To Bring or Not to Bring – That is the question!

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It’s almost impossible not to paraphrase Shakespeare’s famous line when you’re planning your move to Costa Rica. The whole question of whether or not to bring your belongings is probably one of the most hotly debated among to-be-expats. And there certainly is no single right answer.

For some people, the idea of starting fresh is attractive. They also might look at the cost of shipping a 40′ container – which will typically be somewhere between $7- and $12,000, all inclusive – and think “I could buy all new furniture for that amount of money.” And that’s conceivably true, although you could also spend many times that amount.

Some things that are locally made are quite reasonably priced, especially some of the Tico wood or bamboo furniture. But many people also find that some local things – particularly the beds and upholstered furniture – are simply not very comfortable. You can get true North American furnishings, but imported items here are typically very expensive.

You can buy local appliances quite inexpensively that could potentially serve you well. But, again, if you’re looking for the brands, styles, or quality you’re used to, you’ll generally be paying a lot more.

Also, another factor many people forget to look at is that a home is NOT just made up of the major pieces of furniture and appliances. It’s also the CDs and books, the pots and pans and casserole dishes, the Christmas china and the plastic parrot plates you eat lunch on, the towels, bedsheets, down comforters (yes, you can use those here, at least in the central valley), and shower curtains.

It’s all those little kitchen tools and gadgets, bathroom scales and hairdryers, DVD players and televisions, lamps and clocks, rugs and throw pillows, family photos and treasures from your past travels. It’s shop vacs and garden rakes, power tools and socket sets, door mats and table saws, ladders and coolers.

Some of those things are simply irreplaceable and if you want to have them here you’ll have to bring them with you. You’re likely to want your artwork and photographs, along with the pottery your children made in school and your mother’s antique crystal vases. While you can buy Christmas tree decorations here, are you really ready to get rid of a lifetime’s collection? (Yes, they do have Christmas trees here!)

The other things could be replaced here but can really begin to add up to much more than the cost of the shipping container. Leave behind the Hoover Windtunnel vacuum cleaner you recently paid under $230 for and you’ll spend over $380 to buy the same model here at PriceSmart (after paying the $30 membership fee).

That stainless Frigidaire side-by-side that you paid around $1,700 for not too long ago will cost you over $2,800 to replace here. That large fiberglass ladder you’ve had for years might look a little ratty, but when you go to replace it you’ll suddenly be looking at nearly six hundred dollars. And those Igloo coolers you have in your basement may seem unimportant, until you realize each one here in Costa Rica will cost $60 to $100+ to replace.

Some clever folks are even finding that it’s worthwhile to spend some time at garage sales and their local Goodwill store in the last months before the move. Some of those harder-to-find items that are so costly here in Costa Rica can be picked up for a song in those places and are legitimately imported as used goods with their low values, resulting in minimal import duties.

Lastly, there’s also a subtle issue that some people forget to take into account. Even if you’re completely enthusiastic about moving to Costa Rica, it’s still a big move for most people. The comforting quality of having your new house feel like “home” when everything else around you feels “foreign” shouldn’t be underestimated.

So maybe a “fresh start” is the right approach for you. For many people it’s not. The best advice we can give: be sure you’ve really thought it through before you get rid of all the “stuff” that makes up your life. Shipping it here might just be the best investment you make when you move.

Written by Arden Brink and Barry Wilson.

Written by VIP Member Arden Brink.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.