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Hi all, I’ve been reading the extensive posts that include “cost of living in CR” and it has been interesting to notice that it has changed amazingly from when I was reading it two years ago. Back then it was said here and on other forums that one could live very frugally for $500 to $600. a month. This was the no car, no fun type of just getting by. Now when I read on here that figure seems to have doubled from two years ago. Then I started wondering about this figure of $600. a month of established certifiable income to gain the Pensionado Residency……..is there any reason they are using this figure? Previously I had thought the thinking was that if you were allowed residency for having this $ amount that they felt you could “get by” on that. What is the reason for that $ amount? Any ideas………Thanks everyone and it’s been great to be back here and reading all the posts!
There is always the possibility (probability?) that this minimum could be changed soon. I don’t think it needs to be increased dramatically, though, and that may be reason enough to leave it as is for a while. I am sure it based on CR average incomes and the average Tico salary has not changed as much as our North American inflation and salary decreases have.
Also, be careful taking anecdotal stories about cost of living too seriously. This is a very subjective matter. I read CR blogs all the time and they all have very different takes on the overall picture down there. It appears that personal predilections are what determine everything. It is so hard to get a good grip on relative values in regards to Costa Rica. It is a small country and is not great at record keeping or regulation so statistics are always questionable. We all look to web sites like this one for further illumination and many times, we find it here. But I’ll bet you get a wide range of opinions on this particular subject and will not be able to take away any certitude about how the cost of living would relate to your situation. Life is an adventure, isn’t it?If you dont take into account the cost of housing I believe you could live eaisly on $600 per month, if you are paying $300 to $600 for rent, that makes it a different story. You can check out the cost of most items by going to the hypermas website they publish a weekly flyer with everything from food to appliances and you could do your weekly budget from there and see what you would need to spend. Might help to get a handle on things.
Hi there..You know it is all about who you are and how much you require. I was In C.R. 2 in the last 2 years both for about 3 months and lived comfortably on ^400 mo. not including all the more expensive “tourist” things that you could avoid and still see as much of the country as you wish. I was all over the country and paid frm $5.00 per night and on the carribian side paid $175.00 for a month at a 1 bedroom,bath, living room and kitchen cabana. I only once paid more than $20.00 for a night and I got trapped with-out a room and paid 35.00////still not bad. I traveled by bus that is quite good and a good way to see the country. If you take direct bus rather than the “milk-run” it costs a little more but well worth the cost. Bus across the country 3-7.00. Nice, clean reasonably safe if you watch your stuff and your wallet.
Well could say a great deal more but I stayed in all safe,clean small local hotels and never had a problem.
good luch
terry From Texas
Dear Terry from Texas:
Thanks for the update and current reality check on living in Costa Rica. I start my planning for retirement next month with my second visit to Costa Rica. I haven’t been in the country since 1993 and want to the additional research you have already completed. Thanks for the note of encouragement since I thought maybe a minimum requirement might be still about $1000 per month for one.
Sincerely,
Tom in PortlandHi Tom…..from Portland…..I live in Eugene. If you would like to email me it would be interesting to talk with someone else that is in the planning stages of moving…… palmdreams@comcast.net
Cancertomnpdx. Terry here….Please do undersstand thak things Have drastically changed in C.R. You Can still do it on the cheap side but Now as I traveled around you see all over the place Condos from Just $595,000 and other such Huge prices. Almost all “developments are Huge in price. But I saught out Cheep housing and found for 40-80,000 there is still things available. Of course you need to dig deep…get settled in the spot that you are interested in and then go to the local bars/restraunts etc and just get accepted in to the group. I suggest you not buy drinks or other things for the locals they will feel you are up to something. Just be considerate and try to fit in ..have fun. I do so and got to meet and know and win the trust of many locals because I was sure not to be a “stupid/rich/selfish/egotistical American. I found several “cheap” houses by following this pattern. NOT that I was trying to work the system but as is in any Country people do not like Selfish Americans. We have lost acceptance everywhere in the world. Do as they do in ……
good luck
TerryHmmm… you know many ticos don’t make $600. a month with a pensionado. My mother in-law a Tica only makes 150.00 from her husbans SS (he died 6 years ago). Then she makes about $550.00 from the family biz. She owns her own house that cost about $35,000.00 5 years ago (normal two bedroom 1 bathroom). She has six dogs and now car and is 66 years old. Only the forigners will have to up that figure because most won’t live it the normal tico neighborhoods and lower their expectations of living such as tico housing ver gringo housing.
The $600 will just about cover the cost of your gas for you car, if you have one!
I think it must be very difficult to live here on that amount, especially if you
a, have a family,
b, need to rent a house.
We have lived here for nearly 8 years, and everything has gone up.Dear Terry:
I will never have a budget for $595,000 condo. In fact, if I was to have $595,000 when I retired, I certainly would not spend it on a condo. I am too cheap of an American! My goal is to find a simple Tico house among neighbors that are friendly. I am taking the whole moving project in baby steps. This year’s trip is to just reacquaint myself with Costa Rica since I have not been in country since 1993. On this trip, I am taking George Lundquist’s tour to learn, educate myself on how Costa Rica has changed since my first visit. I am using the tour to help me decide if Costa Rica is still a good opportunity for me with my budget or do I look elsewhere for my retirement. This certainly is not my decision year; I have two and half more years that I want to work. I want a simpler life however, so my plans are simple, like wanting my own banana tree, a good first cup of coffee in the morning, fresh tomatoes all the time. So I am certain a Tico-style house and neighborhood will do me just fine if I finally decided on Costa Rica.
I am taking your thoughts and suggestions of trying to fit in to heart, I thank you for the reminder.
Thanks,
Tom in PortlandHi Tom
George Lundquist’s tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the possibilities available to those who want to retire to Costa Rica. I took the extension tour into the Southern Zone and found a place that fits my needs for the moment. It is on the outskirts of San Isidro Perez Zeledon beside a modern mall called El General. The development is a Tico community that is still in its early stages. If there are any lots left, you can have a home built for about 100k, including the lot. The roads are already in as are the electric and water lines.
Perez Zeledon (the name that Ticos use for San Isidro) is a bustling town that is (according to something I read somewhere) the fastest growing town in Central America. The natives are very proud of their city as can be seen at the town’s website http://www.perezzeledon.net. They have a competitive futbol team, beach volleyball team and many community activities. There is a very strong horse culture in the area. There are dozens of photo galleries showing all these activities.
The El General Mall next door to my community has a nice selection of stores including a modern supermarket and a three-screen movie theater with reclining chairs. The movies are usually in English with Spanish subtitles. Across the Panamerican Highway is a fine restaurant and hotel with a casino. I’m not a gambler, but I intend to make use of the huge swimming pool and tennis courts. This project suits my needs very well and gets my foot in the door to la Pura Vida.
Keep you eyes and your mind open. If you can’t find what you want, you can at least find what you need…and then you can turn it into what you want. George can help you to visualize the possibilities. Be prepared to be worn out by the end of his tour.
Frank
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