in the US and they are found in Liberia and the GAM cities such as San Jose, Alajuela and Heredia).
Gas and Car Maintenance: $150
*Yeison and I work from home so we were not driving to and from work everyday.*
Back then, we didn’t go out much. We walked to the beach and would only drive if we were going outside of Playas del Coco like to other beaches or Liberia. That helped keep our gas costs down a lot. Additionally, we had a 4 door small sedan with a V4 engine so it didn’t spend too much.
Something to note is that gas costs considerably more in Costa Rica than in the United States. However, diesel is readily available and cheaper than gas so in 2017, we switched our car to a diesel car. We drive a lot more now since we live about 10 kilometers from the beach so we have to drive to surf.
Cars are extremely expensive in Costa Rica so a lot of foreigners purchase used cars instead of brand new cars.
Going out: $150
Yeison and I aren’t huge partiers so we never spent much money on going out. We don’t smoke so no money for cigarettes or marijuana. Yeison does like to drink beer, sometimes whiskey but that’s about it as I don’t drink or smoke.
A lot of people, especially our age, go out on weekends or weeknights to party and drink but we have always preferred small hang outs with friends. And instead of partying, we liked to go to the beach, fish, walk, swim, have a barbecue, etc.
As for eating out, Yeison and I didn’t eat out too much in Coco. We went out on the weekends sometimes and then a few times a week to maybe Subway or one of the local restaurants or bakeries. I love to cook and preferred to cook than eat out to be honest.
If you like fine dining and partying, you can end up spending a good several hundreds of dollars a month.
Misc
Yeison and I barely do any clothes shopping in Costa Rica. We usually buy clothes online and have our friends bring them from the States. Clothes is also expensive in Costa Rica so this could increase your expenses greatly if you go shopping often. Sometimes we’ll get a pair of flip flops or beach clothes when there is a sale or if we really need it.
We used to go to the movies maybe once a month, since the closest theater to us was in Liberia. Playa Hermosa has a nice theater too but it’s very small and usually only plays 2 movies so we only went there once.
Then we had other expenses like taxes, haircuts, gifts, travel, etc.
Our Cost of Living in Costa Rica
Back then, our cost of living in Costa Rica was pretty good, around $2000 USD a month. We lived in a nice little condo close to the beach. We lived simply but still had fun going out with friends, throwing barbecues and going to different beaches nearby.
Nowadays, our budget is quite different because we bought a property and have two dogs. So it’s a bit more than before as we have more expenses.
And if you talk to other foreigners living in Costa Rica, you’ll notice monthly expenses vary a lot. It honestly depends on your lifestyle. Do you want an ocean view luxury home? A big car? Do you leave your air conditioning on all day? Or just need the basics? Have kids or pets? It really depends!
When it comes down to it, it all depends on your standard of living in Costa Rica.
You don’t need to be making hundreds of thousands a year to have a good life in Costa Rica. Just like any other country, there are pros and cons. And just like other countries, there are things more expensive in Costa Rica and things cheaper in Costa Rica.
What your cost of living in Costa Rica will be really depends on location and lifestyle. But we hope this post gives you at least an idea of what your budget may be if you plan to live here temporarily or permanently.
Michael Arndt says
Hello!
Thank you for all this valuable information. I will be retiring in July 2021 with the intent of moving to CR before the end of the year. I am a city boy (Grand Rapids, MI USA) that loves traveling into the natural areas to recharge. I also want to try to integrate into the local Tico population because I love interacting and meeting with others; especially on the culinary side. Do you have any recommendations on a midsized urban area that would accommodate both my urban and suburban desires? Also, it is still valid that a budget of $2,000-$2,500 a month for a single is feasible? Thank you…
Mike
Sammi says
Hi Mike, I would definitely check out the small towns of San Ramon, Atenas or Grecia. They’re about 1 hour from San Jose so close enough for a direct bus ride to the capital city but small towns enough to give you both urban and suburban. They’re also very local towns but Grecia has a large population of North American retirees so you’ll still be able to meet people from many places, especially from the US. And since they’re smaller towns, you can definitely find places to rent for less than 2000 a month.
Orlando Banos says
HI thanks for the information on your blog. I’m planning an exploratory trip to Costa Rica in October thru December of this year. I’m curious to know whether expats integrate into the Tico culture or keep relations mostly with other expats, what has your experience been in this regard?
Sammi says
It depends on where you are in the country and which country the expats are from, but from my experience as a 30 year old who grew up in the US and is married to a Tico, the North Americans tend to keep to themselves and few of them actually learn Spanish or they only hang out with Costa Ricans who speak English (especially retirees). This is mostly at the coast in touristic beach towns like Playas del Coco, Ojochal/Uvita, Tamarindo, Nosara, Samara and Santa Teresa.
The younger foreigners, like entrepreneurs, young families and digital nomads will try to integrate a little bit more into Tico culture but even on the coasts they will tend to hangout with other expats that are similar to them but I notice they try harder when it comes to learning Spanish and CR culture than the retirees.
If you go to the Central Valley metropolitan cities, I know 30-40’s year old Americans and Canadians who married a Costa Rican, work in San Jose, have kids and speak fluent Spanish. So I think it really depends on where you go in CR.
This is purely from my experience and observations.
stephen says
Anyongha-sayo! Hello!
