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We’re currently living in the Lake Chapala area of Mexico, and are interested in looking at Costa Rica as an alternative option. Is there anyone on the forum who has had experience in both areas, and could give a reasonable overview of the similarities and differences?
TIA.Bill, perhaps if you can share with the forum what living in the Lake Chapala area of Mexico is like for you, and why you are looking at Costa Rica as an alternative option, some folks can write back with pertinent information about Costa Rica?
My sister stayed there for a few months, many years ago. There was a very large group of ex-pats both Canadian & American, and they have ‘all the comforts of home’…plus enjoy temperate, not hot, weather.
[quote=”DianaR”]Bill, perhaps if you can share with the forum what living in the Lake Chapala area of Mexico is like for you, and why you are looking at Costa Rica as an alternative option, some folks can write back with pertinent information about Costa Rica?[/quote]
We’ve been here for 12 years. The area is now becoming a bit overdeveloped, many tourists every weekend. There have also been quite a few more reports of crime, although the majority appear to be drug gang related.
The weather here is fantastic, a bit cold in the winter but never extremely hot, and the views are fantastic.
One of our objectives is downsizing. Our current house is way too large for 2 people and maintenance is getting very expensive. Since we’re close to Guadalajara, we do have all the comforts of home, e.g. Costco, Sams, Walmart, etc. The cost of living is a big bonus, although it has been really creeping up over the last few years.
We are considering C.R. because of the stable political environment, and possibly a slightly warmer climate. C.R. certainly looks beautiful so, we are thinking a reasonably large condo, not readily available here, would possibly be a good idea for us.
We aren’t beach people, so would probably prefer a mountainous area.
Thanks for any feedback.Bill, in the more “gringoized” areas close to San Jose but not on the beaches, you’ll find condos in many price ranges. Too, that’s the area where the best “gringo-type” shopping is. There’s PriceSmart (think Sam’s Club), Hipermas (looks like Wal-Mart because it is), EPA (think Home Depot) and AutoMercado which is the most American-like supermarket. The MultiPlaza is about as developed a mall as you’ll find and features many brand stores you’ll feel comfortable in. And it has a food court with most of your favorites.
CIMA Hospital which is the most American-like hospital and arguably the best hospital in Central America is nearby.
Escazu and Santa Ana seem hot to those who live at higher elevations, but the heat is hardly oppressive. Higher up on the mountainsides, it’ll be cooler year ’round.
I think you are well advised to consider Costa Rica for its stable political and economic environment which, along with the absence of a military establishment, were major draws for us. We’ve been here over five years and have yet to regret a day of it.
Thanks for all the feedback. We’re thinking a trip would be in order. Given the information so far, presumably we should concentrate our search to the areas surrounding San Jose.
I have read on another website that many leave after a year or so. Would that be due to culture shock? We have already acclimatized to the mañana attitude here in Mexico, and speak Spanish, one of us fluently. I would think that might give us a bit of a head start with the culture shock business. Hope that’s a reasonable assumption.
In planning the trip, are there any other non-beach areas which might be worth considering?
Many thanks for the assistance
Just how many leave after a year or so is an open question. The container shippers will tell you that they ship about half as many households north as they import in a year. What we’ve not heard yet is the breakdown of that data. That is, of those who return to the U.S., how long were they here? Why did they leave? What were the circumstances of their presence in Costa Rica (retirees, employees, aspiring employees, aspiring business entrepreneurs, etc). Without knowing those and other data, the raw numbers will tell you little.
And, of course, the shippers can’t tell you whether those they ship northward shipped their households here or furnished once they arrived and shipped their Costa Rica-sourced goods north, so are we talking about a defined population or an amorphous one? No one knows.
What’s more, the reason that our neighbors left has nothing to do with the likelihood of your remaining permanently. Their circumstances and yours are likely entirely different.
It seems to me that if you can make a comfortable accommodation to Mexico you’ll find Costa Rica an easy fit.
Just take note that the [url=http://www.arcr.net/residencyincostarica.html]financial requirements[/url] are different here as is the use of only a 90 day tourist visa. I understand there is a special permit/visa that allows foreigners to stay in Mexico for an extended period without a permanent legal residency status.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Just take note that the [url=http://www.arcr.net/residencyincostarica.html]financial requirements[/url] are different here as is the use of only a 90 day tourist visa. I understand there is a special permit/visa that allows foreigners to stay in Mexico for an extended period without a permanent legal residency status.[/quote]
It’s the same situation here in Mexico, regarding financial requirements however it appears that your CAJA (medical) is only available after you receive residency status which takes a year. Here you can not stay legally for more than 180 days, except in special circumstances, without one of the following.
Mexico has several legal residency options.
1. FM3 step one, allows you to stay for a one year period, and buy property. You may import, largely free of duty, all of your household goods. This must be renewed on an annual basis. You are immediately eligible for IMSS, our equivalent of CAJA. Financial requirements are, roughly 1000 U.S. per month. You can stay here forever on an FM3 and keep your foreign plated car forever without renewing the original plates. Very easy to do. Many continue on this for their entire lives.
2. FM2 A further step towards citizenship. This is also renewable on an annual basis and has certain limitations such as a limited time spent out of the country. One can not leave the country for more than 3 months every 2 years. You can, with this, import foreign plated cars at no cost. Financial requirements are similar. If you wish to work in Mexico you need this visa, plus a work permit. Example: most realtors here are Americans or Canadians.
3.Mexican Citizenship. To become a citizen you must have had a residency visa for a minimum of 5 years, preferably an FM2.I agree, it is much easier to relocate to Mexico.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Just how many leave after a year or so is an open question. The container shippers will tell you that they ship about half as many households north as they import in a year. What we’ve not heard yet is the breakdown of that data. That is, of those who return to the U.S., how long were they here? Why did they leave? What were the circumstances of their presence in Costa Rica (retirees, employees, aspiring employees, aspiring business entrepreneurs, etc). Without knowing those and other data, the raw numbers will tell you little.
And, of course, the shippers can’t tell you whether those they ship northward shipped their households here or furnished once they arrived and shipped their Costa Rica-sourced goods north, so are we talking about a defined population or an amorphous one? No one knows.
What’s more, the reason that our neighbors left has nothing to do with the likelihood of your remaining permanently. Their circumstances and yours are likely entirely different.
It seems to me that if you can make a comfortable accommodation to Mexico you’ll find Costa Rica an easy fit.[/quote]
An excellent point. Here, it appears that those who are not going to be able to adapt to a different culture generally leave within a year, or two at the most. Property ownership would also be a factor. Those who rent would be much more likely to leave without a backward glance.
Currently, it appears that more Americans are leaving due to health or financial reasons than in years past. Some (quite a few) are returning home to support adult children who are jobless according to one local shipping company.
Many return home but keep their Mexican property for rental income.It seems to me that learning Spanish is a huge factor in adaptation. Most gringos here do not speak it, and are therefore at a loss when something untoward happens. The percentage here who do speak somewhat acceptable Spanish is about 5%. Less than 1% could be considered fluent. The other 95% are usually here to enjoy a lower cost of living and a better climate while being roughly 12 hours hard driving to the border. They will most likely never truly become assimilated into the Latin culture. This is what I would call a stepping off point.
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