Moving to Costa Rica

Move to the land of Pura Vida!

What should you consider?

Moving to Costa Rica is a big decision. Living in Costa Rica or retiring in Costa Rica has many benefits and in this article, we will weigh out the pros and cons.

The Pros. Vs Cons.

We will consider the Cons first:

• • Cost of living is higher than other countries. You may be surprised to hear this but it is true. Costa Rica has a higher cost of living compared to its neighboring countries in Central America such as Belize, Nicaragua, and even Panama. Although this does mean better health care, we will touch on that later.

• • It’s a Spanish speaking country. This can either be a good or a bad thing depending on where you come from and how fast you want to / can learn Spanish.

• • You have to leave every three months. Costa Rica provides a generous three-month long visa to foreigners, and it is recommended to apply for either a working or study visa.

• • Moving in general. Uprooting yourself can be one of your biggest life decisions.

Now the Pros of Moving to Costa Rica:

• It’s paradise – This is no understatement, Costa Rica is a gorgeous country!
• Safety – Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in all of Latin America. Other than petty theft found almost everywhere.
• Healthcare – Because it is such a stable country you will find Costa Rica health care is similarly so and state of the art hospitals can be visited at an acceptable cost.
• Foreigners can buy land – Foreigners are allowed to own land, houses, and businesses just as if they were a local. The only drawback is that you cannot work in the business, only own it. Otherwise it is viewed as taking work away from residents.
• More North Americans than anywhere else – Costa Rica has proportionately more North Americans living here than any other country!
• Strong expat community – Yes, they cannot be wrong!
• Easy residency requirements – Qualify for it and with the help of our local experts (ARCR – Association of Residents in Costa Rica), you will have no problems whatsoever!
• Top notch organization – the ARCR helps expatriates to make the move and support them afterward with anything they need
• Life Expectancy is one of the highest in the world. In fact, the Nicoya Peninsula has been named a Blue Zone area. You will find life in Costa Rica is slower and less stressful.
• Choices – You have so many areas to live in, whether you move to the Central Valley, San Isidro, or the beach like Tamarindo, Playas del Coco or Playa Hermosa!