A Move to Costa Rica! Is it Right for You?

A Move to Costa Rica

Things to Consider Beforehand

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TABLE of CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

SEVEN THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN MOVING TO COSTA RICA MOVING TO COSTA RICA: IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN: FINANCING A LIFE IN COSTA RICA PICK YOUR PLACE TO LIVE IN COSTA RICA MOVING YOUR FAMILY TO COSTA RICA WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL COMPROMISES NECESSARY FOR EXPATS MOVING TO

COST OF LIVING IN COSTA RICA

WHY COSTA RICA IS THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

Costa Rica might just be for you.

I would, however, caution you, to do your research and make good educated decisions as you plan a move.

What you think is normal in your home country may not be normal here in Costa Rica.

There are so many things to consider before taking the step of moving.

We hope this helps you in your process. Our website, HOWLER MAGAZINE has many more articles and helpful advice from trusted professionals.

Over the past few years, many have gotten accustomed to working from home and only visiting via online tools like ZOOM.

This has led to some ability to be able to work remotely from any place in the world that has a good internet connection. Well, Costa Rica has been a safe haven for many of these people.

NOW LAW: DIGITAL NOMADS WELCOMED IN COSTA RICA

Many are trying to escape the social and economic unrest in the world and are looking for a peaceful place to reside.

Seven Things to Think About When Moving to Costa Rica

By Norm Schriever Costa Rica has emerged in 2021 as the world’s premier destination for luxury travel, and plenty of visitors are even choosing to extend their vacation for a more permanent stay.

The idea of moving down to Costa Rica and adopting the pura vida lifestyle can be an intoxicating one. But there are some things you should consider before buying a one-way plane ticket. Here are seven such considerations:

Making Costa Rica your home away from home is one thing, but establishing permanent residency makes it o cial.

The lion’s share of tourists come down to Costa Rica during the summer months (December through April) when the weather is crystal clear, and they may not see a drop of rain for several months.

But to truly know the life of an expat or retiree in Costa Rica, it’s important you experience the rainy season. Some of us locals love it, as everything is green and fresh and there’s still usually some sun every day.

Health is wealth One of the chief concerns for people spending time in Costa Rica, whether it’s just a quick vacation or moving down here permanently, is the quality of healthcare. The good news is that Costa Rica has a healthcare system that should be su cient for just about every medical need.

In fact, Costa Rica o ers a state-run socialized medical system for residents, but also a private network of doctors, clinics, and hospitals that provide high-quality care, all for a fraction of the price of healthcare in the United States.

Residency … or the border shu e Making Costa Rica your home away from home is one thing, but establishing permanent residency makes it o cial. An increasing number of expats and retirees are doing just that, as the application process for gaining o cial resident status is well de ned, if not always swift (or cheap).

The alternative is to leave every 90 days or more often and re-enter the country, living on a perpetual tourist visa.

However, this certainly has its drawbacks and limitations — and may not even be entirely legal. (Ask around about the “border shu e!”)

To buy or rent — that is the question

There are many things that make you feel like a “local” in Costa Rica, such as buying a car, adopting a dog or walking on the beach every morning. But foreigners often wish to purchase real estate, too, establishing a true homestead.

There are certainly grand opportunities to buy property or build your dream home in Costa Rica, but we suggest renting for a short while rst, just to get the lay of the land and gure out what areas you really like.

Start a business — or work virtually?

Some foreigners move down to Costa Rica ready to retire and live the rest of their days without money concerns, but far more still need to work and earn income. Starting a business venture in Costa Rica can be a tricky proposition, and we emphasize that it should always be caveat emptor.

Sure, your bikini shop, jewelry store, or beachside bar all sound good on paper, but there’s likely a reason ve others in the same area are currently for sale!

Thankfully, more people than ever are working virtually. The world is now lled with digital nomads, or those working from home, all who can put in their 9 to 5 (or 10 to 4 with a siesta in between) from Costa Rica.

Everything else (and Fido!)

There are a host of other questions you may have when you move down to Costa Rica, which I call the “nuts and bolts” of daily life here. For instance, what about quality schools for the kids? Getting by with limited Spanish? How are the banks and is it easy to transfer money? Can I still keep my U.S. or foreign driver’s license? Speaking of which, should I buy a car and deal with that whole process?!

What about receiving mail from my home country and paying taxes? And can we bring the family dog? We can’t possibly leave Fido!

Don’t worry — although the learning curve may be steep for expats or retirees, more information and help are available than ever before. All of this will feel like a fun new adventure in your new adopted home of Costa Rica.

Moving to Costa Rica: Is It right for Your?

By: RACHEL CHERRY WHITE

Costa Rica is one of the most sought-after destinations for retirees, singles and families looking for a new place to live.

Year after year, it tops lists of “Best Places to Retire” and “Best Places for Expats.” No less than three times in the last decade, it’s scored highest on the planet’s happiest countries index. But what makes it so?

Yes, it’s paradise The weather, the people and just the vibe of the place make Costa Rica completely intoxicating.

Many people come looking to ee the rat race back home.

Be it politics, consumerism or keeping up with the Joneses, they feel the need to escape. And they do nd respite here.

Things move more slowly; no one is in a rush. There is so much beauty to behold —a waterfall here, a toucan there.

Ticos are renowned as some of the friendliest and most helpful people on earth. Another factor luring many to Costa Rica is the sustained absence of an army and presence of a stable democratic government.

Before deciding to relocate here, it’s important to determine whether you can a ord the lifestyle you want.

Few would argue that the climate is divine, with an average year-round temperature of 80°F. There is a dry season and a rainy season, with many preferring the latter “green season” because a couple hours of afternoon rain makes owers bloom and everything look lush. For those preferring a more temperate climate, the Central Valley has somewhat cooler temperatures and year-round ora.

“My heart has always yearned for a tropical climate and slow-paced beach life,” says Marissa Floyd, who moved here with her husband and two young children two years ago.

