Brits Living in Costa Rica – 12 Reasons Why The British Prefer Costa Rica To Spain – Free online video
And it’s easy to see why Brits love Costa Rica…
Costa Rica is a place of stunning scenery, sunshine and smiles with spring-like weather all year round, no income taxes on foreign earned income, no capital gains taxes, excellent world-class medical facilities, affordable medical plans and populated by the ‘Ticos’ who are an amiable and very attractive people.
Scary Newspaper Story About Brits in Spain
- “Two British pensioners living in Spain have had their home demolished after being given two hours to pack their belongings – reviving fears among thousands of other expatriates that their own houses could be at risk.
- “We’re devastated,” Mr Prior said. “This has been our home for almost six years. To have it pulled down in front of you is painful beyond belief.
- “Many villagers watched in horror as the three-bedroom house, which had a swimming pool, was reduced to rubble.”
Since that article came out, the situation has become much worse so now you just one of the reasons know why so many Brits are considering living in Costa Rica.
Buenos dias mis amigos…
My name is Scott Oliver, born in 1960 in Glasgow, Scotland and eventually came to my senses and moved to Costa Rica in 1999 and I love living here so much I even wrote a book called How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and started this website WeLoveCostaRica.com
Costa Rica is located in Central America sandwiched between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south just a couple of hours flying time from Miami, USA.
Here are just twelve compelling reasons why I love Costa Rica and why you might want to think about living and retiring here:
- Low Costa Rica Real Estate Prices: According to the Global Property Guide, in comparison with a brand new luxury home in our area, prices for a used home Barcelona are 686% higher. In Madrid they are 459% higher and prices in Sofia, Bulgaria are 62% higher
- Thousands of Luxury Flats For Sale For Less Than £200,000: The brand new home that we built in one of the best, most exclusive gated communities in Santa Ana is a two floor 300M2 or 3,228 square feet with three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, dining room, spacious living room that leads out onto a very attractive terrace and the garden, a large kitchen, an office plus laundry room and a maids quarters with bathroom cost only £155,512.
- Zero Income Taxes: Unlike Spain, if you are living here and receiving income from outside of Costa Rica you will pay zero income taxes in Costa Rica.
- Zero Capital Gains Taxes: In January 2008 I personally sold a home that I designed and built, it was completed in May 2007 and we sold it for 50% more than we paid for it and paid zero capital gains taxes. Unlike Spain, even if you double your money selling your home in Costa Rica, you will pay zero capital gains taxes.
- Zero VAT: Unlike Spain, there is zero VAT charged on the purchase of a home in Costa Rica.
- Affordable Cost of Living: In a recent newspaper column, they showed a comparison between the prices of fruits and vegetables purchased here in Costa Rica to the same one purchased in a California farmer’s market. The same food that cost US$8.75 in Costa Rica, cost US$29.47 in California, USA. If you eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, a little fish, chicken or beef, you and your family will be healthier and you’ll enjoy significant savings on food living in Costa Rica. But, if you prefer to eat highly-processed, imported food, you are going to pay a higher price for that and you are not going to be healthy.
- Property Taxes: When buying a home in Costa Rica, property taxes must be considered but thankfully property taxes are only 0.25%. This means that on a £250K home you are only paying £625 per year in property taxes.
- Costa Rica Is A Politically Stable Country: Unlike many countries in Central and Latin America, Costa Rica has been a stable and democratic country since it’s independence in 1948. It has no army, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere and higher living standards than their war-torn neighbors. Costa Rica’s perfect climate, laid back lifestyle, financial and political stability makes Costa Rica look like paradise on earth to many people.
- Business Opportunities: It’s not just Brits hoping to retire that are visiting Costa Rica. We are also seeing younger entrepreneurs from the UK coming to Costa Rica with dreams of establishing their business here and raising their children in a more stable and secure environment.
- Affordable Healthcare: Patients from all over the world have discovered the excellent quality of the medical services in Costa Rica and they are invariably surprised at the affordability of these world-class professional services. You will find that the costs for qualified, professional medical and dental services are often a fraction of the cost that you would expect in the USA, and the local ‘National Health Insurance’ type care costs less than £25 per month for basic coverage.
- Costa Rica Crime: The level of violence in Costa Rica is a fraction of what it is in other Central American countries. Unlike El Salvador that has 47.7 murders per 100,000 people per year, Honduras = 46.2. Colombia = 38. Guatemala = 30. Belize = 15. Nicaragua = 13.5. Panama = 11.6. Costa Rica has a ratio of around 11
- Climate in Costa Rica: At an average temperature of 72 degrees all year round in the Central valley area around San Jose, the climate in Costa Rica is just about perfect.
Costa Rica Retirement Video Interview
To watch this short video with two of our British VIP Members John and Sheelagh Richards, please click on the small white triangular Play button in the middle of the screen below and allow a few seconds for the video to begin.
Living in Costa Rica is not for everyone, but after living in ten countries and traveling to dozens of others, the Brit writing this honestly believes that the local people are amongst the nicest people I’ve come across and for me living here is a dream come true…
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Written by Scott Oliver who was born in Glasgow, Scotland but went to school in Crieff, Scotland and later ‘sunny’ Watford in Hertfordshire. Scott is the author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore and the founder of www.WeLoveCostaRica.com
If you have a serious interest in buying real estate in Costa Rica and would like a highly recommended and trustworthy professional that speaks your language to help you, please contact us using the simple form below:
Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew 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.
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Hello
my husband and I have both just retired and would like to spend about 5/6 months a year in Costa Rica. (We are both British and currently live in the UK). We would like to rent an apartment/house for a couple of months first to get a feel for the areas. Could you tell me which areas in Central Valley might appeal to us to taste ex-pat life there? We have lived overseas before in various countries so not afraid of the leap. we would like to stay in a gated community.
Hello Angela, thank you for your message, We just sent it to one of our recommended realtor on the area, He will be in contact with you shortly.
Thanks
My husband and I are thinking of retiring to costa rica and I am hoping to visit next year to have a look at areas and properties. we particularly like Guanacaste region. Any tips ideas information would be greatly appreciated.
Janet Leighton
Sear Scott
My wife E and I are retired, me 64 and E 52. We presently live in the UK, Bournemouth in fact which is as good as it gets in the UK. We have both spent over 20 years living overseas, me in Australia and E as an expat wife in Asia and the US. We recently had a house in France but sold late last year as rather isolated and bloody cold in winter. So now we have a lock up and leave in Bournemouth but where to next. Spain just falls short and we want to find somewhere that we can call home in the sun. We both like to be naturists when possible, so will always need a property with a private pool and possibly close to the sea. We would rent first until we feel that it is right for a long term basis. When we come to buy we probably be looking at £350,000; unless we decide to sell place in Bournemouth.
We do not know or have been to Costa Rica, we do require the ability to make friends easy, stay fit and healthy and live an interesting, relaxing and fulfilling life.
Can you give us any opinions or information that would help us both.
Kind regards
Doug
Crazy question I know, but if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
I’m a single mum with one child, age 10, he has autism.
I fell in love with Costa Rica after a voluntary work spell of 3 months in 2014.
How would an unskilled, single parent make a successful move to Costa Rica? Am I dreaming an impossible dream?