Just found mytanfeet and have been reading the posts. Thanks – have learned a lot. We have been to Thailand so we can appreciate the weather there. One thing I like is Costa Rica’s pensionado visa program as I have a $1,800 a month pension. With that being said, we (wife who is Korean & I (caucasian) currently in our early 50s) are looking at Costa Rica and was wondering if you think purchasing a condo would be worth considering?
I see lots of blogs about people renting houses away from touristy sites but I haven’t seen any with people who have purchased and live in a condo. I know there are monthly HOA fees but do you know of any other considerations? The reason for looking at a condo purchase is that we don’t want to do the ‘all or nothing’ bit. If we don’t like living in CR, then at least we can rent out the condo and or use it for vacations.
Of course we will make a few trips to CR and find a place that we like via renting. Anyway thanks for the tips and insight.
Stephen
Sammi says
Hi Stephen, a condo is a good idea for the maintenance and security all snowbirds (people who come here for a few months of the year) buy condos. You can find them in pretty much all touristic areas but if you go to the more remote places or local towns, you will find mostly homes, not really any condos. Then you can hire a property manager to take care of it if you rent it out.
Dana says
Thank you! I am looking into teaching in this area and your information was super helpful!
Sammi says
Hi Dana, I’m glad to hear that!
Adrienne Regnier says
I just have to say that a budget of $2000 a month is much more than I or any expats I know have. I have the simplest life of all the expats I know and my budget is closer to $400 a month. Just sayin’…..
Sammi says
For one person? It all depends on your standard of living. Since we aren’t retired, we are still working, our expenses are much more. Most of the foreigners in CR are retirees so they don’t necessarily need a car (we have two) or have many expenses. Although I can’t even imagine how to live in Costa Rica for $400 a month for one person, I don’t even know any locals who do that unless they own the house and don’t have Internet/cable or any extras.
Joe says
I am considering retiring to cr soon senior adult male alone!
Looking for something comfortable near beach an restaurant and shops will have $3000 mo income like to live like locals simple quiet healthy lifestyle does Jaco offer this thanks joe Cajun
monica says
We have come to Costa Rica twice, this year and last. On both trips we have used your blog for information and ideas. We find all your experiences and advice to be very helpful and accurate! We trust your recommendations and have encountered many great restaurants and tour because of them. Thank you so much. We love Costa Rica, and we will be back! Pura Vida
Mark Knick says
Thank you for the valuable first person information. I’m a retiring Country and blues guitar player/performer. I sing and play harmonica and ukelele also. I can teach anything music. I will be having 1500 a month to retire on. I am thinking to be close to San Jose. There I can find work playing in local joints and giving lessons. I love performing for people. I play and sing well, not a hack. I love to share by teaching the positive vibration of music to people. It is a life long gift. Is this something I could do in that town? Or am I dreamin? Maybe music school.
Sammi says
You can check out the private schools in the Central Valley area but it is very difficult for foreigners to find legal work and get a work visa as Costa Rica only gives them to foreigners who are fulfilling a position Costa Ricans can’t do. But you will have better luck at a private school probably in a big foreign community as they tend to hire teachers under the table.
yeison says
Hello Charles thank you for reading our blog, regarding your question we have seen immigrants from the United States “working” in the medical industry here but not legally, usually they provide services to friends. It is very difficult for foreigners to get a legal work visa because Costa Rica only gives work visas to foreigners who cannot fill a job that a COsta Rican cannot do so to find something in the medical industry is very difficult since Costa Rica has doctors for everything. You will also need to be 100% fluent in Spanish and pass their tests and inspection.
If you want to provide any kind of medical services according to the law and have your own clinic or business, you need to have a license, you can visit http://portal.medicos.cr/ for more information. They are the main authority in the country when it comes to authorized foreigners to practice. Thank you again for reading Mytanfeet 🙂
Charles Hollier says
Thank you Yeison. I appreciate your input.
Charles Hollier says
Sammi – My wife and I are considering moving to Costa Rica. We have investment cash flow to live comfortably. I am a type A personality so sitting still is not an option for me. I am also a physical therapist and really like what I do. I understand there is a medical tourism industry there. From your experience are are opportunities for expats to work?
Sammi says
Hi, yes you can bring pets to Costa Rica as long as they have the necessary paperwork. I have a post with the details here: Taking your pet to Costa Rica.
I go back to my home in the US every 6 months and sometimes less than that depending on our travel plans. As for benefits, everyone is different and is looking for different things but it is common knowledge that majority of people who move to Costa Rica either leave within the first year or leave after 5 or so years, they don’t stay there permanently. Most retirees have a vacation home or are “snowbirds” and apply for residency so they can take advantage of the Costa Rican health care system.
There are a lot of “expat” websites for US retirees in Costa Rica that will be more helpful for you (I’m not retired and I’m working in CR so it’s a different stage of life and my perspective would be different than a retirees). International Living is a very popular one for retirees. Good luck!
Nathan says
We are nearing retirement and are looking at Costa Rica as a new home. Are you able to bring pets with you to Costa Rica? Do you see your relatives from the states very often? What are the benefits of Costa Rica over US locations for retirees?
Thank you
Nathan
Louise says
Hello,
I really enjoyed reading your story!
