Blog Posts About Life in Costa Rica Expert time-tested advice on how to live, retire and invest in Costa Rica.
Would you trade a Rolex for a Casio?
Costa Rica versus Panamá Shakira is a world-famous Latin American singer from Barranquilla, Colombia. Recently she broke up with her soccer star husband Gerard Piqué because he had an affair with a younger woman behind her back. Still recovering from the break-up, Shakira vented her feelings about Piqué and his […]
How to Become a Citizen of Costa Rica
Many persons are not aware that a few years ago the government of Costa Rica changed the rules to make it easier for expats to become citizens. The process is now fairly simple and is similar to obtaining residency (something that needs to be done first.) What are the advantages […]
15+ Smart Steps to Renting a Home in Costa Rica
I always do a fly-over of the topic of renting in Costa Rica in my presentation at the ARCR Seminars, but because I know quite a few El Residente readers are renting, as will many future ARCR members, I decided to write this more in-depth article. Now you probably say […]
Thoughts about the Cost of Living in Costa Rica
I just received an inquiry from someone who was thinking about moving here but changed his mind because of the high cost of living. A key factor is the fact that the dollar’s strength has fallen here. First, the latter is not a permanent situation. Costa Rica has always artificially […]
San José is not what some people say
Recently, I received a message from someone who expressed interest in taking one of my monthly relocation tours. In his letter, the gentleman stated why he was reluctant to move to Costa Rica at this time. He stated bluntly that “San José is a pit.” He is not the first […]
How expats can avoid boredom by taking advantage of all that Costa Rica has to offer
The other day I was talking to an expat friend who is very well off financially. He has a beautiful home and a new Costa Rican wife and stepdaughter. Nevertheless, he complained that he has too much time on his hands and gets bored easily. Interestingly, he has lived here […]
We live better in Costa Rica than we did in the U.S. – here’s how much it costs
A couple of weeks ago I published an article about how a single person can survive on $1,200 per month. Indeed, it is possible with a little self-discipline. The article below exemplifies how a couple from the States and their children can live in a tropical setting with less and […]
Can a single live on $1200 a month in Costa Rica?
Yes! I know many foreigners who are doing it. The most important factor in living on a low budget is knowing how to do it. Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database. It collects crowd-sourced data that accumulates into insights into various aspects of life in different cities […]
Expats can now discover the world of bees (abejas)
In previous articles, I have written about many activities to stay busy and happy while living here. It seems like every week there is something new to do in Costa Rica. The Tour de la miel (honey tour) is interesting, fun, and educational for people of all ages. One experiences […]
Why Costa Rica is the Best Place to Retire in 2024?
That pura vida vibe makes Costa Rica the perfect home away from home. Maybe it’s the pristine tropical beaches, the eternal spring-like weather in the Central Valley, the fact it (Nicoya to be exact) is home to one of the world’s Blue Zones, the volcanic energy coursing through its ground, […]