Why do so many people leave Costa Rica after moving there?

Thai food

- @Llholly

@peanuts696 surely it'll bring more tangible values than the rest of the prep.

@surfdog12 we have some decent sushi in a nearby town but seriously lacking any other asian foods, Chinese, Thai, Indian...any of these would be appreciated.

Actually, not all areas are good for growing crops. Some areas get to hot, some too wet, some in a windy area, some due to a lack of water as in some communities they will ration the water to be used for farms. The heavy seasonal rain does wreck your garden very quickly.

You don't see the sprinklers going like you do in North America. We found that the there was a very small selection of seeds available, as you can tell by the varieties offered at some local ferias.

Plus the insects that devour the young plants, must be taken into consideration.

I think you will find that very few expats grow a garden, as the price of veggies are usually quite low so doing so may not be worth it.

Growing a garden in Costa Rica is not the same as growing one in North America.

- @kohlerias

Actually, not all areas are good for growing crops. Some areas get to hot, some too wet, some in a windy area, some due to a lack of water as in some communities they will ration the water to be used for farms. The heavy seasonal rain does wreck your garden very quickly.

You don't see the sprinklers going like you do in North America. We found that the there was a very small selection of seeds available, as you can tell by the varieties offered at some local ferias.

Plus the insects that devour the young plants, must be taken into consideration.

I think you will find that very few expats grow a garden, as the price of veggies are usually quite low so doing so may not be worth it.

Growing a garden in Costa Rica is not the same as growing one in North America.

- @kohlerias

@edwinemora are women truly not respected?

@husnbmw  Hi there! I'm Ed n was hoping u can send some realtor info. thanks!

@waladoucer Tamarindo and Santa are on opposite ends of the peninsula but similar in that they are both crowded surf spots and touristy. If you’re into surfing and dining, those are decent choices. Keep in mind that they have different weather patterns and it’s much wetter down south. I’m not as familiar with Tamarindo but ST has gotten super expensivo, so that may make a difference. There’s other towns nearby like Manzanillo, Montezuma and Cabuya that are much cheaper

@samramon

Everything she said is spot on, unless you are living in the very poor parts of Costa Rica and can afford a 200 acre farm there. I have been living here part time for 20 years with tica wife and 2 properties in the mountains and the city. If you like to drink a bottle of wine every day and don’t have enough money to buy anything other than food, then Costa Rica is for you. If you have money then I suggest only rent or Airbnb here. Don’t buy a house. I repeat don’t buy a house here. Live like a tourist. It is foolish to say living in Costa Rica is better than USA. If you hate USA, you’re poor and you are always watching the American news then maybe Costa Rica is for you. This is a beautiful poor country, but I think if you are coming here to escape something you will find it to be a big mistake. Do not waste your money here like most Americans. You will lose money here unless you came here broke. I go back and forth between Florida and Costa Rica and the differences are profound. Here I feel I am walking on rocks and in the US I feel like I am walking on clouds. Be a tourist and you will never lose your joy to visit this country.

i retired here in 1994 and i have watched 100s of gringos leave costa rica mainly because they have the same mistakes they made in north america

they get hooked up with low class women or think they can live on the beach for $500 month next to 4 seasons resort and forget the beach is always hot and the AC bill can be more than $$$$ than they can afford

for those who stay and remain solvent and happy my wife has several 2 bed 2 bath condos with pool, tennis , lake , super market inside the complex for $600 month rent and the sales price is around 90,000 US dollars

this is in the central valley where you do not need AC or heat and close to hospitals which cost 20 percent of US rates

the minimum you really need to survive here is $1700 month income that is a pension or some secure funds since making money here is not easy although i know several gringos here who have done quite well but they would have done well in the states also

Two things influence aspiring expats to leave Costa Rica (there may be more). First, they expect life here to be like it is in North America with all the niceties that that implies. It ain't so. Things here are very different and some folks cannot adjust.

Second, there's the emotional pull of the grandchild or grandchildren. Without intending to be sexist, this seems especially strong among those of the grandmother persuasion. (Maybe I'm wrong.)

The original question warrants some reconsideration. While it is certainly true that some percentage of aspiring expats who come to Costa Rica don't remain, where is the actual data that supports the assumption that ". . . so many expats leave Costa Rica after moving there."

We all know of some folks who, for whatever reason, moved here and then moved elsewhere, but does anyone have a broad enough view of the expat population to make a definitive statement? Anecdotal information based on a few folks' experiences isn't sufficient to support the conclusion contained in the original question. And perpetuating this assumption, which is all it really is, may discourage others who might come here and make a successful lifetime commitment. That would be a disservice.

