Even people from the US who have lived in Costa Rica for a few years seem to have forgotten all about the cost of living ‘back home.’

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When I interview people, the majority of people are saving serious money living in Costa Rica but, a few have told me that the cost of living for them is not much different than the cost of living where they used to live in the USA.

I remember one conversation well because a lady from Florida was complaining about the prices of some of her favourite, brand names foodstuffs were much higher here than they are in Florida.

I suggested that if she bought imported food from the US then the cost of shipping to Costa Rica, insurance, paperwork and the import taxes obviously have to be added to the price which would certainly make them more expensive in Florida and I also asked her…

  1. How much did she used to spend each year on property taxes in Florida…
  2. How much did she spend on health care?
  3. How much was spent on flood insurance and hurricane insurance?
  4. How much did she pay for air conditioning?

And in comparison with her cost of living in Costa Rica, you know how much she was saving?

Just over US$25,000 per year…

I had a similar conversation earlier this week with a gentleman originally from California and I don’t know about you, but if you could put an extra US$2,080 per month in your pocket, wouldn’t that put a smile on your face?

We know dozens of people living in Costa Rica on less than that …

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It seems to me that the people that complain the most about the cost of living in Costa Rica are the expats who come here and try to live exactly as they did ‘back home’ in an area as similar as they can find to the place they lived in ‘back home.’

But seriously, if you live in an area known as the “Beverly Hills of Costa Rica” you’re probably not going to pay rock bottom prices for anything, right?

There’s nothing wrong with having your creature comforts but if you insist on buying lots of imported food products instead of locally grown foods, then you’ll pay through the nose for it.

If you buy your fruits and veggies from the local market you’ll get fresher food and be healthier for it, you’ll have to practise your Spanish and get a real feel for Costa Rica, you’ll save a small fortune and you won’t be given your stuff packed in forty seven AutoMercado plastic bags that are clogging up the world’s rivers and oceans…

Not Living in the Beverly Hills Of Costa Rica – More like the Little House on the Prairie.

Last Saturday we visited an attorney in small coffee producing town about 2 hours from San Jose to try and find a solution to a sticky, legal problem faced by the foreman who’s built our vacation home in the mountains.

For one full hour this attorney listened to us, offered numerous intelligent suggestions and we eventually drew up a plan which will thankfully extract Juan Carlos from this sticky situation and, ensure that his assets and family are protected.

Question: Do you know how much this attorney charged us for this one hour legal consultation?

Answer: 5,000 Costa Rican colones which as of today is the equivalent of about US$9.88 – Less than ten bucks for one hour with an experienced attorney.

I love the cost of living in Costa Rica.

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Written by Scott Oliver, author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore.

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