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Are there any figures or estimates of the percentage of people that leave Costa Rica after deciding that being an ex-pat isn’t for them? I lived in Venezuela as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the early 70s. Over one half, I’m guessing, left because they were homesick and couldn’t take the constant pressure of living outside of their culture.
I visited Costa Rica year before last and got the feeling that I could retire there, but it was only a short visit. I am still 5 or 6 years out to retirement and plan to visit CR a few more times before that. I most likely will rent a place there someday to see how it fits.
It may be different for older adults or it may not be. I know that it is difficult to adapt to a different culture even if you can fly out to your country of origin anytime.
I would like to hear from others about their adaptation period and their struggles to cope with cultural differencs. Thank you.There are lots of guesses, some clothed in assertions of fact, but there is no reliable data about the number of folks who leave Costa Rica because they’re not comfortable here. Who would gather such data and from where? Some folks cite numbers in the 30 to 70 percent range, but when challenged no one can name more than one or two people or couples who have actually left. Read this forum and you’ll see.
Costa Rica is different from North America (duh!) but not at all worse. The bureaucracy, public and private, is different and can be maddening but the people are warm and wonderful. If you are prepared to give up some material things, you can probably adapt to the differences without undue stress or strain.
We’ve had some great discussions here about the percentage of folks that leave Costa Rica for one reason or another. As well as the reasons they don’t make it. Check back in the forums and you’ll find some great info from a number of different viewpoints…
One of the biggest problems is the place is just so darn beautiful… and they fall in love… without really taking the time to get the full picture. Others are unable to adapt to a different culture and set of social values… yet others want CR to be like home… only warmer… cheaper and more beautiful.
Randy sent out an interesting e-mail on this topic just yesterday… I’ll cut and paste it… I have to say I can relate to what he’s saying… but I don’t think it’s the number one reason people leave…
>>>> We are constantly asked: “what is the number one reason why retirees LEAVE Costa Rica after moving here?
The majority of you will probably guess that it is the horrible roads… the bureaucracy that you have all heard so much about…or maybe the simple fact that you cannot learn to speak Spanish… but it’s not. The overwhelming reason why people leave Costa Rica? Pure and simple…it is because virtually all “gringos” are treated by locals as though they have money trees “back home”.
Many of you who read this will think we are crazy or bigoted…but the simple fact is that most Ticos see gringos are possible sources of money…something to be exploited.
Ticos are some of the gentlest, kindest people in the world. But it is definitely a fact that we are also a source of income for many …and that means that we are viewed differently. In a casual way, or in a social setting…this is not a problem. But for many, if a gringo needs work done, or perhaps a small construction job, or wants to buy land…the gringo is viewed as a “mark”. If you talk to anyone who has been here for any length of time…they will tell you the same… “you cannot trust Ticos”.
Well, we don’t agree with that analysis but we definitely think that it is prudent advice to everyone considering living here that they be aware that the possibility definitely exists and that “overcharging” or being taken advantage of is part of the culture. And face it, most gringos , in fact, do have more money than Ticos…but here it is almost a discriminatory attitude. This attitude should really not come as a surprise as it probably exists most places in the world. And once the newcomer is aware that the attitude exists a lot of things seem to fall into place.
This is the #1 reason why most expats or retirees leave the country AFTER settling here…without a doubt. In fact, many joke about the invisible words that seem to be tattooed on our foreheads when we officially move here… the word “fish” or “sucker”… that only others can see. You will often see the phrase “two tier pricing system” used. This refers to the simple fact that Ticos pay less for almost everything that gringos do…many times this is denied but it is an undeniable fact. Hotels even publish a two level pricing system… so do airlines…and restaurants. Discrimination? Yeah, it probably is…but here in Costa Rica , it is a fact of life for us gringos who live here. <<<<
I think we’ve all experienced what he’s talking about to some degree… but no more so than you do anywhere in the world. Being smart and knowing what things are worth will help you avoid this problem… since right now with this economy… most “gringos” are having a hard time keeping that money tree back home in bloom!
Edited on Apr 17, 2009 20:36
Imxploring, that is a very interesting take on why someone would leave. Given my limited perspective of living in another country, it does not fit my experience. I remember speaking to a German gentlemen in Venezuela and he said, “In the the States after one lives there awhile they are accepted as American, not so in Venezuela. You are always an outsider.” Maybe that is the case in CR and the reason for all the two tier pricing systems.