My husband and I are retired and would like to escape the cold in Coco Beach Costa Rica next year for three months in 2018 January February and March. Do you know of anyone renting out a furnished one bedroom close to fruit markets and the beach.
We are on a fixed income from Canada so cannot afford much but we don’t need anything fancy and our needs are very basic. If you could point us in the right direction to find an honest person who would rent to a very quiet and respectful couple we would be very appreciative.
Thank you
Louise and Chuck
Sammi says
Hi guys, thanks for reading our blog. The most popular neighborhood in Coco is called Las Palmas, there you can find many 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condos walking distance to the beach and town. We lived there for a year and paid $400 a month plus utilities, but for only a 3 month rent which is considered short term in high season months of Jan, Feb, March, expect to pay a lot more. It’s good you’re looking early because it’s pretty much impossible to find rentals during those months. There are a few real estate agencies in town such as Palms Real Estate and you can get in touch with them to see how much it’ll be (many of the agents are North Americans). Good luck!
Paul says
Hi Sammi and Yeison,
I am retiring Jan 27,2017 and we are going tp Coco for at least the first 3 months. I have been searching for an apartment or condo to rent and I have been in contact with Palm Real Estate in Coco. Are you familiar with this company? They have several listings near the beach/shopping for $375 to $500 and that is what we are looking for. Just curious if they have a good reputation. Thank you so much for this blog. You provide a wealth of valuable information.
Sammi says
Hi Paul, yes we’ve actually rented from them before and it was fine.
Michelle Simmonds says
Hi…I am from Canada and have been thinking over the past couple of years of moving to Costa Rica and particularly more in the past week. I do love my home Country but do strongly believe that it is time for a change and of course I will still go back and forth as I have a lot of family here and I will also keep an address here to maintain my Healthcare. In regards to employment, I am not trying to be evasive, but you mentioned that you work from home. Do you mind if I ask what you do? I would too like to work from home if possible, but I have no problem with also having a daily full time job as I am not yet close to retirement. My experience is in the Operations Management and Business Development area and I have years of management experience in Contact Centres which is also my understanding that there are a few in Costa Rica? Any insights you could help provide by already being their and intricately knowing the in’s and out’s in this particular area as well would provide us with much more insight. Thank you very much and I appreciate the support and your posts.
yeison says
Hello j, you can take a look of some FB groups sometimes people post cars, apartments and all kind of stuff, you might find something you like https://www.facebook.com/groups/253006834759446
Joseph Schechtel says
I’ll be taking a flight from canada to lir then my buddy taking me (again) to playa del coco I do have a place to stay but very non american used vehicles are cheaper than usa models so u mean look for local manufacturer or European etc, so look at Craigslist or others ?
2nd question looking to rent a apartment in coco for very long term what are good websites.
3. Yes I’m no big spender but with military pension and other stuff my 2600 cdn so prob 2k usa so I’ll watch and listen to this blog 🙂
Joe S
arriving dec 1 2016
barb andersen says
Thank you for this info. My husband and I have both just retired. We would like to move to Costa Rica for three months, Jan- March, 2017, away from our cold Montana winter. We want to live near or on the beach. Can you recommend a good town. And can you give me some links or names of contacts for renting a furnished place for three months. I seem to only be finding vbrn places for less time. Did you rent a car in CR? Thank you for any help you can give me.
Sammi says
Hi Barb, for retirees I’d check out Playas del Coco/Playa Hermosa/Playa Ocotal. Many of the retired people prefer those areas. You can find real estate places or property management companies online if you Google it. We have a car in Costa Rica.
Jay Torrey says
Hello,
I must say your blog is awesome and following your journey has been pretty awesome so far. My wife and I have been getting the itch to move there at some point. I am practicing Chiropractor here in the states and I wanted to ask if there are many over there practicing? My goal would be to practice a few days and continue to run our business from the home. Anyways, I appreciate your time 🙂
yeison says
Hello Jay,
If you go the central valley (San Jose, Heredia, Cartago, Alajuela) you might find some Chiropractors. We used to live in playas del Coco and we met just one, he was from the states and he was retired. Have a great week J
Joe Tursi says
“Our lifestyle is Tico so to speak but I do have to be honest. I do miss some things from the States like my favorite brand of chips (Doritos) which costs $6 for a small bag, Special K cereal which costs $8 for a box and clothes shopping during sales.”
I always get a kick out of statements like this from us Gringos because where I live, in Heredia, most Ticos live EXACTLY like gringos; big cars, lots of imported food, huge TVs and eating out at Outback, etc. I live with all Ticos here and my 30 year old Tico neighbor just bought his second car, brand new. He works for Amazon. So, my point is simply that to “live like a Tico” may not always mean living a frugal life!. My neighbor Rogelio, also HATES rice and beans. LOL!
Sammi says
Oh yes, there are definitely many many rich Ticos in CR, especially in the city where all the good jobs are. And many rich Ticos in Escazu! Obviously my change in US lifestyle to Tico lifestyle is much different since I moved to Guanacaste so I use that as my reference. There aren’t as many rich Ticos with huge mansions and 2 or 3 cars in Guanacaste.
