Living Abroad in Costa Rica

Living in Costa Rica, either temporarily or permanently, is an appealing concept to many Americans. That isn’t to say there aren’t any obstacles. If you are considering living outside of your current borders, or if you have already made the leap, we have collected some of the best advice the internet has to offer.

On Culture Shock

With all of the legal, financial, and citizenship questions, many people forget that Costa Rica is a Latin country, with a language and culture that may be a bit of a change from what we are used to in the states. World-hopper Charlotte McPherson explains why you can’t let those potential barriers hold you back.

The world we live in and human beings are incredibly complex. One thing I have learned in my years living abroad is that if we do not take time to understand another culture, we will form erroneous assumptions and beliefs about the culture and people. Sadly, when this happens damage is done.

Spend some time in Costa Rica with an open mind. The locals are relaxed, happy, and welcoming. The language is easy, and you probably already know more Spanish than you realize. As some may point out, you can usually just respond “Pura Vida” to anything if you are confused!

Image from MyCostaRicaLink.com

On Cost of Living

One of the primary reasons to consider Costa Rica as a home is the low cost of living.

You can definitely live in Costa Rica for a lot less than what you’d be spending in the U.S. or Canada, but it takes some conscious effort. What helps is that most people who move down want to pare down, to let go of all they’ve accumulated over the years. They want to own less, work and spend less, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. With this approach, it’s not hard to live economically.

Despite rumors to the contrary, it is a bit unrealistic to plan on living like a king on dollars a day. Retirement in Costa Rica, much like in the US, requires a good amount of savings. However, with a little bit of thought and planning, it is possible for a couple to live luxuriously for$2000 a month.

In our next blog, we’ll look at some of the more technical aspects of living abroad in Costa Rica.