Personally, I think living outside the country is one of the most exciting experiences anyone can have. It can also be very taxing and stressful until a certain level of understanding is achieved. I think knowledge of the language is very important to reaching that understanding. The Peace Corps Volunteers who were most successfull were those that reached a reasonable fluency in the language. This may not be as easily achieved for the retiree without the isolation from other english speaking people. I know because I lived with another volunteer and my fluency was more slowly gained.
Thanks for the thoughts.
BTW, the people I had contact with were all very kind right down to the taxi driver that offered me his CDs of Tico music that I said I liked! Pura Vida…Randy Berg is an excellent and convincing writer. He has a great facility for fabricating a convincing argument to fit any situation or to answer any question. That is what makes him a great salesman. None of that makes him authoritative, however. Nor does it mean, in this particular instance, that Randy is wrong.
The questions one must ask are:
“If being overcharged is the number one reason expats leave Costa Rica, what are the next four reasons, in order?”
“What are the percentages?”
“How does he know?”
“How much time has he actually diverted from selling real estate to newcomers to research this matter and why?”
Just how many settled North Americans who have left Costa Rica to return to the U.S. or Canada has Mr. Berg actually interviewed and what were the outcomes of those interviews? Ask for the names and dates.
Until these facts are known, it’s all speculation, albeit convincingly crafted. Otherwise, it’s just smoke blown up our collective skirt.
Edited on Apr 18, 2009 05:22
Edited on Apr 18, 2009 05:42
Two separate Canadian couples that we know, have both recently sold everything and returned to their previous provinces.
Both, said that costs has risen here, and due to be Canadian, the health system in Canada will work better for them.
Other folk that we know that have left, have said it was more ‘they missed their families’. Another reason given, was they have tried it, liked and now choose to return to live ‘the normal retirement life’, ‘back home’.
Many come with the idea that life will be one permanent vacation’, and of course those of us who actually live here, knows that this is a wrong assumption.
A real eye opener, we have been told, was after choosing the ‘perfect property’ maybe with a breeze, was that learning that they had been wrong, and that this had been a mistake. It takes time to live in an area and decide whether you can live with the wind ‘howling during the night’ so sleep becomes an issue.
Some have chosen a beautiful view at the top of a mountain and I can certainly understand that, but the failed to see the arid condition around them, that TLC failed to allow them to have that veggie garden that they thought was possible.
Many different reasons cause people to return, possibly one too many scorpions in there home….
I omitted this aspect, about the lack of telephone service and Internet access as many presumed there would be no problem.Edited on Apr 18, 2009 07:31
There are many different opinions and reasons people come and go. I don’t think there’s one reason above all that people leave nor can we pin down a number as to percentage that leave after moving here. We all have our own experiences with people we’ve seen come and go for any number of reasons. I can’t even go into how many folks I know (including family) that moved to Florida from NY and returned. One returned after 6 months… “Too hot” he claimed… that’s not a shock when your only other visits and research consisted of trips to FL in the winter! The funny thing was that most moved to Florida for many of the same reasons folks come to CR!
That being said… being prepared… having your eyes open… and doing your research (like reading this site and others) is the best way to not become one of them. Having the right attitude and realizing that you’re living in a different culture will smooth over many of the changes you’ll face. Some folks find them refreshing… and thrive… others can’t adjust and it becomes part of the reason they leave. Often these are the same folks that came to CR because they had the same problem from wherever they came. Sort of like the person that always has neighbor problems… they move from house to house… always landing somewhere they have “troubled” neighbors… not realizing that it’s THEM that has the problem.
There’s always going to be those wildcards that you can’t plan for… family issues, health, and getting “home” sick…. for many people a move to Costa Rica becomes an “all or nothing” move… others are lucky enough to be able to maintain homes back in there home country. There’s so many variables that go into being happy here.
Edited on Apr 18, 2009 09:04
There was an article written on WLCR about this subject. https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/1372.cfm
This issue is analogous to people moving to rural areas within their own country. People try it for a while, with the big garden, animals, wood heat, etc, but the conveniences of the urban life are difficult to leave behind and most return.
Only the ones who have really thought about what they are giving up as well as gaining by making a move such as this will stick it out.
For me a move to an urban area would be much the same as I have always lived a rural life.The answer to this question has been overstated many times. People come to CR during a 2-3 week vacation and then expect their permenant move here to be a permanent vacation. It’s just not so. You have to be here during the rainy season to find out how you will spend your days when it rains for days at a time and you can’t go to the beach or spend time outside. Some people also expect to be able to bring their American life here to CR not realizing that assimilation into the new culture helps w/ the transition. CR is raw. It’s not Miami beach. I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to live like you would in the states just beacause you build a big house and surround yourself with other Americans.
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