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Any way I have analyzed it as a US construction company owner and estimating manager with CR experience and CR relevant cost data, the most recent analysis 3 months ago reflected building costs are at least 50% less than US. Equivalent view raw land is 25% of US, so in total, it is still 1/3 … for unsurpassed beauty and tranquility in comparison it’s a bargain. The average cost (no overhead, profit or insurance) of a laborer, with benefits @ nearly $5/hour in CR vs. $44/hour in Seattle is a steal. If you know where to get your materials locally and/or are creative with getting fixtures, hardware and other specialty items in as baggage, you can easily chop away at the material costs. Material costs in CR exceed labor costs, unlke the 50/50 rule in US.
The poverty level in CR acrually went down as opposed to the poverty level in the US going up. I believe the poverty level income in the US is equal to the average income in CR. San Jose definitely has some slum like areas, which I have walked with my wife when we got lost on our 1st trip 6 years ago. We found a young teen who was extremely helpful and led us to a visual point where we could get our bearings. That would not happen in San Salvador, Guatemala City, Mexico City or LA, Chicago and NYC. It is all a matter of perspective and what the national sentiment is toward violence. In CR, it is significantly low compared to population densities in major urban centers worldwide. Housing in US is $130/SF construction cost at best in the cities, approx. $200 in Puget Sound suburbia, but twice that in Seattle or Bellevue, on average. An aguacate (avocado) is $1.25 EA here on sale and hard, pineapple $5/EA at best and green, mangos $1-$2 each, power bill on coldest months $350 in temperate Seattle w/ 100% hydro-power, phone/cell/sat. TV/ sat. Internet = $300/mo, property taxes on $500K = $350/month:New Jersey $1,000/month, health insurance for family of 4 w/ 50 yo parents = $1,350/month. Gasoline is the same cost currently and diesel is 30% less. Put that in perspective.
The best possibility that might bear fruition after a year or so is to start your own company (S.A. here) and operate as an owner with only Tico employees or partners who are owners since you cannot legally be an “employee” here unless you work for a international corp. and are stationed in CR or a resident. Construction methods, especially outside of San Jose could use some significant modernization and a serious increase in speed. An area with a lot o foreign N.A. and E.U. growth that is used to high quality work performed in as little time as possible with the best materials. Quality workmanship and materials are available in CR and there are some very talented builders, however, in general, the overall standard is more basic and primitive; less than what the average asset solvent euro-americans are used to. These are my observations over the last 5 years visting CR every 6 months as an architect and contractor in the US.
It is a bit better, but still dangerous. We remember 5 years ago when the storm that hit the week before we arrived washed away the town of Portalon.
Most modern structures built to current codes will withstand a 7.0 or less. Anything over a 7.0 is a “severe” earthquake. Anything over 8.0 is a “great” quake with massive destruction. To answer your question tracymartin, it is difficult to determine structural quality in CR unless you witness the actual construction. The predominant building materials are concrete, CMU block and stucco. Stucco hides what is underneath. CMU and concrete are completely dependent on the amount of reinforcing steel and steel at the connections from floor to walls, beams, columns etc. These connections canot b seen in the finished product. In my experience, the reinforcing steel used in a typical CR home is undersized (#3 rebar or 3/8″ dia.) which is not allowed in the US for other than ties for larger rebar or sidewalks. The density (closeness of each rebar piece) is also typically inadequate. Wood framing that is anchor bolted into a concrete foundation will withstand a quake better that concrete or masonry. Another issue with concrete is that is often hand mixed so that each batch has different strength properties and they tend to use to much water to make it easier to work with. Too much water severely weakens concrete. If you live in a larger city that actually has pre-mix batch plants, the quality control is significantly higher.
If you have an S.A. (corporation) set-up or bank accounts in CR, it is typical to have a dollar account and a colones account. You can automatacially set-up the withdrawal from the dollar account into the colones account and that would satisfy the requirement. Then you can pay your bills out of the colones account. Consult your attorney in CR if you have one. I not, there are plenty of recommendations on this site.
Deregulation has an up and down side. The up side is we will have many more choices, higher quality and faster speeds. The down side is that it will cost more. The break up of Bell telephone in the US, thanks in lage part to Ted Kennedy, is a prime example.
$60K per person and you must draw $1,000/month per person for 5 years and keep all receipts for the transactions. Rentistas must be in the country a minimum of 4 months per year, non-consecutive.
As an architect and contractor in the US, structural steel frame buildings are the most earthquake resistant because the structural system has a much greater ability for movement. For example, the top of the Columbia Center in Seattle (76 stories) is designed to sway as much as 9′ for both wind and seismic. For houses, wood framing is more earthquake resistant than masonry or concrete. Your drywall may crack, but the structure will remain intact. Masonry is the least earthquake resistant of all.
California, Alaska and Hawaii are Zone 4 seismic areas, the most stringent. Oregon and Washington are Zone 3. Kansas would be a Zone 1.There was an blog recently with a link on shipping with a local company that would handle containerization from port to port. Can you link me up Scott? I am considering shipping some construction equipment, tools and fixtures that can all fit in a 20′. We plan to construct a more modern, seismic resistant, energy self-sufficient home in Montezuma within the next 5 years and my experience is that I would be on the tool borrowing schedule between the local internationals or wait a week-month for everything I need to be ordered.
Do you know of any microbrewers in CR Scott? I have never seen any in the store, even the AutoMercado in Escazu. I could always bring some Yakima hops with me on the next trip down.
Hops have become a big commodity in the US. Last year there was a severe shortage of hops worlwide. The largest crop of hops in the US is in the Yakima Valley in WA state, grown beside all the vinyards, since we are 2nd only to California in wine and #1 per capita in microbrewers. Samuel Adams out of Boston went to the extent of buying much more than they needed in bulk so that all the NE US microbrewers could purchase at cost. Microbrew beer has increased in cost about 25% in the last year.
I do not believe that hops can grow in a subtropic climate because the nights do not get cold enough, but with all the genetic engineering we have done on crops, there might be a strain that works.Puntarenas proper is a hole! South of Puntarenas toward Jaco can be decent once you get past Caldera. Most industrial port towns with fishing fleets and a prison tend to be seedy. The Gulf of Nicoya waterfront has great vistas, but the water is a little on the milky/smelly side until you get to the islands at the mouth of the bay where ocean currents mix. Maybe it is all the tuna boats. From Curu around the peninsula through Montezuma, Cabuya and Mal Pais, on the “other side”, is a slice of heaven.
Costa Rica has to be the most diverse population per capita in the americas. Ticos are naturally helpful and non-judgemental. Of all the nationalities I have run across in CR, I would say the germanics are the least approachable. All the latin cultures tend to be friendly and gregarious by nature, which includes italians and portugese. France is its own animal and an island of conceit.