10 years ..... Loving it and going strong!

@samramon

thks a lot for the info  we are a Canadian couples  we visited Dominican republic Las Terrenas   it is kind of same problems

but it was safe in a gated community , but u never mention anything about safety ?  can we go walk at night to the beach or clubbing  ?

to shop locally and cook at home will it be expensive? we just want to rent for the cold month here in Canada

thank you again

Thank you so much for the real skinny on things. i can Definitly relate to almost everything you said….. im just trying to find a warm (all year) affordable, civilized place to live…. thought Sardinia until i found out they have winter and snow! ill keep looking, thanks.

p.s. Southern Cali sounds great… Im in Atl, Ga)  but too exensive for me.

@surfdog12 California is on a downhill slide. Our governor cares more about illegal immigrants than he does about the homeless U.S. citizens living on the streets.  You and others always talk about California having the 7th largest economy, great weather, etc.  However, you never talk about the increasing crime, the fact that California is the State with the largest population of homeless in the U.S.A., you don't talk about the high taxes, high home prices, high gas prices, power outages, wildfires, etc.

Who cares about GDP? That doesn't mean anything.  Look at the budget deficit.  Also look at the pension liabilities on the books. There's an estimated $245 Billion of unfunded pension liabilities.  How do you think those liabilities will be paid? They will either have to raise taxes or re-negotiate the State Employees pensions. If they keep raising taxes then they will keep driving the high income makers and job creators out of California.

@surfdog12@surfdog12 California is on a downhill slide. Our governor cares more about illegal immigrants than he does about the homeless U.S. citizens living on the streets.  You and others always talk about California having the 7th largest economy, great weather, etc.  However, you never talk about the increasing crime, the fact that California is the State with the largest population of homeless in the U.S.A., you don't talk about the high taxes, high home prices, high gas prices, power outages, wildfires, etc.

Who cares about GDP? That doesn't mean anything.  Look at the budget deficit.  Also look at the pension liabilities on the books. There's an estimated $245 Billion of unfunded pension liabilities.  How do you think those liabilities will be paid? They will either have to raise taxes or re-negotiate the State Employees pensions. If they keep raising taxes then they will keep driving the high income makers and job creators out of California.

@surfdog12California is on a downhill slide. I have lived in California all my life and have seen things get worse and worse for about the last 10 years. Our governor cares more about illegal immigrants than he does about the homeless U.S. citizens living on the streets.  You and others always talk about California having the 7th largest economy, great weather, etc.  However, you never talk about the increasing crime, the fact that California is the State with the largest population of homeless in the U.S.A., you don't talk about the high taxes, high home prices, high gas prices, power outages, wildfires, etc.

Who cares about GDP? That doesn't mean anything to someone living in California. You need to look at the budget deficit.  Also look at the pension liabilities on the books. There's an estimated $245 Billion of unfunded pension liabilities.  How do you think those liabilities will be paid? They will either have to raise taxes or re-negotiate the State Employees pensions. If they keep raising taxes then they will keep driving the high income makers and job creators out of California.

@peanuts696 What countries did you look into before deciding on Costa Rica?  I have a friend that moved to Panama and he really enjoys living there. However, he's only been living there for a year.  He lives in Alto Boquete.  He says his electric bill is only $35/month, water and garbage $88/year. The temperature is always between 80 and 60.  He says there's a lot of expats from the U.S. living there.

Because they just didn’t expect ”it to be this way”. 

After the glitz wears off, you have to mavigate the language, culture and learning to live again  yes, many leave for family because the cost of traveling is too high to go back and forth and if you didnt like the taxes and rules back home, or the government, well you wont like it here either 

best thing to do is have an open mind and realize that happy isn’t a place it is a state of mind 

and, keep traveling if you want because some people like to stay and some dont  who cares  live and live 

    @peanuts696 What countries did you look into before deciding on Costa Rica? 

    When the U.S. became too uncomfortable for us in 2004, we first looked at Canada, New Zealand and Australia because they all speak a form of English that we can navigate. No such luck. None of those will grant legal residency to retirees apparently because they do not want the liability of providing elders health care. Makes sense.

We then thought about Belize where English is spoken but "high" ground there is about four feet above sea level (according to what we read) which makes it pretty susceptible to bad weather.

We settled on Costa Rica which is the only country south of the U.S.-Canadian border with a stable democratic government. The absence of a military was an attraction, too. We've been here eighteen years and have no desire to look any farther.