“Costa Rica has the weather I crave and the lifestyle I want for my family.”

With the new “Digital Nomad” trend gaining traction, plenty of folks are able to retain the same job they had in their home countries by doing everything remotely. WiFi quality is good in major cities and serviceable everywhere else making this an easy option. Others dream of buying a seaside restaurant or operating a hotel. It is fairly easy to open a business — requiring only a tourist visa to do so — which makes it enticing for entrepreneurs. Make sure to do research and have a good business plan. It is worth noting that a business can employ no more than 10 percent of its workforce as foreigners.

Some move to Costa Rica because of its health care system, consistently rated one of the best in the world and relatively inexpensive too. Expats who establish residency are eligible for universal Caja health care insurance coverage by paying a small, sliding scale fee.

This enables them to receive treatment at any government hospitals or clinics throughout the country.

Otherwise, privately delivered health care services in Costa Rica cost about one-quarter of what people in the United States would pay. Some patients come here speci cally to receive services they cannot access in the U.S., including stem cell treatments for certain illnesses.

Things to consider Costa Rica isn’t right for everyone. First of all, are there things you can’t live without? Then it may not be the place for you.

Do you make twice weekly Target runs? There are no Target stores in Costa Rica. Nor will you even get your Starbucks x outside the capital city of San José. So if you are someone who doesn’t like making compromises, think long and hard about taking up residence here.

Also, keep in mind the requirement for keeping your tourist visa up to date: you have to leave the country every 90 days.

Most people drive or take a group shuttle to either of the bordering countries, Nicaragua or Panama. Others take advantage of relatively cheap ights to destinations like Colombia or Mexico.

From an overall expense standpoint, living in Costa Rica is hardly inexpensive. Before deciding to relocate here, it’s important to determine whether you can a ord the lifestyle you want. Cost of living varies depending on where you live; the closer you are to the beach, the more expensive it usually becomes. Talk to people who live in the area you’re looking at. How much do they spend on groceries? Average rent? A night out? Take these things into consideration so there are no surprises when you take the plunge.

And don’t forget about your start-up costs. For renting, you’ll need the rst and last month’s amount, plus security deposit.

If you want to buy a home, mortgages for non-residents are very rare, so you’ll probably need cash. Unless you live in a town where you can walk or take taxis, you’ll need to purchase a car. Again, loans are di cult to get, so you may need to have cash on hand or nd a place that takes credit cards. This is why you see many expats driving turn-of-thecentury cars.

If you have children, school is a huge factor. Costa Rica’s public education system is not like that in North America, and most expat families choose to enroll their children in private international schools. The costs can add up.

Are you scared to drive on less-than-perfect roads? Costa Rica is notorious for bad roads and drivers. The drivers in the metropolitan area blast you with horns, roaring motorcycles and yields on red. Stretches of unpaved dirt, mud, and gravel, single-lane bridges and rivers that sweep cars away are par for the course. And all of these must always be shared with pedestrians, cyclists, farm and construction vehicles and all types of animals. But then, if your ideal tra c jam is a herd of wandering cows, you have found the right place.

Last but not least, expect otherwise normal days in Costa Rica when your electricity and/or water stops for no apparent reason. It happens all the time and people make do.

All or nothing proposition?

The how-to aspects of moving here are up to you. Some people decide to leave their household goods in storage and rent out their existing home for a year or two, bringing little more than suitcases with clothes to Costa Rica, before deciding whether a move is right for them. Others take bolder measures in putting all of their furniture and belongings into a Costa Rica-bound shipping crate. Shipping rates vary but generally range from between $6,000 and $15,000 for a 15- to 20-foot container from the U.S. to Costa Rica. Others bite the bullet, sell everything and move down with only their checked bags. These folks usually rent a furnished space, at least at rst, until they’re able to purchase their own things.

All things considered, Costa Rica o ers no end of reasons for being the happiest place on earth … ask any of the estimated over 400,000 foreigners now living here. Whether drawn by the people, the sunshine or the lifestyle, they have found the allure irresistible. Turn your dreams into a reality, live on vacation every day. Pura vida.

Only Fools Rush In: Financing a Life in Costa Rica

By SYLVIA BARRETO BENITES Let’s move to Costa Rica!” These words have been uttered excitedly all over the world. It might be while looking at a hard-to-pass-on condo or within the rst few months of returning to normal life from a whirlwind vacation or while planning your retirement. Financing a move to a di erent country is much di erent than moving cities or states and having a sustainable income in Costa Rica can be more di cult than you think. Here are some things to consider before you take that leap.

Do you have nancial stability?

Thinking you will get a job here — especially right after arriving — is fool-hearted. Salaries in Costa Rica will not compare to those in the U.S., Canada or Europe. Not even close … perhaps $48,000 a year — and that’s an executive position in a large company in the city. Most people who make more than that work for themselves and have started a successful business. Also, laws in Costa Rica protect jobs for citizens of Costa Rica and it is costly and time-consuming to obtain a work visa.

You need to have enough money to oat for a year or two.

Then good for you! Life should be a lot easier to handle in Costa Rica, like anywhere. A major life change like moving your family to a foreign country takes time and planning… and being smart with your money. Although many people who decided on a whim have actually pulled it o , chances are they got lucky or they are independently wealthy and have no worries about nances. Costa Rica is expensive, especially living on the beach. You need to have enough money to oat for a year or two. It’s also important to consider which credit card or savings you can rely on to cover emergencies like health care. How will you earn money or have a sustainable income here is one of the rst questions to ask yourself.

Working online Telecommuting in a virtual workplace may be one of the golden tickets of our age. An online job that pays rst-world salaries can o er you an economic balance here that seems magical. Keep in mind time zone di erences that commit you to being online or on the phone at certain times of the day. This can put a damper on your fun chilling out and enjoying the people and world around you. The importance of consistent internet connections when you need to be online is another consideration. Generally in populated areas the internet is good.

