Pros and Cons

We wanted away from the cold winters, researched Mexico and Belize before Costa Rica.  We moved from Alberta, Canada.
We like the climate and the people.
We dislike the lack of decent beef!
We were surprised at how relatively easy it was to adapt to a new language and culture.  Cannot speak highly enough of the people here.

T-22.......Just about everyone new to Costa Rica will gush cake it for you.Those same people will be gone from the Republic in 2-5 years,it is common knowledge.Another common thread among North Americans and Europeans,that have been here for awhile is,devastating financial losses.The menu is too long,to tell you how it happens..............

I've lived here 8 years.  Moved from the states.  I still love living here.  I moved to get away from the Obama administration.

I love my area (near Tres Eques), the view, the people.  I love that the government isn't micromanaging my life here and I can do as I please for the most part.  I dislike the shopping here - not even close to offering the choices I have in the states and when it comes to electronics, appliances, etc - it's twice the price.  Also the cost of living has gone up a lot since I've been here.  Still, if I didn't take so many vacations, I could live off my social security alone for now.

I am retired and so at least for now, my investments in the states have not been affected and I live well and get to go on nice vacations.  Social security was not affected by me moving here (but in Canada you get punished for not living there).

No intention of ever moving back to the states, but no intention of becoming a citizen here either as I doubt my Spanish will ever be fluent enough to pass the test and I won't be married to anyone anymore.  Happily single and get to do what I want, when I want (except for driving restrictions going on right now).

Oh yeah, one more thing - don't trust the mail service here.  So many things I've ordered and never received even though tracking says it was delivered to my post office.   Perhaps if you live in a city rather than rural area it would be different and you might even get mail delivery.  I don't live in an American community, I live among the natives for the most part.  Between my Spanish and their English we communicate easily.

Edwin & Ginger
         Both at it well
It has it good and it’s ugly here this place attracts a lot of con people so keep your guard up

Edwin I agree statists do show expat have a shelf life here of 1 to 5  Ginger I also agree some do stay and fight the fight

Good story for you all … my friend that works at the US embassy where I get all my great info
She is under investigation because she went on a dating site met a Turkish guy went on a few dates he gets arrested for smuggling drugs out of CR inside pineapples because she helped him translate legit business dealing they are looking into her now
Only in CR.  Like I say keep you guard up 24/7 here

All I can say is that I don't keep my guard up at all and have no problems in  the 8 years I've been here.  Then again, I don't meet people online either.  I feel comfortable and safe living where I do.

Edwin... Curious as to some examples of the kind of financial losses you spoke of.

Ginger... I like what you said about not keeping your guard up. I think such boils down to instinct; i.e., trusting your inner voice. I believe we are capable of feeling what's good and bad and trusting those impulses. I'm gonna be like you, living in a fairly remote area where I hope to immerse myself with locals. I think a BIG part of adjusting to and being accepted by locals is having a command of their language. I plan on studying Spanish in-depth when I get there.

Everyone else that replies to my 4 questions... Mucho Gracias!

Ginger
          I guess you live in a full expat community GATED maybe armed guards. You have been lucky for 8 years. Because FYI petty theft is HUGE issue here so bad you can’t walk with a cell phone in your hand walking because the pocketbook bandits run up on you and do hit and runs
Has happened to me in Escazu and Escazu has the most police present in all of CR because of its wealth
My self live way into the mountains but I do business in San Jose so I am in the grime every day so I see more of the real CR
I totally understand that CR is rated pretty safe but I get al lot of information from my friend and of course the CR wants to keep as much under wraps so it doesn’t scare tourists especially after the pandemic

But like I always say we all have our opinions and experiences are all different here.  One can only come give it a try on and see if it is for them
I try not to sugar coat it that it’s all peaches & cream here. Definitely a beautiful country and great people but I get to see more then most who are retired and stay in one expat locations
The US embassy has a line daily with Americans encountering issues here some caused by lack of street smarts and some by locals taking advantage of the gringos
The country is a hide out for con men, money launderers, of course drug trafficking and # 1 prostitution

Hopes this info is helpful

T-22........Like JBuonopane 12 said,"the big draw into Costa Rica,is not a conventional bunch".People will trust their own kind from the same place of origin to make big decisions for them.Instead,they should have   their own independent consul.In the bigger picture of things,in the common thread for foreigners in Costa Rica,it is not only being destroyed financially but the losses of friends,often spouses,family, and social networks.
There is a lot of single foreigners in Costa Rica,mainly women and that is a given.

