In case many retired expats do not know, Costa Rica new legislature building was inaugurated on October 19, 2020. It replaces the old building located nearby that had been in operation since 1958. The government spent about $150,000,000 on the project. The new structure rises 18 stories above street level, […]
Many foreigners who come to Costa Rica seem to leave their ‘Brain on the plane’ and make foolish investments by doing things they would never have dreamed of at home. They basically fall in “lust” with the country. So, it is always wise to ‘test before you invest before you […]
In March 1992, a change in the pensionado law eliminated many tax privileges that retirees had enjoyed since the program started in 1964. Under the old system, foreigners with official pensionado or rentista (permanent retiree) status were required to live in the country four months a year. They were entitled […]
It seems that the more I watch news from the U.S., the worse the situation seems to be getting there. My home state of California is plagued by forest fires once again. Apparently, this is the new normal. Seasonal fires have destroyed hundreds of people’s lives and homes. Add the […]
On my monthly relocation tours I am always asked about the different denominations of Costa Rican currency and how to calculate the exchange rate. It is easy to figure out the exact exchange rate by going to: XE Currency Converter USD to CRC The 1 mil bill is about two […]
After the U.S. pulled out of Panama on December 31, 1999 a gap was left in the country’s economy. One of the ways the Panamanian government tried to compensate for the loss of U.S. revenue was to try and attract foreign retirees by offering them a whole slew of incentives […]
The crisis caused by the coronavirus has hit Costa Rica’s fragile economy really hard, especially the tourism sector. In response the government has come up with an ambitious plan to raise hemp and medical marijuana to try and heal the country’s economic woes. Other counties that have invested in the […]
Let’s look at why this statement is true. In most cases a developed country is synonymous with its military and economic power. The latter seems to be the criteria used for drawing the line between developed nations and those which are in the process of developing, or as they are […]
Many cost conscious expat retirees never purchase an automobile in order to save money while living here. Thus, they depend heavily on public transportation such as buses, taxis and Uber to economize. Good news! As I have alluded to in previous articles the government plans to construct an electric train […]
The honors keep piling up for Costa Rica. According to a report from a recent Gallup poll edition and FDI Intelligence, a division of the Financial Times, Costa Rica is considered the second best destination in the world for foreign investment tourism. The study was also based on data from […]