@edd13b    this is a rhetorical question yet loaded at tge sane time

All I can say is, WOW! Burst my bubble!!  ; )

Not my intention but there are things you must know so your   bubble  isnt buusted once your here which is the topic im reply to. 🙏

*** iphone so imessage facetime watsapp all free to contact me as you feel

So...  maybe it's time for Forum spring cleaning??...  This thread was started over 2 years ago and maybe we need, or don't need, some fresh pros and cons?

I read the whole thing...  most of the points were valid, or valid-ish... but the negative nellies forgot to tell us Where, on this planet, life is perfect?   Waiting....

And anybody that came here and found themselves 'surprised'  to find humidity, bugs, torrential rains, Heat!, unpaved roads, potholes, and expensive imported daily goods...  obviously, OBVIOUSLY!!  didn't do much homework before jumping on the Jimmy Buffet 'flipflops and tanktops' boat cruise.  Maybe you couldn't see past the 'free booze' part of the itinerary??   Just look at a Map!!!   We are only 700 miles north of the Equator; we're wedged between two Oceans; and our only neighbors are 2 other Central American countries (one of which is run by a wicked witch and her not-dead?? husband)... in a region that is Famous !!  for corruption.   

Maybe buy cheaper sunglasses next time ... before you fill up that red solo cup.

All I can say is that, due to all of the micro-climates and different elevations/temperature zones and such that exist in CR, as well as plenty of rural versus non-rural living  options... any person with a 'brain' can find a place that suits them IF they want to live in the tropics.  Otherwise.  why come here in the first place???   Did you fall in love with some photos on the internet??   Did 'Q' send you?

Did you not visit first?????????       

I honestly think that some people put more thought into buying a car, or a cell phone, than they did in making the 'life' move to Central America.  It makes me want to drink.

I too, get frustrated with 'things' here... but not that often... otherwise I would have left long ago.  Also... remember this, fellow Gringos:  At least you had the freedom to do it.   There are too many humans that do not.   Do the mirror test.  I recommend it.

MY Biggest reason for staying... I'm 99.99999999999999%  Sure, that I'm NOT going to die in a mass shooting just trying to buy some groceries or hear some good music.    Heck... make it 100% sure.

Of course, I also stay because I love it here... I wanted to live in a tropical climate; and the rain!! it is so refreshing... it keeps things green and clean and Yes! there is too much of it sometimes... but I knew that already.  And my neighbors are the kindest and some of them, funniest people I have ever known... and the cute little Tico dog that adopted me, Ugh!!  she's my sunshine... and the delicious, fresh produce that didn't travel here on a Ship, etc.   ...too much to be thankful for.

I'm going to take the high road folks...

maybe I'm nuts   ???

Administrators!!!    Tear down this thread!!!    Start a new one...   I'm sure there is at least one disgruntled person out there that wants to spread their misery.

@rainagain good post. It is all personal. I live in Osa, don't mind the heat, love the ocean and rain, often get frustrated with "ojos verdes" attitude towards gringos and suffocating bureaucracy and lack of quality everywhere but yet, my tica girlfriend and the nature take over. Osa provides enough  solitude which is critical.

Henrych ... I rarely get attitude from Ticos because I'm a Gringo... maybe because I'm getting just as dirty and sweaty as they are and not living a life-style too different from theirs??    Or... maybe because there just aren't really enough foreigners around here to create a reason for there to be an attitude against us.  Or maybe its all happening behind my back... but I'm not ignored nor pushed aside by my neighbors one bit... I'm in!!   Maybe more than what I want... but this is my life now.   I'm shopping at the same mini-super, taking the same buses, going to the same hardware store; etc. as they are.   I'm not living on the edge of their culture; I'm emersed in it... as much as I can be without being pushy.

Osa sounds amazing... I was in Golfito briefly during my initial search... I loved it but I felt it was too remote for me.   If i was younger....

Peace

@rainagain. Thank you for such a an honest and refreshing post, rather than opinion, much appreciated.

In our eighteen years here, we've never felt like we've been treated any way other than respectfully. Our pidgin Spanish helps some, but I think our attitudes toward the folks we meet make more of a difference. The worst experience we've had was in the early days while shopping with our architect at a local ferreteria the owner grumbled that, "Building here is too cheap for gringos."

@daveandmarcia well, they've fixed it. I am building a house here (just because Canada is no more...) and all my calculations are down the drain because they invent prices on the spot, not a builder but materials. They have freedom to "adjust" for gringos. So, they screwed us. Pura vida!!!

@rainagain I do the same, live simple but....have a vehicle, the sign of richness and I speak crippled Spanish. Yet, the gringo attitude prevails in most of the situation. Pura vida means taking advantage of anyone and anything (this is my tica girlfriend opinion and I do agree). No place is perfect anyway, especially our home countries now....