Retirement Walk around almost any beach town for evidence that Costa Rica is a favorite place to retire. Some of the vibrant retirees you encounter are former snowbirds who planned ahead.

They purchased a place some years before making their fulltime move and came down to live each winter. Although most realtors will assure you that such investments are solid, with your pre-retirement rental income paying o the cost of your future year-round home, actual retirees like Kathy Bowen beg to di er. Four years into her retirement from a nancial position in New York, Bowen opts to continue renting a home in Tamarindo.

“My impression is that there is a surplus of short-term rentals available and a shortage of long-term units for those who are not ready to buy.”

Having the freedom to travel and health care needs are also huge quality-of-life considerations. Do your retirement payments allow for trips home to see family? Do you have a bu er in the bank for health care costs? Notwithstanding the range of health insurance options for expats in Costa Rica, including those o ered by some care facilities, peace of mind may be another cost factor. Finding a good doctor and hospital you can trust saves a lot of heartaches when an emergency does arise.

Investing and buying a business The rule of thumb really isn’t di erent here in Costa Rica than anywhere else. Don’t buy a business in any of these circumstances: if it will be your main source of income, if you don’t have money to oat for a year or two, and — most importantly — if you have no experience in the business.

(Waiting tables and working in a kitchen does not qualify you to own a restaurant.) Bureaucracy and red tape are part of doing business here, and it takes knowledge and assistance to do it right and be successful.

Come here rst to observe, allowing enough time to see what services are missing and would bene t those living here already. Saddest of all are those people who buy a business that has been ipped dozens of times. Tourism related businesses and restaurants have an incredible turnover, mainly because people underestimate the complexity of balancing tourist season, competition, saturation, local labor laws and licensing requirements.

Savvy business owners in Costa Rica have worked hard to establish their business, understanding the challenges of doing so in a “Pura Vida” lifestyle. Unless you live here already, talk to other business owners who have been here and learn about the local economy and business practices; it is not the same in other developed countries. Otherwise, there is no way to be sure what you are investing in and could lead to more heartache than happy ever after in paradise.

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Only fools rush in My own six years in Costa Rica have made this statement a mantra for making it. Patience is so much the virtue that it’s sometimes mind-boggling. Migrating to a di erent country — any country — involves time and money-consuming paperwork and procedures relating to your legal, work and living status. Crossing the border every three months for tourist visa updates works for some people, but beware of proposed government actions to monetize and further complicate that process.

There is a tting joke: How do you make a million dollars in Costa Rica? Bring two million! When contemplating a move to Costa Rica, take a deep breath and talk to the right people. Do your homework before choosing to sell your life for the unknown.

Pick your place to live in Costa Rica

By John Brockmeier The mystique and adventure that Costa Rica o ers are a big draw for those looking to be part of this special place. What are your deciding factors for moving here? What is your ideal living environment? Research and knowing what you want are very important. From weather and terrain to lifestyle and costs, there are many things to consider and Costa Rica o ers something for everyone.

Your choices of living space are among the most biodiverse in the world for a country so small. Besides boasting mountainous regions, Costa Rica also has plains and grasslands, cloud forests, jungles and some of the most pristine beaches in the world. With the exception of snow and deserts, you can surround yourself with almost any type of ora and fauna.

Cost of living varies a great deal among di erent locations.

Within these regions of the country, climate variations are also wide and diverse. Do you like rain and moisture on a regular basis? Or something in a cool mountainous area?

Then the Central Valley is for you. Are you better suited for a drier climate? Or prefer beaches? Then staying closer to the Paci c or Caribbean coasts will meet your needs. Are you willing to deal with mold and humidity, which in some places are constant? Other spots, like the northern Guanacaste region, are dry with only limited months of rain during what is a ectionately referred to as green season. The rest of the year is dry and can be very dusty. Each location has its own calling for di erent preferences. Knowing yourself well and doing your own research from that angle is invaluable when making such big decisions.

The good life – what does yours look like?

What kind of lifestyle are you looking for? Beach life, seclusion, city amenities or a little of everything? It’s important to identify your speci c likes and dislikes before picking a place. San José and surrounding areas are the closest to a truly bustling urban life you will nd in Costa Rica. All the other areas are spotted with smaller cities and pueblos, each with its own unique personality.

Also think carefully about the kind of social life are you want: the expat experience of living in a multicultural place, or full Tico immersion? Is there shopping close by, or are you ok with stocking up during less frequent trips for supplies? If you have children, what type of schools are available in your desired area? Are they accredited, and if so, what form of accreditation? And for anyone, whatever place you have in mind, your safety and security should take highest priority.

Cost of living in Costa Rica varies a great deal among di erent locations. In resort areas, prices of housing, food and clothing can be as much as 30 to 50 percent more than in other regions. Access to groceries, clothing and restaurants can be limited depending on where you live.

These are not only important budget considerations but also factors when purchasing real estate. If you are in a hightra c area, real estate is more expensive but you will probably be able to resell your property faster. Somewhere o the beaten path might be a fast purchase and seem like a steal, but when you are ready to sell, it might take a long time for an interested buyer to come along.

Life is not all wrapped up in a basket with a bow and plopped on your lap. There are pluses and minuses to each area of Costa Rica. You learn very fast how to deal with things here and accept those that cannot be changed. There are so many options for nding your paradise. Consider what makes you happy and go on your quest.

WHAT AREA OF COSTA RICA IS RIGHT FOR ME?

By John Brockmeier

Of course, visiting di erent geographic areas and collecting as much demographic and lifestyle information as you can is the only way to assess what best suits you. The only thing more important than doing this homework is knowing your own mind, desires and circumstances, including your wish list and limitations, in an honest and introspective way.

We’ve divided the country into seven basic areas (see the map opposite page) to help you with this process. Please keep in mind this is a high-level general overview of the main spots of the country that most foreigners are moving to.