I agree with you 100% Ginger!
Going on eight years and have not encountered an uncomfortable moment.

JBuonopane 12......Thank you for telling it as it is ! We live in the supposed healing mecca,on the Nicoya Peninsula.Burglaries,day and night now in this economic upheaval.Even with security cameras everywhere,they stop,wave and pose.

Guys it’s wonderful that in 8 years you haven’t experienced any difficulties and I’m not trying to talk bad of CR. I myself am her over 2 years I have a long term relationship with a Tica who is a professional business owner
I work as a consultant here in construction of hotels and development
As Edwin says it’s country that required money to live comfortable it’s not what most have been sold on “ Hey come to CR and live like royalty on a $1000 a month” Bull shit
And expat get hustled daily here from con men who hit and run with you life savings also the builders here are a close second
I’m just saying that newbies should get everyone opinions that reside here because we all see and experience CR different
My business deals have me all over Cr from Limon to Gunacaste and many hub in San Jose
I don’t just live and stay in a expat community I travel
If I came here to lock myself up In a expat community I would be better off living back in the states

Hey I’m Brooklyn born and raised and I even need to stay on guard.
Just saying likes not paint this place as heaven it’s has it’s good and bad just like any country
This forum is for us to educate others on our experiences here to assist in helping them decide
But one will only learn the real CR by living it
And hey experience all of CR before making a perm decision
As Ginger said I myself don’t think I will do the residency programs either I stay with the 90 day visa
CR is a financial risk here and by far close to a cheap country to live in
And I own and develop here

But I do love it here and of course most Ticos are good peeps They suck at driving and drivers courtesy but hey I’m in there world 

But 100% keep your guard up no matter where you land

We had soooo many items, large and small, stolen from us, from the first month we arrived, 20 years ago, beginning with clothes and potted plants on my front porch...which I then 'stole'  back since they were still  in same pots on their porch. Worst was the poisoning of 3 of our dogs during robberies that involved many neighbouring Ticos and us. Twelve dogs in the neighbourhood  were killed. This 'thievery' continued  until we moved into our last residence. I don't know whether it was the deterrent of having 5 dogs or living at the end of the very bumpy road, but we did keep the dogs inside at night.

We never had fancy vehicles or flaunted flashy items. We hired workers from the community, attended local fiestas and celebrated  with their many families.

We got to know many great Ticos from the different areas we lived in. However, even good people know  bad people.

I miss so many things about Costa Rica and wouldn't have missed it for anything.

I do not live in CR yet but I've lived in Saudi Arabia (quite a challenge for an independent female infidel) and have traveled to other 3rd world countries. Being "On Guard" sends out subliminal messages and, as with a magnet, tends to pull-in the very thing one is guarding against. Being "On Guard" also blocks out the opportunity for in-the-moment-positive encounters. If one is not welcoming to their surroundings, one will not be welcomed. A person can be safe (take precautions) without having to shut down and shut out. Kindness is a mindset that blows through all cultural and language barriers.

kohlerias wrote:

We had soooo many items, large and small, stolen from us, from the first month we arrived, 20 years ago, beginning with clothes and potted plants on my front porch...which I then 'stole'  back since they were still  in same pots on their porch. Worst was the poisoning of 3 of our dogs during robberies that involved many neighbouring Ticos and us. Twelve dogs in the neighbourhood  were killed. This 'thievery' continued  until we moved into our last residence. I don't know whether it was the deterrent of having 5 dogs or living at the end of the very bumpy road, but we did keep the dogs inside at night.

We never had fancy vehicles or flaunted flashy items. We hired workers from the community, attended local fiestas and celebrated  with their many families.

We got to know many great Ticos from the different areas we lived in. However, even good people know  bad people.

