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http://www.internations.org/costa-rica-expats/americans?utm_source=google_adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=+americans_+moving_+costa_+rica&utm_content=_Americans&utm_campaign=Country_CR_Costa_Rica
--Beautiful weather and scenery
--Socialized health care and education.
--No "military industrial complex"
--Retirement pensions and Social Security will go a lot further there
What's it cost to live in Costa Rica?
Brother, if I had a dime for every time someone asked that question, I could retire! Oh! That's right, I AM retired... Anyway, I will give you the short and long answers. The short answer is "
Almost) whatever you want to pay". The long answer is a bit more involved.
The reason the short answer is really correct is that you can spend just about as much or as little as you want to live in Costa Rica. It really depends on two things: What do you want and what you need, and they ARE different. I know people here who live wonderful lives in Costa Rica on as little as $1000 per month and they are happy. They may live away from San José and in small accommodations eschewing cable TV, cultural activities, shopping, and other amenities, but they are happy.
I also know people who spend $4,000 per month (and more) and THEY are happy!
You can do either... now whether you want to or are able to is a different story. I am not going to go into every little thing you can buy here. Items like the cost to own a car, cost of utilities, or cost of education are covered elsewhere in this site.
If I were to give you and average spending for North Americans moving here, I would say the range is between $1,500 to $2,500 per month. This is what I THINK an average middle class family (maybe 1-2 kids) from the US could spend and view their lifestyle as comfortable. No kids? Less of course. My sister lives here (single) and spends about $1,300.00 per month with Internet, cable etc, small 3 BR 2 bath home. Not a lot of luxuries, but for her, it is enough.
Here are just some basics on housing, food, and a few other items as they often represent the lion's share of monthly expenses for many folks. Read on!
--more--
http://www.therealcostarica.com/living_in_costa_rica/cost_of_living_costarica.html
(This may be from 2007, so prices may have gone up a little)
The only drawback is (IIRC) Catholicism is written into CR's Constitution as the "official religion."
--Beautiful weather and scenery
--Socialized health care and education.
--No "military industrial complex"
--Retirement pensions and Social Security will go a lot further there
What's it cost to live in Costa Rica?
Brother, if I had a dime for every time someone asked that question, I could retire! Oh! That's right, I AM retired... Anyway, I will give you the short and long answers. The short answer is "
Almost) whatever you want to pay". The long answer is a bit more involved.
The reason the short answer is really correct is that you can spend just about as much or as little as you want to live in Costa Rica. It really depends on two things: What do you want and what you need, and they ARE different. I know people here who live wonderful lives in Costa Rica on as little as $1000 per month and they are happy. They may live away from San José and in small accommodations eschewing cable TV, cultural activities, shopping, and other amenities, but they are happy.
I also know people who spend $4,000 per month (and more) and THEY are happy!
You can do either... now whether you want to or are able to is a different story. I am not going to go into every little thing you can buy here. Items like the cost to own a car, cost of utilities, or cost of education are covered elsewhere in this site.
If I were to give you and average spending for North Americans moving here, I would say the range is between $1,500 to $2,500 per month. This is what I THINK an average middle class family (maybe 1-2 kids) from the US could spend and view their lifestyle as comfortable. No kids? Less of course. My sister lives here (single) and spends about $1,300.00 per month with Internet, cable etc, small 3 BR 2 bath home. Not a lot of luxuries, but for her, it is enough.
Here are just some basics on housing, food, and a few other items as they often represent the lion's share of monthly expenses for many folks. Read on!
--more--
http://www.therealcostarica.com/living_in_costa_rica/cost_of_living_costarica.html
(This may be from 2007, so prices may have gone up a little)
The only drawback is (IIRC) Catholicism is written into CR's Constitution as the "official religion."
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