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The Truth about Living in Costa Rica: The Good, the Bad, and the Muddy

It’s easy to find tons of articles and information out there highlighting all the great benefits of living in Costa Rica.

But it’s also easy to read those blogs and marketing pieces and think, “Yeah, it sounds great and all, but can it really be as perfect as all that yoga and ‘pura vida’ and dazzling sunsets I keep hearing about.”

living in Costa Rica

Mauge

Yeah, it can.  But that doesn’t mean that living in Costa Rica is without its share of annoyances and headaches.  It is after all a developing country, albeit a breathtakingly gorgeous one with a relaxed vibe and some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet.

To help you decide if it’s really the right place for you to work and live and play, we’ve unpacked the whole truth about living in Costa Rica.  

Our intent is not to discourage you from making the country your expat home.  Costa Rica is one of the most popular expat destinations in the world for a reason.  It’s because the amazing benefits easily outweigh the bad, in the minds of most expats.

What we do want to do is to give you a clear picture of what you could expect in your day-to-day life living in Costa Rica.

For some, pura vida can be an acquired taste.

Meaning “pure life,” pura vida is the unofficial slogan of Costa Rica, or at least the country’s collective philosophy.  This laid-back attitude is one of the main characteristics that draws many expats to the country in the first place.  Yet it’s also one of the ones that frustrates North Americans the most, after the honeymoon phase wears off.

This concept of slowing down to enjoy life, letting things just roll off your back, and relaxing your expectations is a great outlook to adopt.  It’s likely one of the reasons Costa Ricans are among the healthiest and happiest cultures in the world.

Side effects of a pura vida overdose

Living and doing business in a pura vida culture can involve things like not receiving your mail for unexplained reasons, waiting days for your power to be restored after a minor outage, or even having a string of multiple repairmen fail to show up to fix your roof.

One big contributor to the pura vida frustration is the phrase “mañana,” which you probably thought meant “tomorrow.”  It doesn’t.  At least, not usually.  It could mean Friday, next Tuesday, the beginning of October, or even never.  However, the one thing it does always mean is “not today.”

The same relaxed approach to getting things done applies to most services and government operations as well.  Most infrastructure is poorly maintained.  The roads are in poor condition. Street signs and building numbers rarely exist.  And buses are somewhat unreliable since they change their routes depending on road conditions, especially during the rainy season.

The steps you were told you needed to take last month to get your visa or a building permit may be completely different than the response you get when you go back to the same office with that first set of paperwork completed.

It’s even worse than your worst experience at the DMV.  Processes that should take weeks can take years, and that can be incredibly frustrating to someone who’s accustomed to much more consistent and systematic ways of doing things.

Your best bet?  If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.  If you go into the process knowing what to expect, you can be better prepared to roll with the punches, remain patient and calm, and just keep moving the ball forward at every opportunity.

Losing your temper and blowing up at the underpaid, overworked immigration employee or customer service representative will get you nowhere.  A deep breath, a polite “gracias,” and a smile can work wonders.

Living in Costa Rica

Jeremy Vandel

When living in Costa Rica, you can’t escape the country’s untamed natural surroundings.

Costa Rica’s economy is heavily dependent on ecotourism.  And if you’ve even seen so much as a single photo slideshow highlighting the country’s natural beauty, then you can easily see why.

This Central American country literally has it all, with terrains and eco-climates ranging from long stretches of undeveloped coastline to towering volcanoes to dense jungles and rainforests to lush valleys to waters teeming with all sorts of exotic marine life to inland lakes, streams, and rivers with cascading waterfalls.  We could go on and on.

These wild and rugged settings form a backdrop for all manner of tropical species.  And you don’t have to go to a nature preserve to see them, because they’ll come to you!

Sounds awesome, right?  Well, not always.

This could mean everything from spotting monkeys and toucans in your garden to finding scorpions in your house or even bats in your toilet.

Among the most prevalent unexpected guests are insects.  There are crawling critters in Costa Rica of which you’ve never seen the likes in North America.  And, unfortunately, they’re unavoidable.  The humid beach towns, particularly along the Caribbean coast, are often plagued with mosquitoes, which can carry dengue fever.

Ants are a problem everywhere, and they bite.  So clean kitchens and secure food storage are essential to ward them off.  Termites can also invade and cause considerable property damage.  And you might see cockroaches as big as your hand.

What can be done about these unwelcome intruders?  Not much.  However, they do seem to be more prevalent (and grow quite larger) in the coastal areas.  So, the less humid mountainous regions might be a better fit for you if you’re someone who loses his cool over the tiniest spider sighting.

Outside of trying to find a spot less populated with critters, just do your best to be on the lookout for them.  Check your shoes before you stick your foot in.  Shake out blankets and sleeping bags before you curl up in them.  Things like that.

living in Costa Rica

Abid Karamali

The weather is great most of the time, but when it rains it pours.

