If you are thinking about coming to Costa Rica, you probably have in mind the question: "How much does it cost to live in Costa Rica?". honest answer is: "It depends on your lifestyle ."
You can spend as much or as little as you want to live in Costa Rica. It depends on what you consider a good life and its minimal requirements of a comfortable lifestyle. If you're accustomed to a rich lifestyle, you'll spend more than someone accustomed to live economically. Either way, due to favorable currency ($ 1 is worth 538 colones), you will find that the U.S. dollar in Costa Rica enjoys a much higher purchasing power than it returns to the States or Canada.
If you want to live modestly and save money in Costa Rica, and continues to enjoy a very comfortable life, here are a few rules to live: Fence (1) All imported goods (food, household items, clothing, etc.) cost you more in Costa Rica than it cost you back in the U.S., and they are much more expensive than other local brands here, these products are subject to import taxes that drive their prices a lot more. (2) If you buy Costa Rican products and adapt the Costa Rican lifestyle, unlike the American way of life, you will save lots of money and enjoy the high quality of life.
Do not forget that the average Costa Rican family living on $ 4,800 a year, and they do not live in poverty. They have plenty to eat, decent clothes to wear, and maintain a healthy and clean look. They also have TV and own a house. Given that the average Costa Rican earns only $ 250 to $ 350 a month, you should be able to live very well.
It is possible to have a very comfortable life in the more modest monthly budget than in the U.S. In fact, San Jose, Central Valley, is ranked - in the 2005's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey - 9 cheapest city in the world in which we live. Mercer Human Resource Consulting regard Costa Rica as a cheap place in which to live. So, on top of the perfect climate all year round, Costa Rica, especially the Grecia, offers a low cost of living. People here in Grecia be able to live comfortably and happily for as little as $ 900 per month (Social Security), and enjoy a good quality of life. With that amount, they can also have cable TV, enjoy cultural activities, and sometimes lunch. Retirees will also be able to live comfortably on their pensions.
in Costa Rica, you'll enjoy higher living standards and get more for your money, as you will usually find that the cost of living here is affordable and cheaper than the U.S. or Europe. Most importantly, the Costa Rican government is trying to keep prices of goods and services affordable for the Costa Rican people, so that the social implications of the find in most other Latin American countries can be avoided.
Let's get more specific and look at food costs, because they are what most affects your monthly budget. Again, the food budget depends on what you eat and where you shop. Chicken, fish, pork, rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, meat and pasta are the basic diet of the average Costa Rican, and all are widely available. Here, fish costs less than that in the U.S. ($ 4 per pound) chicken has a lot of meat and great taste and it costs about $ 4 per kilogram (2.2 pounds .).
Rice, beans, vegetables, and fruits are very cheap, especially if they do not buy at the supermarket. If you enjoy a diet with plenty of vegetables, your food costs will be very low. There are a zillion street vendors who sell at the market top quality fruits and vegetables at ridiculously low prices. The Saturday morning market, you can purchase a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that will last more than a week of street fairs (Ferias) at extremely low prices. For example, the Saturday market, two large pineapple cost $ 1, three large cantaloupes cost $ 1, one large head of broccoli costs $ 1, one kilogram (2.2 lbs.) potatoes cost $ 1.50, and a great bunch of banana costs $ 0.40. You can also get great bread from the bread store (paneria) or bakery where a large piece of French bread costs 400 colones ($ 0.80). A lot cheaper than the state.
you can buy other foods from the supermarket (supermercado) here, that look exactly like the big chain stores in the United States - large and air conditioned. There are many products and brands that cater to Americans who live here, and you can buy a lot of U.S. imported products, but you have to pay more for them than you get home, and they cost more in comparison with other local brands. Learning Spanish and buying locally made brands will help you keep your costs down the road of life. Keep in mind that you will pay more if you decide to buy anything from the supermarket instead of going to the Saturday market and bakery.
Costa Rica has a wide array of excellent restaurants, but eating it often drives their food costs are higher, and perhaps the country budget is somewhere you do not. However, if you eat in "sodas, " which are very small eateries with very limited table space, you will receive a complete, delicious meal - including dessert - it was delicious and well prepared for just $ 3 or $ 4. Again, much cheaper than the state.
the price of clothing in Costa Rica followed rule # 1: brand clothing and imported, are subject to import taxes, are more expensive than clothing made locally. Also, the U.S. imported household items such as soap, detergents, cleansers and cost much more than the locally made brands.
in Costa Rica, you can build, buy or rent a house, condo or apartment. Cost of living depends on where you live and the house and property they were after. You can also choose to live with any ticos or in areas that are heavily populated with American expats. All these options are coming, of course, with different price tags. Of course, you're closer to the beach, and closer to the city, the more the cost will be.
in Greece, where we live, renting or buying a house is cheaper than in the U.S., and both new and used furniture available at very low prices. Our advice to you is to buy a house or land to build the Central Valley now, before the Boomers make their rush to Costa Rica. With the U.S. economy in a downward spiral, there will be many seeking a way to retire in a nice place with less money needed to live. Land here only as an investment is wise, even if you later decide you want to live somewhere else or buy another piece of land. Land prices are still priced here, as opposed to the state.
you will find that some of the prices here in Costa Rica are higher than those in the U.S.. While the home phone and cell phone services, health services, ADSL Internet, cable TV, water bills, groceries, movie-going, and hairstyles are cheaper than those in the U.S., long distance phone calls, electricity (per kW per hour) , dry cleaning, cars and spare parts, fuel (per gallon), are expensive. Remember, however, that our electric bill is way less than half of what was in the U.S., because we do not need air conditioning or heating. And with Skype, I called his mother in El Paso, Texas for 2 cents a minute, which is much cheaper than my calls to her in Dallas !!
And you do not need a car in Costa Rica! New cars can be very expensive due to high import duties, and you can not bring your car out of state, as you will have to pay very high import tax on the book value of your car. We sold our two cars in the U.S. and bought a new car here in Costa Rica.
Public transport, on the other hand, it is very inexpensive, comfortable, and widely available. This is definitely the best option to go. Buses are very modern and air conditioned, and the bus usually costs only $ 0.25 to $ 0.50. taxi is also very inexpensive.
Something I say enough is that if you plug it into the wall, it will cost more. Electricity in Costa Rica is more expensive than in the U.S. per kW per hour, but our electricity bills, here in Grecia is way less than half what it used to pay in Dallas because we enjoy moderate daytime and nighttime temperatures and does not need air conditioning or heating. Back in the States, air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter can cost hundreds of dollars, but none of them is needed here in Grecia. However, those who live closer to the beach, where a lot warmer, they will pay more because of the need for air conditioning. There is a reason why 2 / 3 of the population lives in the Central Valley. Food services and general living expenses in Costa Rica are much cheaper. Our last water bill here came to $ 7.50 compared to $ 100 + water law, we are back in Dallas. We pay our maid once a week, less than $ 2 an hour and everything works, including the board. Similarly, we pay our gardener to less than $ 2 per hour, and he also does everything. All films in the theater are in English with Spanish subtitles and cost as little as $ 3
It's no secret why many people choose to live in Costa Rica. Besides enjoying a very high standard of living, high quality of life, and perfect climate year round, you get tremendous value for your hard-earned dollars.
There are very few places left in the world today that can offer the same rich lifestyle, temperate climate, and safe environment that Costa Rica offers for us.