Whenever we go to the city I’m always surprised because I forget how much money is in the capital, since I’m used to being in Guanacaste. Many of Yeison’s friends that I’ve met who work and live in the capital (and one also is the manager of Amazon) have really nice cars and all that jazz. Costa Rica is just like any other country – there are rich and poor people.
Raquel Ade says
You Mentioned Amazon being in Costa Rica, Does that mean Amazon is or will be shipping to CR any time soon, Or do you have any knowledge of this? BTW We are coming down in a week for the second time. We love the country and its people and are strongly considering moving down in 2020. Our dream is to build/buy 3-4 villas to rent, as a supplemental income. Also we love the Eco attitude and are prepared to go 100% eco, with solar panels, Rain Water Collection, and a few farm animals to food.
Sammi says
Hi Raquel, there is an Amazon customer service office in San Jose. You will have to check if the item you want delivers to Costa Rica but it is suuuper expensive to do so. You will have to pay a ton of shipping taxes. There are some companies in Costa Rica that have a dedicated office to receiving Amazon packages so you can buy it online, have it shipped to their office, pay their fee and pick it up from there. It’s difficult for Amazon here not only because it’s expensive, but because addresses are very difficult.
wendy says
Hello-Can you tell me if a couple could visit there for say 3 months could you get by without a car? I don’t know much about the area. My daughter did some mission trips but she was not in the more developed areas. I know more since I have been reading your blog and fb, Thank you very much.
Wemdy
Sammi says
You technically could… but it’d be tough if you want to explore or travel. We personally have to have a car since we travel a lot and like to explore the area. I know people who have lived here for awhile without a car but they don’t travel to other parts of the country and mostly just stay at home and in the town they live. If you live in a small town, you can get a bike or rent a golf cart so that way you can do your grocery shopping, errands and go out easily. But if you live somewhere more rural that doesn’t have a lot of buses, you’d be quite stuck. It really depends on where you live, the city like San Jose has a lot of buses to get to everywhere but areas like Mal Pais are more isolated.
Jazz says
Hi! I am enjoying reading your blog and you sharing your experience in living in Costa Rica, thanks. My plan is to move to Costa Rica and become an english teacher in 2018. Do you know any expats that have taken the TEFL? How much start up money would you suggest to have saved? I am comfortable living on a small budget and don’t require a lot of luxuries. Thanks for getting back to me.
Sammi says
Hi Jazz, I actually took my TEFL before I moved to Costa Rica, my plan was also to teach English but I found out that it’s pretty tough here since there aren’t any programs for foreigners like there are in Asia and it’s extremely difficult for foreigners to get a work visa. Probably 99% of foreigners who teach English in CR do it under the table at private schools and only do it for 1 year or 2, and the pay is not great. How much to save up depends on where you’re living, I had a friend who taught English in a very rural area near Fortuna and she didn’t spend very much, then we have friends who teach English in Guanacaste by the beach and they need to spend a couple thousand a month.
Jazz Gascon says
Good to know, what TEFL course would you recommend? It does seem difficult to get a job in CR.
Sammi says
I took one online but there are a couple of TEFL schools actually in Costa Rica, I think in Playa Samara and Heredia. Or there are many options online too. Yes, to get an official job with a work visa is nearly impossible since COsta Rica only gives work visas to foreigners who are filling a job a Costa Rican can’t do – which is pretty much nothing since Costa Ricans are highly educated and there are locals for every profession. So foreigners have to work under the table and usually in private schools on the coasts or in rural areas.
Alison says
Thanks for sharing this! How reliable is your Internet connection. I am planning a pre-move visit, and I would be running my business remotely. Do you have frequent outages?
Sammi says
Hi Alison, yes Internet here is notorious for being slow and laggy. Unless you get at least 5 mb and above, steady internet is impossible. We were paying $50 for 2mb which also crashed and stopped constantly. We ended up buying a Hotspot from Kolbi called a MiFi which we use. We get 4g almost everywhere and it works amazing for us. We work online, uploading/downloading all sorts of things and we can watch Netflix on it with two devices connected with no problem. I highly suggest testing out the area you will live in if you can get 4g and if it does, we recommend getting one of those. It’s much cheaper.
wendy says
how do you know if a certain area will get 4g when you were commenting about your internet which is important to me.
Thank you!
Sammi says
It will say on your phone (4g)
Anji says
Curious…it sounds like food is expensive, specifically meats. With me being vegan, would it be fair to say my grocery bill would be drastically less since I wouldn’t be purchasing meats or any animal products? I’ve always heard the produce in central and south America is amazing and quite cheap.
Sammi says
Probably! There are certain places in CR where you can find vegan friendly stores and restaurants, but just a handful. You can get by with just produce though, those are reasonable prices.
Dan says
Sharing info on budget is a tremendous help, thanks. we are thinking of moving to San Jose for about 3 years or so once we make a final decision. I know that in other countries they have anticresis or anticretico arrangements is that still a possibility there? We would not want to live in the expat areas but rather in a place a local might choose to live.
Dan
Sammi says
Yep! They don’t need citizenship either but many foreigners invest or open their own business and get their residency. There are a lot of resources out there on how to do so, International Living has some good ones to begin with you can check out
Cindy says
Thank you for the reply !
Is it possible for a foreigner to purchase or start a business and operate it ourselves, eg café, bistro, B&B etc
Mark says
Like the info plan on visiting soon. Thanks
yeison says
You are welcome Mark!
