Costa Rica’s most valuable exported products in 2023 were electro-medical equipment, orthopedic appliances, bananas, and plantains. The country has one of the world’s richest orchid floras with over 3,000 species and a high level of endemism. The country has experienced one of the most significant botanical explorations in the past 60 years, with botanical exploration being closely related to Tonduz.
The orchids of Costa Rica are the most recognized flowers in the world, with about 1,400 species growing in the country. In 2022, Costa Rica exported $46.5 million in cut flowers, making it the 18th largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. The United States was Costa Rica’s most important export trading partner of cut flowers.
Ornamental plants and flowers, including orchids and tropical foliage, are also exported to the United States. Out of the 42 orchid exporters, 9 have exported more than 10 shipments, accounting for 82 of the total orchid exports in 2022.
In 2022, Costa Rica exported $33.2 million in plant foliage, making it the 13th largest exporter of plant foliage in the world. Modern orchid species diversity mainly originated over the last 5 million years, with the highest speciation rates in Panama and Costa Rica. A bumper crop of orchids has boosted exports and encouraged growers to expand, according to the weekly El Financiero.
📹 8 Reasons Why Americans LEAVE Costa Rica (Why I Left)
The TRUTH about living in Costa Rica: Why do so many Americans leave Costa Rica after moving there? In this video, I explain …
What is the main export in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica has a high level of specialization in bananas, tropical fruits, medical instruments, cassava, and plant foliage. The country’s relatedness index shows top export opportunities in cocoa beans, gold, beer, legumes, and non-fillet frozen fish. Relatedness measures the distance between a country’s current exports and each product. The product space connects products that are likely to be co-exported, helping predict future exports.
The barchart shows only products Costa Rica is not specialized in. The product space can be used to predict future exports, as countries are more likely to start exporting products related to current exports.
What is Costa Rica best known for?
Costa Rica is renowned for its national parks, offering thrilling activities like river rafting, canyoning, cave tubing, and zip lining. It is also a popular destination for animal lovers, offering opportunities to discover wildlife like macaws, sea turtles, and sloths. The capital, San José, is a hub for foodies, with innovative chefs opening new restaurants and bars. The city also has a vibrant craft beer scene.
For relaxation, a pristine beach resort or spa near hot springs offers a variety of activities, including tanning, massages, swimming, surfing, and geothermal pools. The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April, with the Caribbean side being particularly sunny in October. Many airlines offer non-stop flights to Liberia and San José.
What is the largest agricultural export for Costa Rica?
In 2019, banana exports constituted 36% of Costa Rica’s total agricultural exports, alongside pineapple, green coffee, and cassava. Additionally, other products, including pineapple, green coffee, and cassava, were exported on a significant scale. A multitude of statistics, comprising over a million entries, is accessible in a variety of formats, including PNG, PDF, XLS, and PPT, accompanied by source references.
What plants does Costa Rica export?
Costa Rica is a leading global exporter of bananas and pineapples, with companies like Chiquita Brands International operating in the country. The country also exports medical devices and agricultural products, with the main exports in 2023 being medical devices, bananas, pineapple, syrups, and concentrates for soft drinks and coffee. The agricultural sector also saw growth in non-traditional products like cassava, chayote, packaged coyote cilantro, and palm nuts and kernels. The precision device, medical device, and medical equipment categories led the exports with a 42 share and a 28-percent growth compared to the previous year.
What country has the best orchids?
The South American continent is home to the greatest diversity of orchids in the world, with over 300 genera and 12, 000 species. Notable for their high orchid density per square meter, Ecuador and Colombia surpass all other countries.
What is Costa Rica best export?
The principal exports of Costa Rica include optical, photo, technical, and medical apparatus; edible fruits, nuts, citrus fruit peel, and melons; electrical and electronic equipment; plastics; coffee; and tea. The country’s primary export partners are the United States, the Netherlands, Belgium, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador.
What country exports the most orchids?