In North America, the way you choose your desired temperature is by adjusting your thermostat.  In Costa Rica you can tweak your weather by carefully selecting your location and, more specifically, your elevation.  

Are you looking for a year-round consistent climate with temps in the low 70s and the anticipated daily shower each afternoon?  Try the Central Valley, near San Jose, which thousands of expats already call home.

Are you OK with enduring a little more heat and humidity in exchange for the laid-back lifestyle of one of the country’s amazing beach towns? Then try a quaint little village on the coast.

A word of caution, though.  The country’s rainy season runs from May to November.  And, depending on where you live, “rainy” could mean anything from the aforementioned afternoon shower to torrential downpours that go on for days on end.  The Caribbean coast gets more rainfall than the Pacific, particularly the eastern slopes of the Central Cordillera mountains.

How bad can a little bit of rain be?

Here’s how that plays out in real life.  As we mentioned, Costa Rica isn’t know for the quality of its roads.  Add 10 or more inches of rain in a month’s time, and that situation doesn’t exactly improve.  The roads, as well as your own property, will at times be a muddy mess.

The rest of the country’s infrastructure can also fail, with power and water outages being quite common.  And the utility companies’ attitudes towards affecting a speedy restoration of service can be enough to send an impatient North American right over the edge.

The persistent rainfall, plus the lack of sunshine to dry things out, can result in a lot of your belongings (Think outdoor furniture and patio cushions.) becoming moldy.  Oh, and all that nature we talked about?  The rain and flooding often send select members of it (Think bugs and snakes.) right inside your home looking for refuge.

How can you combat these issues as a newcomer?  For starters, use care when selecting your destination city and make sure to experience what it’s like in the wet season before you buy property.

Outside of that, there’s not much you can do.  Except rest in the knowledge that once the balmy summer weather arrives (December to April), the downpours and flooding will all just seem like a bad dream.  Until next year.

Living in Costa Rica

NicholasPaulSmith

You’ll love the many opportunities for adventure, but you won’t be the only one.

Costa Rica’s [mostly] great weather and amazing natural beauty have made it extremely popular as an expat and tourist destination.  As a result, there are tons of ways to experience the outdoors and get your adrenaline going.  

You can go deep sea fishing and reel in a record-breaking catch, soar through the canopy and see the rainforest via zipline, go whitewater rafting on a raging river, hike to the top of a volcano, learn to surf on some of the world’s best waves, or even just enjoy the exotic flora and fauna that’s all around you.

It would be wrong to keep all this a secret.

With so many great opportunities to enjoy nature, there are understandably a lot of visitors to Costa Rica.  So much so that some expats complain that it’s a bit too touristy.  

It really depends on your preference whether or not that presents a problem for you.  Some expats welcome the constant influx of individuals from all walks of life.  Some would rather feel more like pioneers who were the first and only ones to discover such a hidden gem of an expat destination.

The general consensus?  Most people who’ve settled in Costa Rica for the long haul agree that the varied and diverse culture is part of what makes the country so great.  The welcoming, anything goes approach affords a lot of chances to meet new people and learn about other cultures.

The country’s popularity as a tourist destination can also be quite profitable for entrepreneurs living in Costa Rica.  All those visitors need food, lodging, tour guides, and other niche services that savvy expat investors are more than willing to provide.  Costa Rica is a great investment opportunity.

living in Costa Rica

Medea Material

Costa Rica is incredibly safe, as long as you use good sense.

Compared to many of its Central American neighbors, Costa Rica is extremely safe.  Its homicide rate is 10.3 people per 100,000, second in the region only to Nicaragua at 8.7.

Violence like rape and hate crimes are almost unheard of, even though–when they do occur to visiting North Americans–you’re very likely to hear about it on the news.  Due to the country’s peace-loving nature and stable government, there are also no riots or other political uprisings.  In fact, it’s often referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas.    

No country is immune to the increasing global crime rates

That being said, Costa Rica still has its share of petty crimes.  The good news is that much more of them are property-related.

Homes, particularly those that are only used seasonally, are frequently broken into.  Tourists are often pickpocketed.  And leaving items unattended in an unlocked vehicle or lying around outside your home is a good way to ensure they won’t be there when you come back.

Prevention is key for those visiting or living in Costa Rica.  If you’re a tourist, try not to look or act like one.  Don’t wear loads of flashy jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, etc.  Limit any excessive carrying of electronics like camera, smartphones, iPods, and other devices.  And, whatever you do, don’t go waving around wads of cash, particularly large bills.

As long as you use common sense and stick to the more traveled and well-lit thoroughfares, especially at night, you should be just fine.