Doug Robertson says
Yeison,
I have visited Costa Rica many times but during that time, I didn’t require access to emails as frequently as I do now.
Even if it involves more money, is there any way to secure a good internet connection out of your home/apt.
Thanks
Doug
Sammi says
Hi Doug,
We use this thing called a “Mi Fi” which is a hotspot from Kolbi. It is awesome and comes with 4g. You can buy it in the Kolbi stores and is not that expensive.
Juan Eduardo says
Eliminate all meat from your diet, the beef in Costa Rica is like rubber anyway. Rice with vegetables and fruits, and cach your own fish. It’s also a good idea to have some of your own fruit trees, and of course never buy imported products.
yeison says
I like meat in Costa Rica, you might look for some recipes books so you meat will not taste rubber. Fishing is awesome and I agree 100% with the imported products. Thanks for commenting 🙂
yeison says
There are many rental places in Costa Rica everything depends which are you looking to moved.
sheri says
What about crime? Is there a high crime rate there? Terrorists, murders, burglary, home invasions, rapes? Thank you.
Also, what about their schooling & do they have a high unemployment?
yeison says
Wowww I have never read so many things to worry about in life in just one paragraph: Crime rate, terrorist, murders Bulgary, hime invasions, rapes and high unemployment … BUt let’s see if I can answer your questions.
I am Costa Rican and I can tell you about about all the terrorist attacks that happen in the US and Europe (CNN is good for that) so no worries about people that hate so much another country for some reasons, for murders sometimes happen but we have never had a crazy guys shooting in Schools and all that kind of stuff, for bulglary somebody robbed my wallet 4 years ago, home invasions just when the food is too good and you must knock the door of your neighbor or if they have a party:) but make sure to lock your door and gates when you leave.
Schooling is good I think nothing fancy but I went to a public school, you can find some expensive schools for Gringos too, and in regards to unemployment a on 2014 195.865 were unemployed (aprox 8%).
Have a great day
Rapes it happens once in while
Dona says
Great info, its been very informative in helping us to make plans to come to Costa Rica for a few months with our two young girls. My question for you is, when looking for a long-term rental, what’s the best/most reputable website or company? We don’t know anyone in Costa Rica and have never been there, but would like to book a house or condo for 1-3 months before we arrive. We’d like to be close to a beach and in a community where our 3 year old can make friends, and to keep our rent under $750 a month. Thanks for your help and the awesome website!
yeison says
You can look on sites like Remax they always have some rentals, the problem is that those companies will give you the “Gringo Price” because they are own and operated by US citizens. We know some people in Playas del Coco that do rentals if you would like I can put you guys in contact.
Dona says
Wow, that would be awesome, YES! Please email me at dona.j.francis@gmail.com Our travel dates are mid-January to mid-March.
yeison says
Ok perfect I will email him now.
Kenley says
Thank you sooo much for your posts! It is so hard to find specific information about specific towns in Costa Rica (most posts treat the country as if it is one huge town). Do you know anything about Serena Suites on the road between Coco and Ocotal (especially how secure it is) ? I have been spending a lot of time in Tamarindo and the theft there seems to be on the rise. Even as a tourist I’ve met many people who were recently robbed.
I am interested in renting an unfurnished unit there, but I am VERY scared about the cost of furnishing it due to import taxes. I would have to buy a washer/dryer, fridge, stove, couches, 1 queen bed, 2 twins , bed frames, and a TV to start with. Can you give me idea of what these things may cost in the mid-range? I wish there were stores that posted information online.
I was there yesterday but didn’t have time to pop into Gollo to check prices. I have also heard that I can go to Golfito for duty free shopping but it sounds soooo complicated and is so far away that I don’t think it makes sense.
Sammi says
Hi Kenley! I know a few people who lived in Serena Suites, I used to pass by it every day last year. There is a big gate in the front and I haven’t heard of too much trouble in that particular complex. I know that the place we used to live in near Ocotal, La Colina there have been some robberies (we ourselves had our car broken into). I have heard that theft is on the rise in Coco lately however so I would keep your ears open about that.
For furniture, it really depends on where you go. We bought our furniture from San Jose and Yeison was able to get a good deal through his Costa Rican bank. As for foreigners… it might be more expensive. In general when we checked out Monge or Gollo in Coco, they weren’t the cheapest. We had to buy a new stove for our place and for an average stove, it was around $450. I know that Sarchi has a ton furniture stores (they are known for their furniture) but it is a bit far from Tamarindo/Coco but that is where a lot of locals and foreigners go to buy their furniture.
Sam says
We’re coming down for our daughters wedding. I need to find something to wear as its winter up here I can find nothing for a beach wedding. Are there clothing stores there that I can purchase something to wear? We’re staying at the Hilton but I’m willing to rent a car to come into Coco but I have no idea where to look.
Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Sam! There are not a lot of options in Coco but there are two stores that have good options for women, Ciao Bella next to the Italian gelato place and Keep it Classy right across the street. They both have some very cute and elegant dresses. For men … yikes there are not many options in Coco, you might have to check Liberia for men. There is one store in the Pacific store complex that might sell formal men’s clothing, I can’t remember the name off the top of my head but it is the complex across the street from Auto Mercado.