GAM (Great Metropolitan Area)

This expansive area includes the capital city of San José and covers varying locations throughout the Central Valley and Upper Central Valley. This area o ers spectacular mountain landscapes — from volcanoes to the northeast and central cordillera to the southwest — and sweeping views of the urban metropolis. Short drives can bring you as close to nature in a getaway from city life as your heart desires.

Beaches and an endless selection of rainforest adventures are in close proximity — many just an hour or two away, depending on tra c conditions and/or holiday popularity.

Notably, the climate here is much cooler than in Costa Rica’s coastal areas.

Options for shopping and access to health care professionals and facilities are plentiful in the GAM, particularly in San José and communities on the outskirts. In addition, dining and entertainment options abound, along with cultural attractions that include a varied range of museums, art galleries, theaters and concert venues.

Availability in the GAM of high-quality education at all grade levels, in public and private schools, is excellent.

The Central Valley harbors Costa Rica’s major cities of San José, Escazu, Santa Ana, Heredia and Alajuela. More than three million people live in the Central Valley, accounting for at least 50 percent of the country’s total population. The location of Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela is a convenience factor.

Along the western corridor of highway approaching San José are a cluster of Upper Central Valley towns that include Grecia, Atenas, San Ramón, Palmares and Sarche. These communities o er excellent access to goods, services and infrastructure, and a spring like climate year-round. You’ll nd everything from industrial activity and agriculture to tourism and manufacturing. Sarche is known for its unique furniture and the colorful wagons. Places like Palmares are becoming more popular because of the easy living and cool weather, as well as stunning volcano views.

North Paci c Guanacaste The North Paci c region of Guanacaste, also known as the Gold Coast, encompasses the popular destinations of Playas del Coco in the north and Tamarindo in the south, extending in each respective direction to Golfo Papagayo and Marbella Beach.

Most Guanacaste locations are within a 90-minute drive from the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia. The airport is a hub for direct and connecting ights to/from hundreds of destinations throughout the Americas and overseas.

Guanacaste is known for its dry tropical forest and a rainy season that is by far the driest in the country. For the other six months of the year, “dry season” is characterized literally by the absence of rain 100 percent of the time. This climate lends itself to virtually all kinds of outdoor activities, be it in the coastal waters or inland adventures.

Not surprisingly, a growing number of expats from all over the world have chosen to call Costa Rica’s Guanacaste area home. Developers have created many beautiful communities with pro table results in marketing to adventurous, outdoor-loving expats seeking to relocate.

Families with children in Guanacaste have access to a wide selection of high-quality schools with internationally recognized accreditations. In fact, outside the GAM, this region o ers the highest number of private and public school options in the country. The cultural exposure children gain from multilingual programs, in addition to academic excellence, is an oft-cited advantage of living in this area.

With large marinas being proven economic drivers for the areas surrounding their location, the imminent completion of a world-class marina in Playa Flamingo will put Costa Rica’s Gold Coast solidly on the map. That includes the nearby beach communities of Brasilito and Potrero.

Nicoya Peninsula Communities in the Nicoya Peninsula (central and south Paci c coast) are relatively remote from Costa Rica’s main airports — two or more hours away — but have nonetheless attracted a core group of expats seeking to live and invest in a less populated beach area.

Nicoya is renowned for being one of the world’s so-called ‘Blue Zones” where healthy lifestyles enable many people to live past the age of 100 years. For an expat choosing this place to settle, maybe it will add a few years onto your life!

Access to schools, as well as shopping, dining, entertainment and other urban amenities, is somewhat more limited than in the GAM and Guanacaste areas.

Central Paci c Costa Rica’s Central Paci c region o ers relatively close access from the Central Valley to beaches and other natural attractions. This proximity has contributed to its popularity as a place where many expats have chosen to live happily and invest wisely. There’s something for everyone here: nature at its most captivating, along with sur ng, shing, dining and a vibrant nightlife all in one place.

In many respects totally di erent from Guanacaste, the Central Paci c coast was among the rst to be developed in Costa Rica back in the 1980s and early 1990s. In addition to the growing number of expats deciding to live and invest along the Central Paci c stretch of coastline over the last 20 years, many local city-dwelling Costa Ricans have built or purchased weekend homes in places like Punta Leona, Los Sueños and other gated communities in the area. An economic boost has come from the Los Suenos Marina, a world-class facility that has attracted a large number of foreign owned sport shing boats to call this port home.

That includes the country’s largest and busiest beach town, Jacó. Having grown signi cantly over the years, Jacó o ers a wide variety of restaurants, shopping, entertainment, accommodations and tourist attractions.

Manuel Antonio and Quepos are communities that rival Jacó in popularity, but cater to a somewhat di erent clientele.

Generally speaking, lodging is a little more expensive.

Manuel Antonio National Park, globally famous for its combined beachside and rainforest allure, is a major tourism draw. The very well-appointed Quepos Marina has recently increased activity in the area.

Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal are all very small towns with relatively few amenities. An expat lifestyle here involves more planning ahead. Nonetheless, there is no shortage of expats calling this area home and loving their lifestyle there.

By contrast, San Isidro de General is a thriving large town nestled in a mountain valley, just a half-hour drive inland from Dominical. Paved road access through the surrounding hills makes the trip as scenic as it is convenient.

Osa Peninsula The Osa Peninsula is famous for being one of the most biodiverse concentrations of land area on the planet. Aside from the area’s remoteness, the heavy rains that generally persist four months of the year are a deterrent to many, but by no means all, foreigners. In fact, the Osa has a longestablished population of expats and Ticos sharing environmentally enthusiastic common ground. People deciding to settle or invest in real estate here do so exactly because of the Osa’s remoteness. It’s considered an ideal hideout — as opposed to a hangout — for those seeking an eco-conscious, o -the-grid lifestyle. Amenities are relatively few and far between, and education options pretty much limited to public schools or home-schooling.

Osa now boasts a boutique Hilton eco-lodge resort, Botánika Osa, near the Golfo Dulce tropical fjord where migrating humpback whales can be seen seasonally. A new marina is being built at Puerto Jiménez, which is the largest (but still small) town on the peninsula.