If you’re a resident, don’t leave expensive items outside your home.  Lock up any outbuildings.  And install a security system on your home, especially if you don’t live there year-round.

living in Costa Rica

Zhu

The cost of living is good, but not the best in the region.

A major perk of becoming an expat in Central America is the low cost of living, compared to the price of the same goods and services in North America.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as some great health food options, are widely available.  They’re also extremely affordable.

Some great properties can be had at a fraction of what a comparable sized home (in the same incredible setting) would run you in the U.S.  Utilities are cheap, as in many areas you don’t even need to heat or cool your home.  Indulgences like a hour-long massage might cost as little as $10.

Taxes are also low, with property taxes rarely exceeding a few hundred dollars.  There are also significant tax savings for foreigners.

Two of the biggest savings for those living in Costa Rica are domestic help and health care.  The services of a maid, gardener, or other domestic worker can be as low as a few dollars per day, a luxury most people could hardly afford in a first-world setting.

Health care, while arguably first-world caliber, is also a great deal.  Costa Rica has a state-run health system whose quality has been ranked higher than that of the U.S.  The hospitals are clean and modern.  Most doctors are U.S.-trained and English-speaking.  These are some of the reasons Costa Rica has become a popular destination for medical tourism.

How could there be a downside to this?

Well, there isn’t really.  Except for the fact that there are definitely cheaper places to live in Central America.  So, while Costa Rica is not the cost leader, it makes up for any higher prices with its exceptional quality.

If cost is a driving factor in your decision-making process, then you might want to look at some other destinations in Latin America.  However, just remember that the old adage about getting what you pay for is true more often than not.  

There are a lot of North American expats living in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has long been a hotspot for North American expats, and it shows.  The North American influence is everywhere.

There are large, well-connected expat communities in most of the more popular towns.  They have gardening clubs, gringo poker night, food and wine tastings, and other social gatherings.  There are even programs specifically geared towards helping newcomers acclimate to their expat home.  

You could literally find something to do every night of the week if you wanted to.

Why is this a problem?

This type of North American-influenced lifestyle is precisely the reason that many expats left in the first place.  As a result, it may be a turnoff to some.  Again, it really depends on your preference.

Decide now what level of expat community you’re after.  The good news is that it’s easy to gauge your tolerance for a high density of other expats.  Just visit the place and see what you think.

If you want more opportunities to immerse yourself in the authentic culture, without having English constantly spoken to you or receiving flyers about the latest production at the expat theater, then choose a less-developed spot with fewer North Americans.

If you think being around other folks who’ve walked a mile in your shoes might help you and your family better transition to your new life, then it’s as simple as looking for posters announcing the next meeting of the expat group or finding a forum where you can get connected before you even make the move.

Also take into consideration your other family members, like your children, and their needs.  Having English-speaking friends can make a world of difference in those all-important first weeks and months in a new place.

While many of these and other factors about living in Costa Rica may seem like a lot to sort through, most all of them can be easily weighed by just scheduling a trip to bring your family down and decide for yourself.

Worst case scenario?  You’ll have one of the best vacations of your lives.  Best case?  You could find the home you’ve always dreamed of.

Map of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Fast Facts

  • Population: About 4.8 million
  • Typical temperature: Mid 80’s
  • Nearest airport with U.S. flights: San Jose
  • Nearest U.S. consulate: San Jose

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4 thoughts on “The Truth about Living in Costa Rica: The Good, the Bad, and the Muddy

  1. 1

    My husband and I just returned from Costa Rica. I was thoroughly disappointed. If there ever was an indigenous culture there, one would not know it. Its a pretty piece of land, like Kauai, with very little history, natural beauty that can be found in other places, and fulfilled with nothing but tourists and the people who serve them or the people who have moved there to take advantage of cheap land. The wildlife does not just come to you. After ten days going from one coast to the other and in between, I saw one toucan, one frog, one crab, and some monkeys. That includes three nights at Totuguera. I definitely thought that amongst the greenery, there would be visible wildlife everywhere. NOT.
    I think it is one of the most overrated places I have been. I would not go back. I would never want to live there. It is expensive for what it is. I live in California, we have the Sierra Mountain range and a lot of beauty. I think the tourism will eventually destroy that count ire’s allure…and I wonder, If one lives there…do you have to pay to get into all the place, and tours? Nothing is free…everything is paid for if you want to do or see it. The people are as nice as other latin countries..no more..I speak spanish and have travelled a bit. I know I am not alone in my opinion, although the younger people in their twenties seem to love it.

  2. 2

    Hmmm. Nice weather Dec.-Apr. And rain May – Nov. Plus insects. That doesn’t sound good at all for year round living. It would be good if you guys were more generous with details on specific places, and tone down a lot the salesy tone–I realize you’re selling real estate, but why further erode your credibility with breathless adjectives?

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