Steve says
Retired military! How are the medical facilities there? Are there quite few veterans residing there? Thxs
Sammi says
Hi Steve! I do know there is a retired vet community in Costa Rica, you can check out the Expats in Costa Rica FB group, there should be some vets in there that you can connect with. There is a Guanacasate Veterans FB page but it doesn’t look like it’s active. Medical facilities are good depending on if you go to private or public. Public clinics are good in sense that they are free but lines are forever, staff might not speak English and you have to wait for medicines and things like that. Private is much less expensive than the US, faster and most doctors speak English.
Samuel says
Thanks Samni. Really appreciate your responses. I’ll keep in touch!
Sammi says
You’re welcome! Congrats on the job and the move. Keep in touch would love to hear how it goes!
Samuel says
Yes Samni, a Costa Rican company will apply for the appropriate work permit, and the move would only happen after the decision of the authorities
Regarding prices, I guess I would live in San Jose / San Jose arounds …
Sammi says
I’d say you’d be fairly comfortable and happy with 2000, things are cheaper around San Jose for groceries and food than the coast. And you probably won’t really need to use much AC and that cuts down on a lot of electric costs (electricity is getting more expensive lately). I have some friends who live around the Central Valley for about 2000 a month and they live quite comfy!
Jay says
Very well done breakdown of cost of living in Costa Rica. We heard good things about Costa Rica, even better that you shared this info with us. You can pretty much have a luxurious life outside of North America and it is really cheap. thanks for sharing.
Sammi says
Thanks Jay! Yes you really can. Costa Rica also teaches you to simplify your life and you find that you can be happy without so much stuff. It’s not how nice your car is or the latest fashions that matter but appreciating the life you have and being grateful 🙂
Samuel says
Hi Sammi
Would a 2000$/month gross wage worth an expat to make the move to CR as an independent worker (with a working/sponsor VISA of course)
Thanks.
Sammi says
Hi Samuel! It depends on where you live since it’s more expensive in some places than others. It also depends on your standard of living. Most expats spend well over 2000 a month because they have a big car, keep buying American brands, leave the AC on all the time, things like that. If you live simpler, don’t have a car and live somewhere that you don’t need AC, you can live well on $2000.
Samuel says
Hi Samni. Thanks for the prompt response
I guess I would have an active but simple living, I’m fine with that. As long as comfortable
My doubt goes for the wage as an independent worker, ie, taxes, Caja etc. are on my own. So, would $2000/month gross be short or enough to have a comfortable living ?
Sammi says
Are you applying for residency or will you be purely on a work visa? If you are getting your residency, you have to pay $40 a month for the government health insurance (CAJA) but this will cover everything like appointments and medicines. I’m not sure how much taxes are for workers, you will have to hire an accountant to do that for you (most Ticos do). But I’d say 2000 gross would be enough to have a simple but pretty comfortable living. When I say simple I mean no car or minimal driving, eating out 1-2 times a week, one AC day and night, buying local brands, etc. If you’re planning on living in Coco, expect prices to be a bit higher there than other parts of the country like the Central Valley too.
Escape Hunter says
1,500 $ is quite a good budget for Costa Rica. With 500 $ you could live in an Eastern European country or in some parts of Southeast Asia.
400 $ rental costs per months without utilities? It doesn’t sound cheap.
Sammi says
Well it’s quite cheap compared to North America! I was paying twice as much for ONE room in a small 3 bedroom apartment in Seattle not including utilities or parking. 400 including a pool, security, private parking is well worth it here for us!
wendy says
HI Sammie- We are living in Redmond and are tired about the expenses and we are looking to move elsewhere at least for a few years to try and save some money. It is becoming insane here!
Sammi says
Oh yeah Redmond is an expensive place, Seattle in general is getting super expensive!
Constance - Foreign Sanctuary says
Great post for anyone who is planning on moving to Costa Rica or traveling there for an extended amount of time. You guys are gonna love Taiwan when you visit – the food here is so cheap, public transportation is cheap and convenient, but accommodation prices are higher than they were in the past!
Sammi says
Thanks Constance! Oh I know I can’t wait!! Food is so cheap there compared to here. And way better!! haha
wendy says
I heard Taiwan is a pretty expensive place to live? If a couple wants to spend maybe 3 months there how much would you need for a month for a comfortable living environment?
Thank you
Jen Seligmann says
It’s interesting to read about the cot of living in other parts of the world. My rent alone here in Sydney for a moderate sized two bedroom apartment is over $1500 per month. So it really puts it into perspective for me reading that your total expenses for a month is the same as my rent alone. What it comes down to for me is where you are happy and I am happy here so that’s all that matter to me.
Sammi says
Exactly ! As long as you are surrounded by loved ones, that’s all that matters no matter where you are in the world!
Bianca @itsallbee says
Costa Rica seems to be happening right now. Great post! Might be checking out Costa Rica soon.
Sammi says
Thanks! It’s worth a visit 🙂
Alli says
So many people these days seem to be shacking up in Costa Rica! From reading other blogs to TV shows now (International House Hunters) Costa Rica seems very inviting to move to! How amazing to do the majority of your transportation from A to B via bike, and being close to the beach while at it! *swoon!*
Sammi says
Haha International House Hunters came to a house right next door to a hotel I was working at. The house is huge but what they didn’t show was all the water problems they have in that area. It’s paradise here but it doesn’t come without its own problems! I love being able to ride my bike everywhere and feel safe doing it since I ride on the path next to the beach, it’s pretty awesome!