Limón and Caribbean Coast Limón and the Caribbean coast is an exciting place to be right now with a promising future. Historically important as Costa Rica’s major industrial shipping port, but in a region beset by economic hardship over the years, Limón is poised for a rising tide of commercial growth with wide-reaching ripple e ects. No business sector has been untouched by the recent opening of Limón’s new state-of-the-art shipping mega-port facility.

Notwithstanding the infusion of investment dollars this mega-project has generated, Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast has never been without its own special charm. While not widely settled by expats, the area has been enjoying increased popularity as a tourist and cruise ship destination.

The Jamaican in uence on Costa Rica’s distinctive Caribbean culture is apparent in celebrations of indigenous traditions through music and dance, as well as, the use of more spices and coconut milk in local food dishes.

To the north up from Limón province through the Caribbean coast lies the inland waterways to Nicaragua with ecotourism and shing lodges. To the south, the small tourist towns of Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo lead to the Panama border. Sur ng along the Caribbean coast is good at certain times of the year, and there are excellent conditions for shing and diving.

Arenal

The Arenal region never ceases to amaze when it comes to breathtaking landscapes and thrill-seeking adventures.

Arenal has a tourist-driven economy, especially the La Fortuna area’s abundance of adventure tour companies, restaurants, bars, resorts and shopping spots. The Lake Arenal vicinity has a larger expat population than does the tourist town of La Fortuna. The lake itself gives you a sense of Lake Tahoe, but with palm trees and the towering Arenal Volcano at one end. Lake Arenal is a manmade lake, created not only for water consumption but also as a hydroelectric power resource. Nuevo Arenal in the midsection has a strong expat population, and at the west end is Tilarán, where many appreciate the coolness of a higher elevation, along with magni cent views.

The small towns surrounding Lake Arenal have proven very appealing for expat groups seeking a culture-infused lifestyle as well as nature, and a cooler climate than the beaches o er. The area is also known for being very windy ve months of the year, when one end of the lake is a mecca for windsurfers and kite surfers.

Outside the scope of this overview, we must point out that many foreigners are opting to settle or otherwise own real estate in lesser-known micro-areas such as the mountainous Guapilies region. Some likely future hot-spots are emerging in the ripples of newfound popularity while others may be destined to remain well-kept secrets.

THE UNPLANNED WONDERS OF PURA VIDA: WHAT TO REALLY EXPECT MOVING YOUR FAMILY TO COSTA RICA

By Nicole Rangel

1. Your family will become really close Most people who move to Costa Rica downsize in some way, which means smaller homes and usually one or no family vehicle. This results in lots of time together in smaller spaces and moving around to activities as a family more often. If you move to an area where you don’t know anyone, many parents are pleased to nd that siblings play together more and family meals become routine. A common conversation topic among couples is whether all the additional togetherness with your partner is making or breaking your relationship.

You will go crazy in Costa Rica unless you tame that type-A personality.

2. Safety is overrated

One reality in Costa Rica is that despite the many laws and regulations, you will still see babies riding on motorcycles, kids on teeter-totters, children serving beers in restaurants, and a bunch of people standing in the back of trucks. It is very common to plan playdates and totally forget to exchange car seats, get phone numbers or even know exactly where someone lives. And de nitely do not look at the kitchen of any soda if you have food safety concerns.

3. Finding support wherever you go From the moment you entertain the idea of moving to Costa Rica, you can join one of hundreds of Facebook groups dedicated to living here. Ask one question and a plethora of answers and o ers to help follows. Some of these turn into o ine conversations and even in-person meetings. It is even more special when you can be the one o ering support and answers to those eager to live this life in paradise. This support also transcends into your everyday life in Costa Rica. Whether someone helps shuttle you to the nearest city when your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or jumps in to translate for you when setting up a utility, Ticos go out of their way to help in the best ways. When you befriend one of them, you have a friend for life.

4. Rely on the unreliable From communication with your kids’ school to the availability of electricity, you never know what you will get.

You set up a time for your house cleaner to come every week, but yet she often shows up on a di erent day and/or time. The dance recital was supposed to start at 7, but it is now 7:30 and the curtains are just rising. Playdates are made on the spot and birthday parties planned a week in advance.

This is not due to a lack of social life or planning, it is due to loving the moment and people in your life right now. You will go crazy in Costa Rica unless you tame that type-A personality.

5. Bugs, bugs and more bugs There are so many bugs in Costa Rica! Army ants that swoop in cleaning up every surface. Lice infections you can’t brush away. Stomach bugs that plague your whole family. From creepy crawlies to bacteria, you will encounter so many kinds of pests while living here. But hey, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger, right?

6. Welcome to the ‘80s It is true that life is simpler here. Kids get dirty playing outside for hours and there is less stress about testing, rushing to/from after-school activities and keeping up with the Joneses. But that also comes at a price. It’s not uncommon in the Tico culture to brush o common bullying behavior, use female-demeaning language and dismiss responsibility for mistakes. This can be downright infuriating, especially if your child is having any social problems at school. Just take a chill pill, dude.

7. World view is truly worldly You might have moved to Costa Rica to give your family a better world view, expecting the socialization and schooling with Ticos to change your children’s ideas of needs, wants, happiness and contentment. Then you nd yourself surrounded by not only Ticos but families from the Americas and Europe too. You realize the new world view you sought has truly become worldly. The blessing of exposing your children to multiple languages is amazing until you realize they have picked up more bad words in Spanish and French than usable phrases. You will also nd the heartache that comes with this worldly community: people come and go often, and nding friends who stay can be di cult.

8. Kids play with each other Over and over again, I am amazed at how diverse our friend circle is, but I am most elated by how kids play di erently here. Children, pre-teens and teens all play together regularly, regardless of gender, language, nationality or age.

