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OK… I will give you an answer as to MY situation. I own my house, cost me $12000. Done deal. My phone bills (both cell and house) run about $15 to $20 a month, both, not each… with no international calls. My elec runs me about $10 to $15 a month. My water, unlimited use, runs a flat $1.75 a month. My food varies… but averages about $100 to $150 a month. Fuel for my Rover is about $80 a month, depending on, duh, how much I drive. I guesstimate I spend about $300 a month to live, barring any minor catastrophies, like medical stuff, car repair, etc. I live in the country, in the mountains, live as local minded as a normal Gringo can expect to live. Do not have heat or AC. I have only hot … um, warm water, in my shower. I use a radio / disc player, microwave oven, gas oven, 2 TVs, and a computer. I have a wife and a 7 month old boy. PURA VIDA!!!!!
JerryOK… I will not “beat the drum” any further about the dangers of golddiggers, etc..That is all true enough, as well as bars, etc. NOT being the “place to look”. The only breath of fresh air I might inject is… Do not “look”. As in any other place in the world, the best just sorta ‘happens’. My wife asked me what time it was at a local dance. I was just hanging around, and there she was. She told me, much later, that she had been eyeing me for months. Quite flattering, no??? Anyhow,1 1/2 years later we married. I am quite old (figuratively speaking)and she is quite young, and nearly 4 years after matrimony, I am the father of a 7 month old boy. I have never been happier in my 57 years of life. My first child, no less!!! Whew!!!
I personally cannot say enough good things about my barber in Turrialba. He hits me with a #8, trims my mustache and goatee AND shaves the rest of my face for 1200 colones. AND, he has a TV going for you to watch!!! Wonderfull!!!
Jerry in La SuizaI do not know about every where else in the country, but I had absolutely NO problem with being present for my sons birth.
Jerry in Las Colonias de La SuizaOK…OK… so through all of the above, I am wondering how, and WHY, the discussion wormed from Costa Rica to the vices of St. Louis. I am highly amused. Who gives a “doo-doo” about what it is like where ever else you have been. Is this not a site and discussion forum for C-O-S-T-A R-I-C-A??? Pleeeeease!!! Spare us the rest.
Jerry in Las Colonias de La SuizaBeverly, I have made the trip both ways, shipping a truck, a crate full of stuff in the back, then flying from Miami with my dog and a parrot. It cost me about $500 to send the truck via ship, then another $125 or so for a tourist import visa. The animals need a certificate of health no more than 30 days old when entering Costa Rica. I highly recommend having the certificate translated into Spanich if possible for the multiple crossings. I thought the whole process was interestingly easy. Now, I also drove a van from Florida, cut down the east coast through Tampico, went south til I hit the main hwy west to the Pacific side, then again hugged the coast through Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and into Costa Rica. 6 days from St. Augustine Fla. to my home in the Turrialba area. I hauled butt, and spent about 10 hrs a day on the road. Stay AWAY from Mexico City… Stay AWAY from San Salvador… Stay AWAY from Managua. In short, I avoided the mountains whereever possible, and the large cities whenever possible. I was NOT ONCE EVER stopped by authorities in any country along the way. I had a van full of stuff and a friend along, and was only once checked out for contents at a border. At that, I did not have to take anything out of the vehicle. He peeked in through the open rear door, asked what sort of stuff was in there, and was satisfied. I did NOT have any animals with me on the road trip, but have heard reports it is no problem as long as you have health certificates, and are moving on through. As a matter of fact, people report it helps keep inspection to a minimum if a dog is in the back.
It cost me about $1000 to do the road trip from Fla… much more than a plane ticket… but, “the pleasure is in the trip, not the destination”, as they say.
All border crossings are a royal PAIN. Have a stack of copies of everything needed for crossings in every country… lots of passport copies, registration papers for vehicle, etc. Do NOT forget Mexican car insurance BEFORE you cross the border.
Dealing with car importation once in Costa Rica is yet another topic…. Buena Suerte!!!
JerryOrosi is in a sweet valley south of Paraiso, near Cartago. It is not far via a back road from my home in La Suiza. It is extensively planted in coffee, and parts of the valley are prone to landslides (or at least, there were a couple serious ones over the last few years)
It is exquisitely beautiful, and a little off the beaten path, but not too far off. There are some property deals to be found there, I am sure. There are also a few nice lunch and dinner spots there, as well as quaint hotels. Enjoy.
JerryI drove from Fla to CR 2 years ago in a van piled with stuff… bicycle, roll-away bed, boxes of household goods, etc. I had a friend with me. We spent 7 days on the road, haulin a** when possible, and driving fairly long hours. Never, not ONCE, were we stopped by Federales, and not once did we have to unload anything for inspection. Only once did any official even look in the van. My buddy was, is, a “longhair” too. Still, no hassel. The biggest problem we had on the whole trip was finding a room in the Tampico, Mexico area… abet, it was early evening on a Saturday Easter weekend!!! Drive, relax, and enjoy. Oh, by the way, I stuck to the Caribbean coast, then jogged to the Pacific side way south… avoid Mexico City like the PLAGUE. Jerry
Ken, sorry I took so long to reply, but I only get online every week or two. I do not surf the web looking for sites that are Turrialba specific, although a riverrafting tour owner friend of mine has one. I’m not positive, but try http://www.riolocos.com … I am in the States now, til next week, so all my info is unavailable. Email me at jrryddly@yahoo.com and I’ll give you my Ph# down there. Your best bet is just to visit and explore… I’ll point you in several directions according to your interests if you want to call or email for info… or visit my place.
JerryRon, I live in the mountains away from tourist hot spots (just outside of Turrialba). I have my house paid for, and that aside, my living expenses run in the neighborhood of $300 a month. That buys fuel for my old Land Rover, food, phone, electricity, water, and the occasional night out to dinner. I also eat a lunch in town at an inexpensive place maybe three days a week. With $1000 a month, I’d surely be in “hog heaven”. If I need to do repairs to my Rover or some fix-ups around the house, my expenses rise proportionate to the extent of fixins. Once you are settled here, $1000 will be very easy to survive on per month. Jerry
you are 100% right… my point was taken where you mentioned you were not in a touristy area… All of the country is wonderfull, I just enjoy the “tico” areas much better
Look, Costa Rica is no different than any other place I’ve ever been… “too good to be true” applies world over…Making 50% a year rings like “the Brothers” investment scams
When I went to Costa Rica, I quickly learned the “real” Costa Rica is not the tourist areas… If you are serious about enjoying the true benefits of living “Pura Vida”, then I HIGHLY suggest getting in the country… in the mountains and away from all the hullabaloo. I picked the La Suiza area mainly because the tourist effect is so low. Nope, there are NO fast food joints (Mc D’s, Burger King, etc.) There is no gas station… oh dear ME!!! But, I would not have it any other way. I cruise into Turrialba for gas… big deal. Most of the folks are not jaded by Gringo presence. I know all half dozen or so of the Gringos that live in the surrounds… personally. LOL. I go into town in my rubber boots, like lots of my neighbors. What I am trying to say is… if you are gonna move to Rome, I recommend “living like the Romans”.