I miss so many things about Costa Rica and wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Am curious what area you lived in. It was near San Ramon right? Magallanes?

I live near San Ramon and no one around here has been broken into. (Knock on wood 3x!)
I am not saying it doesn't happen, just surprised that it happened in the countryside near San Ramon (if that is where it happened to you - ?).

I think sometimes it is best NOT to be a "part of the community" in an outgoing way. I'm not real social and so don't go to the local church or community events for the most part. I think it is best that way because then everyone doesn't know where you live, so that ONE or TWO bad apples don't decide you'd be a good target for burglary.

I don't have bars on my windows or doors but I do have a security system.

I've always said that dogs don't count for much when someone wants to burgle your house and the poisoning of your 3 dogs proves that point. If you want a dog as a pet fine, but please don't get one thinking it will prevent burglary. It won't. It will sometimes turn a quiet neighborhood into one with a lot of dog barking though.

I also think it is best NOT to live in a Gringo gated community. In my EXPERIENCE/OBSERVATION those are targets for burglaries. Magallanes gated communities were the target of a theft ring that stole over $10k in items a couple years back, and it was an inside job. Someone on the other side of town I know, in a gated community, was also burgled and that was also part of an inside job. It's often a gardener or guard who lets some criminals know when is a good time to rob you. Again, this is not to say everyone is bad. No, but all it takes is one bad apple.

I live on the outskirts in a neighborhood of good people and I contribute to the community on the DL, and though I have Tico friends they also don't go to the community events, church etc. The way I see it, the more people you meet the more people know where you live and the more you are a target of burglary, even in a nice community; because there is always one or two bad apples around who may hear where you live and decide to rob you.

Tsaheylu22 wrote:

I'm moving CR next year in the San Isidro area, near Mt. Chirripo. I'm curious what you guys have to say about the following...

1. Why did you move to CR & where did you move from?
2. What do you like about living in CR?
3. What do  you dislike about living in CR?
4. What surprised you the most about living in CR?

Thanks in advance for your input!

I moved to Costa Rica because I wanted to own my own property and couldn't afford one in the USA. I also wanted to have a nice big piece of land with a lot of nature.

I like the nature most of all. Seeing things like toucans, hummingbirds, hawks, anteaters, wild pigs, pizotes, guatusas, weasels, and other wild animals that are harmless is a lot of fun. Also parrots, and other exotic birds like toledos and some I don't know the name of... I live in a place that's like a park with many trees and and many types of trees, have planted many ornamentals and so it's like having my own private nature reserve.

I dislike the bad roads and the horrible drivers who make every driver in the USA seem like a rule-following pro!

Many like the weather here and that's great but I liked the weather much better where I lived in the USA and I find it to be too rainy for me here, with 8 months or so of rain per year and heavy rains at that. But I keep hearing people say how much they love the weather. I figure if you're from a snow state that may be the case but if you're not then you are less likely to think it's better here imho.

What surprised me most is that bugs aren't as bad here as some people say. But admittedly it totally depends on where you live and how tight your house is. My house is built tightly and I get very very few bugs in my house. No one around here that I've met has infestations of ants or cockroaches, for example, so I am surprised because many people say you just have to "live with the bugs". Not me! I hate insects in my house, so I built  it tight to keep them out and it has worked! Even though I have trees and forest all around me. It helps to keep your yard clean and not have trees and bushes right next to your house.

I am surprised how businesses here are often incompetent, mismanaged and often never have what you are looking for even though San Ramon is a fairly large town. But it's not just San Ramon it's all over Costa Rica. And in the Big City of San Jose yes there is more variety but it may take you all day to find the simplest thing there and they still are lacking in variety and quality items. Most stuff here is made in China. And most stuff here such as electronics and appliances and cars are 50-200% more than in the USA. Some of that is made up for by the fact that mechanics and gardeners and construction people and such (labor, basically) is much cheaper than in the USA.

In general it costs less to live here than in the USA but it's not super cheap like Mexico. But I would not live in Mexico. It's overall safer here.

SamRamon, we lived first in a small town past Turrialba and two different locations on the way to the  Volcan Miravalles.