Take a group of mixed-age kids to the beach and throughout the day, you will see everyone partner up with a di erent kid in the group at some point. Watching a French teenager build a sand castle with an Argentine 3-year-old, or a group of boys and girls who just met team up to play a pick-up game of fúbol, makes you wonder — where in adulthood do we lose those socialization skills it takes to be productive world leaders?

Best of all, moving to Costa Rica is about unleashing expectations, being uncomfortable and learning through it all … for kids and adults. By showing your children that you are struggling, learning and adapting just like them, you are modeling life behaviors too few people learn these days.

Embrace the tranquila life and enjoy the unexpected.

When it comes to the comforts and conveniences of everyday life, as well as interesting and charming attributes that make Costa Rica so attractive, the choices are limited only by your imagination. It all depends what pura vida looks like in your own mind’s eye. Take a good look all around the country and you are sure to nd what you are looking for.

What are the Social Compromises Necessary for Expats Moving to Live in Costa Rica?

By Rick Philps

After 24 years of living in Costa Rica — 19 of them practicing law — a re ection on these social compromises is necessary to complete the due diligence investigation required of any expat moving to live in Costa Rica. This is particularly true for U.S. and Canadian expats, who make up the greatest number of such expats and face the biggest challenges to socially adapt.

Moving to live in a foreign country is a life-changing event and an expensive undertaking. It is imperative that an expat contemplating such a move be complete in both their legal and social due diligence inquiries. The integrity of the party providing the expat with such advice must also be of serious consideration, to identify any overriding self-interest or other con ict of interest on the advice-giver’s part.

As statistics show, a large percentage of expats return to their home country within two years of moving to live fulltime in Costa Rica, for the reason of not being able to “ t in,” socially speaking.

Costa Ricans are generally a polite, friendly, and paci stic group of people. However, the social, legal, and cultural di erences are strikingly di erent indeed, from those of many expats.

Di erences in legal structure Most expats will come from jurisdictions where English common law is the legal system utilized. This system of laws originates from England and is the dominant system of laws in the U.S., Canada, and British commonwealth countries. It is a system composed of statutory and judgemade laws. It allows for an evolution of the law based on societal changes over time, as interpreted by judges in court, producing a “common thread” of legal jurisprudence respected by the courts as a whole.

In Costa Rica, as in all of Latin America, Civil Law (Roman Law) is the legal system that has been adopted, for the most part, from the mother country of Spain. This legal system is considerably di erent in its approach to delivering justice.

Each area of the law (eg. criminal, family, etc.), is codi ed into various legal declarations in the form of articles, which are applied by a judge to any fact situation presented in court, largely without reference to any established jurisprudence.

Case precedents producing a common thread of legal jurisprudence do not form an integral part of the judicial process as in English common law. This allows for a greater opportunity for external in uences to a ect a judicial outcome, and corruption is an issue.

Di erences in social structure and social norms

Although a plethora of social and cultural di erences can be observed, understanding a few main ones can be very helpful.

Roots: Costa Rica largely has a “class-driven” social structure. The political power rests in an elite class comprised of old family money and associations dating back to Costa Rica’s beginnings as a republic 200 years ago.

This has resulted in a defacto oligarchy being created.

Upward mobility between classes has been slow to evolve over the years. People from the poorer class levels of society, particularly in rural areas, have di culty making eye contact with the elites when engaged in conversation, being cowed into humility. The status quo between the social classes continues by design.

Thought process: Logical thinking takes on a new form, as does problem-solving. Problem-solving is, more often than not, performed on a “reactive” rather than a “proactive” basis.

The logic of solving a problem before one su ers the negative consequences has yet to be realized in Costa Rica society. Expats will nd themselves questioning what will be perceived as an awkward approach used by Costa Ricans to undertake a particular task, for what would be considered to the expat as a relatively easy and alternative way to proceed, had the same issue arisen in their homeland.

“Tico” time: Timeliness, either in completing tasks or arriving for appointments on time is also a signi cant di erence to be faced. The assertive reaction by an expat for a Costa Rican to complete a task in the agreed-upon time frame may result in a “stonewalling” response, where nothing will happen.

Government oversight: In comparison to countries such as Canada or the U.S., in Costa Rica, there is substantially less government oversight through regulation or otherwise, as to the veracity of the conduct of business transactions and as to the professional conduct of those parties involved in them. Even where such written regulations exist, the policy or will to enforce them tends to be weak and ine ective in many cases. Individuals have a much greater personal responsibility to carry out the due diligence inquiries necessary to ensure that such transactions that they plan to involve themselves in are being conducted in a proper and professional manner.

My opinion There are countless more examples of the social di erences that expats moving to Costa Rica will encounter. If you are an expat merely living on an o shore pension, or investment income, and paying monthly living expenses, your requirement to compromise to accept these social, legal, and cultural di erences required to integrate into the Costa Rica societal makeup will be minimal.

However, to become totally immersed in Costa Rican society, from a living and a business point of view, will require a signi cantly greater compromise to be made, in order to sustain an enduring social integration.

Remember, they won’t be changing.

Cost of Living In Costa Rica

By Tres Amigo Realty Group (Playas del Coco.

We will get to the nuts and bolts of what it costs to live in Costa Rica in just a minute…. But maybe the real question should be…

WHAT IS THE COST OF NOT LIVING IN COSTA RICA? Where you are living right now is de nitely where you have gured out how to earn money and amass enough of a nest egg to be able to think about buying a property and moving to Costa Rica in the rst place. But you have more than likely had to make certain sacri ces along the way in order to become successful in your business or career. Maybe some extra stress or less time spent with loved ones.

Have you ever considered the Opportunity Cost of not living in a beautiful and stress-free country like Costa Rica. All the long hours working and commuting take their toll and eventually you pay the price.

You should consider the idea that all the sacri ce you have made to get where you are in life also has a huge cost on your life and all the loved ones around you. Not to be a doomsayer and certainly not to belittle all the wonderful things that you have been able to accomplish up till now.