Alexandra C. says
Wow. I had no idea so many people were flocking to Costa Rica. This is so interesting. I am sure it would be such a nice place to live. I have been wanting to visit for a while. The cost of living is so reasonable compared to what we pay here in the US. And we live in the Midwest! -Alexandra
Sammi says
It is much less than the US for sure! I was amazed at how much rent increased the past couple years when I was out of the country. Even in my hometown which is not a big city it has gotten much more!
Anu @ Country Hopping Couple says
This is really informative and detailed post on cost of living in Costa Rica. After living in 3 expensive European countries over the last 6 years, I really do think Costa Rica is not just a great place for travellers, but for people to settle in. No wonder the retirees chose to move therer. I wish I could move and live there!
Sammi says
Definitely! Even though CR is a bit more expensive than the rest of the C. American countries, they are the most developed and have a great health care system. And compared to Europe or North America, it’s much less expensive.
Muriel says
I’m a huge fan of Costa Rica so it’s really interesting to see how much things costs when you live there vs. when you just visit. I’m from Panama originally and I remember the standard of living is slightly higher than CR but still, like you said, you can survive on very little and live well. Also, this makes me want to pack my bags RIGHT NOW.
Sammi says
I think PC is much higher than CR, even in the touristic areas. But PC is way more developed so makes sense. Things are definitely different living vs traveling and most people don’t understand that and are in for a huge shock when they move here!
Amy says
Maybe it’s because I’m a detail person, but I love reading posts like this – it’s so great to get a breakdown on how other people are able to live and make things work. Thanks for sharing the details. Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I’m kind of surprised by the cost of the internet. That’s pretty high!
Sammi says
I love breakdowns too, it’s always interesting to see what’s expensive and what’s cheap in different countries. Internet here is expensive and it sucks 🙁
Hannah says
Do I have to wait until I retire? That;s sounds pretty awesome!
Sammi says
Haha definitely not, I didn’t! 🙂
Jessica (Barcelona Blonde) says
Really interesting post! I love seeing how much things cost in different countries. I’m actually surprised, as it’s more expensive than I expected.
Sammi says
It is for Central America but it’s not terrible compared to Europe or N. America
Gloria says
What kind of jobs can expats do in Costa Rica? I want to move there for a couple months but I also want some sort of income.
Sammi says
Hi Gloria, as a foreigner you need a working visa. If you get one, many expats work in tourism, clothing stores, hotels, call centers, that sort of jobs. There aren’t too many options for short term jobs besides those kinds and if you don’t speak Spanish.
Cindy says
How difficult is it to get working visas? Do u have any idea of the wages for your average hotel or retail positions ?
Sammi says
Hi Cindy, it is very difficult to get a working visa in Costa Rica. They only give visas to foreigners who are filling a position a Costa Rican cannot fill, so to get one for a hotel or retail pretty much isn’t possible for foreigners since they want to hire locals. You can try to find a position under the table at a hostel or small hotel, but then that comes with a lot of other things too. The average salary is around $800 a month so if you work in a clothing store or receptionist at a hotel, you will earn around that amount.
Dale says
It’s a real shame that the internet isn’t quite working as you’d hope, but at least your surroundings more than make up for it 🙂
Sammi says
Haha yeah, true true!
Lauren says
That is incredibly reasonable for rent. We pay WAY more than that at home. And you get to live in a tropical paradise! That is really reasonable to live on that much for a whole month for everything….our rent almost costs that much alone!
Sammi says
I felt so lucky to find a place with really reasonable rent considering how much other places are around here and how much rent is compared to the States!
Charlie says
Hey guys ~ this was a really helpful breakdown of costs! Thanks so much for posting it 🙂 I’m now just trawling through your back catalogue of posts, and getting increasingly excited about heading over to CR.
Sammi says
You’re very welcome Charlie! Glad to hear it helped. Always happy to help with any questions you have about CR 🙂
City Sea Country says
Thanks for sharing this article. It is informative and interesting to read about different countries and the cost of a living.
Never thought Internet in Costa Rica would be that expensive.
Sammi says
You’re welcome! Internet is really expensive and not very reliable either 🙁
Michele says
It is always interesting to read the reality of escaping to somewhere like Costa Rica. Sometimes it seems the dream is better than reality but it seems you have it worked out quite well.
Sammi says
Definitely, a lot of people don’t understand the full reality of living abroad until they get there and suddenly it’s not what they thought!
Manouk - Bunch of Backpackers says
Tempting post ;)! I think you do have a good point that many expats who live in ‘cheaper’ countries still have high expenses because they continue to live their previous lifestyle (fancy restaurants etc.)!
Sammi says
Thanks Manouk! Yeah I emphasize that we live very much like locals and some people have claimed they can’t live under 3500 a month but they drive everywhere, eat out a lot and leave their ACs on all day. So that of course will drive your expenses up!
Nancie says
This is much more affordable than I would have thought. Some of these costs are comparable to where I live now, Korea. Your electricity and Internet are more expensive. My monthly rent is comparable, but only because I had to make a large deposit (which I should get back when I leave). Food is outrageous here.
