Specifics on Cost of Living

[kimyoa650]

Hi,
I’m just trying to budget for monthly costs and other living expenses in Costa Rica. Some of these I know already but want to verify or get a better average. Kindly help out if you know the costs (monthly).

Maid Services:
Live-in =
Not Live-in =

Cable TV =
Home Phone line =
Cell Phone =

Internet Service:
Cable Internet =
ADSL (Phone) =

Water (usage of 4 adults) =
Electricity =
Garbage Collection =
Car Insurance =
Security =
Doctor’s Visits (per visit) =

Thanks guys. I’m just trying to fill up my budget table to get a clearer picture financially.

[Andrew]

You can see the legal minimum salaries posted in our article at

Cell phone and home landline phone costs will depend on your usage obviously but in the ten countries I have lived in, I have never had cheaper cell/telephone bills than I do now…

For international calls, I use a call service that costs me .10 cents per minute to the USA.

Internet will depend on the package you choose but could be as little as $15 per month. I spend about $125 per month on Amnet cable internet/TV, land line telephone and cellular telephone.

Water and garbage collection is very, very cheap and car insurance will also depend on what car you have and what coverage. When I first bought a brand new Toyota RAV, the complete (could not get more coverage) cost me about $1,800 per year.

There is a very basic car insurance coverage included with your annual car tax (marchamo) payment but I don’t believe that this covers theft for example but I am NOT an expert in car insurance.

Doctor’s visit will again depend on the Doctor but even a specialist will probably not charge more than $50.

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com

PS. We did produce a quarterly ‘Costa Rica Cost of Livin’ report for about a year but finding someone to keep it up to date became impossible.

[dhsbooker]

Hola,

Here’s a link that may help you. It will also give prices for the feria’s(farmers market) usually each month. http://www.doscolones.com/doscolones/2006/07/index.html

[mediatica]

Depending on what part of the country you live in, that will dictate your budget. ie: I live in Guanacaste, which is more expensive than the central valley. Here’s an example MONTHLY budget:

Maid (she comes over 2 x per week for 6 hours @800 colones per hour) = $75.00 USD
Gas = $400 (for two cars… depends on how much you drive)
Life Insurance = $90 (for two of us)
Health Insurance (INS) = $116 (for two)
Groceries = $400 (could be less if you eat simple things)
Car Insurance $200 (two cars)
Home Insurance $30
Cell Phone $40 (two lines)
No land line
Direct TV = $34
Garbage = $5.00 per month
Water = on well, no bill as of yet.
No internet (use it at work)

Grand Total = $1,390 (don’t forget going out, travel, having fun.. maybe $300-600 per month??)

Hope this helps…

Edited on Dec 04, 2006 14:38

Edited on Dec 04, 2006 14:39

[kimyoa650]

Thanks for the replies so far.

[harvcarp]

Hello Scott:

I could use the .10 per minute to the USA.
Please advise the service that you have.
Gracias
Harvey

[kimyoa650]

I hate to answer a question that is addressed to someone else, but I would like to say that if you have a fast internet connection, you can use skype and make calls as little as $0.02 per minute.

I have used these to make calls both to US locations as well as number in Costa Rica. The call quality is extremely good. Calls to CR numbers costs $0.08/min.

Pardon my interruption…

[Andrew]

That’s great feedback and a great price for sure – Thank you kimyoa650

I use this particular service because I do NOT actually need a computer to use it, I can use it from any landline or cellular telephone anywhere in the country. Just dial a special access number, put in your code and the telephone number you want and your chatting away seconds later…

I also use the same service for an 800 # that rings on whichever telephone number I want it to ring on and can program it online.

We’ll be rolling out this service on the site early in the New Year because many of our VIP Members have been asking me about it …

Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.com

[Author]

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