But the real cost of life is not being able to enjoy the fruits of your labors until it is too late…

But enough of that – You came to nd out what the real cost of living is in Costa Rica.

Since we are Realtors, we will assume you are not renting and will buy or have already bought a property so rental costs are not part of this discussion.

Property Tax and Carrying Costs The rst biggie that a property owner thinks about is Property Tax. Compared to many other areas in North America and around the world, Costa Rica’s property tax of .25% of assessed value is extremely low. As a rule of thumb for every $100,000 of assessed value you pay $250 per year in Property Tax. This is the same across the board with the exception of luxury properties and some beach front property. Below are examples of the basic carrying costs of owning a property in Costa Rica, broken down between an empty Lot, an average Condo and a larger Luxury Home.

Your costs will vary but this gives you good starting point for analyzing your speci c property or might be a good tool to help you analyze a potential purchase.

Empty lot

Value $100,000 HOA fees $1,200 – 2,000 per year average.

Property taxes $250 per year. Tax rate is .25%. To calculate multiply the assessed value by .0025Maintenance $100 – 200 per year to cut and keep the lot clean.

Condo Value $300,000

HOA fees $250 – $750 per month depending on amenities Property taxes $750 per year Electric $100 per month average (higher with heavy usage) Water $30 per month average Cable TV and Internet $80 per month.

Maintenance $500 – $1000 per year Insurance $500 per year for normal coverage

Larger luxury house Value $750,000

HOA fees $200 – 500 per month Property taxes $1,875 per year Luxury tax $1,000 per year average Electric $300 per month average Water $75 per month average Cable TV and Internet $80 per month Pool service $50 -$150 per month] Landscaping $50 – 150 per month Insurance $500- 1,000 per year for normal coverage Maintenance $1,000 to 2,000 per year If you are not living in the house full time, you will require a property manager to pay your bills and look after your property. The average fee is between $125 and $150 per month depending on the size of the property and the amount of work needed. Maid service in Costa Rica is very inexpensive, between $20 and $40 per day depending on the size of the home.

If the property is held in a Costa Rican corporation, there are two additional fees to all 3 of these properties. The corporate tax is $194 per year. There is also a Resident agent fee that a local attorney will charge you. Under Costa Rican law there must be an attorney as the legal agent here in the country to receive any documentation. They generally charge $300 per year. Those are the cost of owning property in Costa Rica.

Living Costs Let’s assume for this exercise that the living costs are for a couple. If you are talking about a family then just add a fractional cost for each family member.

Food The cost of food can vary widely. If you live like a local, cook at home and go to farmer’s markets for produce and don’t buy $5 bags of Doritos and $8 boxes of cereal then you will not only be healthier but it will be very budget friendly. Let’s say $300-500 per month. Add another $50-100 every time you go out to dinner. Local Breakfast and Lunch spots can be very a ordable as well as approaching North American average prices. Keep in mind that you can buy fresh and local produce, meat and dairy products that we might categorize at home as “Locally Grown”. You can also nd all the goodies you are used to at home and it will just be a matter of your budget to whether or not you can indulge yourself!

Transportation The cost of transportation can also vary widely and depends on how you roll and how far a eld you plan on traveling.

There are people who get by with a golf cart to run around town and others want 2 brand new vehicles to take them anywhere they want in style. The cost of gas is roughly equivalent to that of the United States and maintenance and repairs are similar in cost as well. You could travel by bus or can hop on a plane from the Beach to San Jose or other parts of the country so that is up to your taste and level of luxury you want. If you are living full time in Costa Rica than you will most likely need at least one vehicle. The cost to purchase a vehicle is slightly higher than in North America and cost of insurance is comparable as well depending on the area of the US you live in.

Health Insurance/Health Care

If you are paying for your health care out of pocket then the costs are by far cheaper than in the United States and the level of care is surprisingly comparable. There are beautiful private hospitals in the beach areas and full Hospitals in San Jose. At the Beach, there are local clinics and private doctors whom are very reasonable and provide a very good level of service. Most Doctors have studied outside of Costa Rica and certainly most speak good English. You will nd that you will receive a much more personalized service from the health care professionals in Costa Rica so not only is it less expensive than where you come from but it is also, in many ways, a better level of care.

As a resident of Costa Rica, you will be required to pay a small monthly amount to the Costa Rica health care system which gives you access to free medical care, albeit not at the level of the private hospitals.

You will nd that for trauma care the public hospitals are quite capable and can be a good backstop to get you immediate care before moving to a private facility if need be.

Many ExPats use the public health system exclusively and do not go out of pocket. If you have a particular prescription drug that you need to take you may nd that you can purchase a generic version in Costa Rica for less.

There are many di erent health insurance options that you can explore.

Many expats will purchase an international policy that covers them for major health care emergencies and pay out of pocket for most routine checkup items.

You will have to check for yourself to see what level of care you need but rest assured that you will be able to get the care you expect to get at home for the same price or less in Costa Rica.

Entertainment and Activities Once again, your entertainment and activity budget are highly dependent on your lifestyle. If you go out to see live music every night, go scuba diving, sailing and sport shing once a week and behave like a tourist all year around then it will start to move your budget up. But this goes back to the opportunity cost. If you have the money then why are you going to penny pinch and not do all the things you have always wanted to do? You will also nd that once you live here you will nd ways to do the activities you want to in a much less expensive fashion than if you are a tourist. For example, you can “work” as a divemaster at a dive shop and dive everyday for much less than if you had to pay for every dive. So, getting creative and nding what you love to do will end up costing you much less than you think it will. And, the old adage goes. If you have money, you need more time and if you have time, you need less money.

Summary All in all, the cost of living in Costa Rica for you will most likely be a little less than what it costs to live in your home town. If you make some slight changes in your lifestyle you can live for less and in the end the whole name of the game is to enjoy your life. You will certainly be happier living in Costa Rica and whether you end up spending a little less or more to live here really doesn’t matter. It’s your only life.