Of course you have the climate and the beach, which are priceless! 🙂
Sammi says
Ooh I’m so jealous your internet in Korea must be amazing! Interesting about living in Korea, I didn’t know food was expensive! Good to know 🙂 And yes the beach does make up for it quite well hehe
L Sue Smith says
Just got back from Playa Flamingo in March. We are looking at moving there in the future. We are going back to visit in Oct. I have been looking at the price of rentals and purchases of real estate on several different real estate sites and Craigs. Where is the best site to find a rental (we already have one for Oct, just trying to plan ahead.) and can you give me an idea of the price of furniture? When you bike to the beach, etc, was there a place to secure your bikes or do you have a problem w/ anyone taking them? Thank you
Sammi says
Hi Sue,
For furniture, I can’t say since we brought our furniture from San Jose and our apartment was half furnished already so we didn’t need to buy a lot of furniture. For rentals, you can check Remax or Palm Real Estate for that area, those are the two more popular real estate agencies. We usually don’t lock our bike at the beach, we just leave it on the sand where we can see it but Coco is pretty safe. I’m not sure about Flamingo since that beach has much much more tourists than Coco. If you have a very nice and expensive bike, I would obviously lock it up.
Marie-Carmen says
$400 a month is a pretty good deal! When I think I was paying around $1000 a month for a small studio in the Netherlands…
We’ve seen places in Thailand for $200 a month and that just amazes me every time!
I could do with the kind of life you describe for that type of price! Pretty decent and low budget indeed!
Sammi says
Wow 200 in Thailand! No wonder many travel bloggers go there, I’ve heard it’s really dirt cheap to live and travel there. We are pretty happy with $400 a month!
Mike Poynton says
$1500/month?! Maybe just on food. FOOD PRICES ARE OUTRAGEOUS HERE! And… I have a motorcycle and it’s more than $60/month for gas and maintenance. Your feet are tan because you’re walking. 🙂
Sammi says
Ugh so true about the food… it’s incredible when we come back from the market and realize how little we bought for so much! Haha yeah, we walk and bike a LOT and barely drive so that cuts our gas prices down a bunch!
Agness says
I always though Costa Rica was very expensive and not budget friendly for backpackers. However, $400 a month for a nice place to stay at one of the most beautiful places on this island is not that much! 🙂
Mike Poynton says
Hey, Agness! Costa Rica is not an island. Really! Google Earth: http://earth.google.com
Sammi says
Oh the island story. I wonder where this island is that we live on… lol
Sammi says
No it really isn’t. But Costa Rica isn’t an island either 😉
Milehighdog says
Must be thinking about Puerto Rico
Villa Kokomo says
You should get your beef & pork at San Martin near the airport. Good quality & good price. Their meat generally comes packaged in 2 to 5 kilos pieces (depending upon the cut) and you have to trim and cut to what you like. But that means I can cut a 1 inch boneless pork chop or rib eye! $100 in meat lasts me about 8 months. I buy my chicken in town when it’s on sale.
Sammi says
We’ve heard good things about it and we’ve had the meat before, so good compared to the supermarket! It really is a better deal.
Daidri | Thee Getaway Gal says
Wow… your total monthly expenses cost more than a house payment or rent here in California. Very tempting, I can totally see why people would want to live or retire there. Great post, I appreciate when people share something person like finances to help others have a better understanding.
Sammi says
Thanks! Of course it depends on your living standards but this is to show people they can live well for not a lot.
Becky Padmore says
Wow I’m actually seriously tempted thanks for sharing this information. I’m just doing my sums now!
Sammi says
Haha tempting right? 😀
ben says
I have been reading your articles and they were very good. It is very essential to us travels to know how how much it cost of this and that and so on. Thanks for providing 🙂
Sammi says
Thanks Ben! Glad that it is helpful 🙂
Angela Travels says
Very informational post for people looking at extending their vacations or trips in Costa Rica. Is food expensive? It seems to be your largest cost.
Sammi says
Yeah, the town we live in is quite a bit more expensive than other parts of the country which includes food. The supermarkets in the city are a bit cheaper than ours. Meat is really expensive!
Raphael Alexander Zoren says
Interesting cost-breakdown, would it be fair to assume that living in the capital is cheaper?
Sammi says
For certain items, you can find them cheaper in the capital due to availability and more options. Our beach town is very small so you are limited in choices and have to dig a bit to find what you need. It’s not cheaper by a drastic amount.
Juli says
We have lived in CR for five years now in a tico neighborhood with lovely neighbors on a dirt road, food prices are not bad if you shop at super compra on fridays and buy on sale, chicken is always at a hugh discount and you
can’t beat it, we have a freezer
so we put everything in there, the same with vegetables i buy on sale and blanch and put in the freezer, saves on costs and i’m not running to the store every five minutes, we also walk alot and leave the truck at home, summer breeze no ac on and life is good, come and enjoy, our budget is 2000 and there is still kofers left at the end, thanks
Sammi says
Sounds lovely and thanks for sharing your budget and lifestyle! Great for people to hear other types and the expenses.
Mammadahl says
Hi there 🙂 I am looking to move out there with my two kids can you point me in the direction of the nice little rentals your talking about. I am looking for as much help as I can.