Why Costa Rica is the Happiest Country in the World

By Jenn Parker.

The rooster often crows before the break of dawn, a dark hour when many farmers, shermen and families in Costa Rican rise to seize the day. There’s a rare coolness at this hour, as multiple generations share a labor-of-love breakfast of gallo pinto, eggs, sweet plantains, bread or corn tortillas, fresh fruit and co ee.

In fact, any mealtime is likely family time, including a homecooked lunch that many Costa Rican children and breadwinners return home to enjoy every day. Co ee signi es community, work o ers camaraderie, and a town is just an extended family. Active living is how most waking moments are spent, whether at work, commuting or tending to household chores.

The light of the sun and nature itself overpower uorescent bulbs and concrete. Nearly everyone in the country can read, health care is denied to no one, and there is always a celebration of a saint, a town, a food or a victorious event taking place somewhere.

However overgeneralized such timelessly wholesome depictions of lifestyle and culture may seem, Costa Rica stands up to modern scrutiny on multiple “good life” counts.

While small in size, it has a happiness stature second to none when certain measurable attributes are compared with other more populous, developed and wealthy countries.

pucci photo For the third time in less than a decade, Costa Rica holds the prestigious title of “world’s happiest country,” scoring higher than 139 others on the 2016 Happy Planet Index (HPI). As a self-proclaimed measurement of “what matters,” this global index of sustainable well-being was introduced in 2006 by the London-based New Economic Foundation, whose initiatives promote international reforms to social, economic and environmental policy.

Data from United Nations, Gallup World Poll and Global Footprint Network sources are factored into the HPI score, which has four main components: experienced well-being, life expectancy, inequality of outcomes and ecological footprint. Annual HPI reports provide a snapshot of how well nations are doing as habitats for enjoying long, happy and sustainable lives.

In simple terms, this is the equation used to calculate a country’s overall score:

Costa Rica’s winning score in 2016 (the most recent HPI year) was 44.7. This number on its own tells us nothing useful in percentage or “highest possible” terms. It su ces to know that all the other HPI countries had a lower overall score in 2016, even if some rated higher than Costa Rica in speci c categories.

For example, current World Health Report data puts Costa Rica in 30th place for its average life expectancy of 79.1 years. Yet this takes nothing away from the Nicoya Peninsula’s boasting rights as one of only ve so-called blue zones in the world, where a disproportionately large number of centenarians thrive in health and happiness. (Learn more in the Howler article “Breaking 100,” on page 18, about contributing factors such as diet, sense of purpose and community, strong familial relationships, sun exposure and activity level.)

Costa Rica ranked 10th among the 140 HPI countries for overall well-being. Scores on a 1 to 10 scale indicate how happy people are with their everyday lives in each country being studied. This wellness assessment includes physical well-being as well as emotional and social well-being on a daily basis.

pucci photo Costa Ricans are renowned for being very family and community oriented. Such inclusive and supportive relationships and involvement in community life are believed to enhance one’s sense of well-being. Another signi cant factor is that, while Costa Ricans like to complain about their government, there’s a sense that it takes pretty good care of them. Since the army’s abolishment in 1949, public funding that would otherwise be budgeted for military expenditures has instead been allocated to health care, education and pensions.

A new “inequality of outcomes” measurement was applied to the most recent HPI calculations, re ecting the increased signi cance of social injustices and other inequalities in any given country. This adjustment for the resulting unequal distribution of each population’s life expectancy and experienced well-being data is now factored into the overall HPI score. The outcome of rigorous calculations in Costa Rica’s case was a 15% inequality of outcomes adjustment.

Inequality of income has a major impact on experienced wellness ratings.

pucci photo

Ecological footprint is the common denominator in the HPI equation for all the countries assessed. This is based on information about energy and natural resources use, transportation methods, types of housing, food production and consumption, and waste management. While Costa Rica is widely recognized as a leader in environmental conservation and renewable energy sources, its mediocre HPI ranking in 75th place in this category shows there is much room for improvement.

As highlighted in the last Howler issue, Costa Rica is taking ambitious steps to reduce its environmental impact, including plans for banning single-use plastic products and meeting the 2021 goal of zero fossil fuel dependency. The recent launch of “ecolones,” a cryptocurrency incentive for recycling, is another eco-conscious initiative. Many who are involved with Costa Rica’s allure of biodiversity and natural wealth are becoming more concerned with conservation versus exploitation.

pucci photo

The “money can’t buy happiness” cliché has actually proven to be more scienti cally sound than merely a saying.

According to the World Bank, average yearly income in Costa Rica is only around $11,040, signi cantly below $60,200 in the United States. Yet the U.S. ranks 108th in the world with its overall HPI score of only 20.7 — less than half of Costa Rica’s.

Many of the world’s wealthiest countries are similarly less happy than those that fall short nancially. According to the HPI, the happiest people on earth, outside of Costa Rica, live in Mexico, Colombia, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Panama.

pucci photo We are beginning to realize that what makes us happy isn’t how much stu we have or how much money we earn, even though there is a certain amount of money that we all need to lead lives unburdened with constant nancial stress.

Happiness and well-being are inextricably linked to our relationships, experiences, freedom to do what we enjoy, our physical health, sense of purpose and the support we receive from our community and government. Well-being is also linked to our diet, level of physical activity, daily hours of sleep and rest and time spent outdoors and in nature.

pucci photo The typical lifestyle in Costa Rica, of both natives and expats, includes many of these elements. The natural, political and social environment of Costa Rica is conducive to living one’s best life, if that means living simply, consciously, purposefully and connected to nature and your neighbors.

When you remove the struggle to obtain basic human necessities and services, the nancial drain of an active military, and propaganda that bigger is better, newer is necessary, and what you have is never enough, happiness is a state that really can be achieved.

SUMMARY In Short, Costa Rica is a wonderful place to visit and explore all its wonders.

This being said, if you are planning a move to Costa Rica, do you research and make sure you do it right.

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