In 2022, orchids constituted the 3955th most traded product, with Thailand, the Netherlands, China Taipei, Malaysia, and Vietnam representing the leading exporters and importers. The most rapid growth in exports was observed in Thailand, Guatemala, Italy, China, and Latvia. The primary sources of imports were Japan, the United States, Vietnam, Italy, and China.
What country is the orchid capital of the world?
Ecuador, known as the “orchid capital of the world”, is home to over 4, 000 orchid species due to its unique geography, including the Andes Mountains and Amazon rainforest. Quito, a city with numerous orchid farms and botanical gardens, is a hub for orchid enthusiasts and researchers. Colombia, another South American country, is also known for its orchid production, with around 3, 500 species in its diverse ecosystems.
The Colombian Orchid Society, founded in 1954, plays a crucial role in promoting orchid cultivation and conservation in the country. Both Ecuador and Colombia are renowned for their unique and diverse orchid species.
What is the main produce of Costa Rica?
Costa Rican agriculture is a significant contributor to the country’s GDP, accounting for 6. 5 percent and employing 14 of the labor force. The main exports include bananas, pineapples, coffee, sugar, rice, vegetables, tropical fruits, ornamental plants, corn, potatoes, and palm oil. Almost 10 percent of Costa Rica’s land is dedicated to agriculture, with 21 irrigated mainly with surface water. The country’s development and economic growth are attributed to hastened agricultural-export production.
Farmers and multinational corporations use plantation agriculture and sustainable/permaculture, while indigenous communities practice subsistence farming techniques. Costa Rica has a tropical-mesothermal climate, with year-round tropical weather and varying rainfall depending on location and altitude. The country has two seasons: a dry season called verano (summer) and a rainy season called invierno (winter), with the dry season beginning in December and ending in May, and the rainy season from May to November.
What is the most famous product in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica, known for its rich volcanic soil, is renowned for its gourmet coffee beans, including the famous Tarrazú, which is considered among the world’s finest. Coffee is the most famous export from Costa Rica, alongside bananas. The country offers a variety of food products, including Costa Rica, Pura Vida, and Imperial, as well as handcrafted souvenirs. When your Costa Rica vacation comes to an end, there are always special pieces to bring home as a token of your unforgettable experience. The country offers a variety of flavors, including fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and traditional cuisine, making it a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.
What are 3 important products in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica, once primarily known for its bananas and coffee, has evolved into a major export destination with medical instruments, electronics, pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and ecotourism. The country’s high levels of education and fluency in English make it an attractive investment location. In 2015, major export products included medical instruments ($2 billion), bananas ($1. 24 billion), tropical fruits ($1.
22 billion), integrated circuits ($841 million), and orthopedic appliances ($555 million). The total exports in 2015 were US$12. 6 billion, down from $18. 9B in 2010, with bananas and medical instruments being the two largest sectors.
The country has attracted significant investments from companies like Intel Corporation, Procter and Gamble, Abbott Laboratories, and Baxter Healthcare. Manufacturing and industry’s contribution to GDP overtook agriculture in the 1990s, led by foreign investment in Costa Rica’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs), where companies benefit from investment and tax incentives. The zones supported over 82 thousand direct jobs and 43 thousand indirect jobs in 2015, with direct employment growing 5 over 2014. The average wages in the FTZ increased by 7 and were 1. 8 times greater than the average for private enterprise work in the rest of the country.
📹 Geography Now! Costa Rica
Hippies, just calm down, you can’t just waltz in here. There’s protocol and rules to follow as well.
I m from Canada and decided to move to Costa Rica when I was 21….it s been 23 years already and I m not going back to Canada. This is not a perfect country, but it has something special and unique that is difficult to describe. When I go visit Canada I feel like a stranger. Best tip I can share: Blend, blend blend with people and the culture, learn spanish. I was not retiring, but starting my work life. I built my life from the ground up there like any other tico. Find a job, buy a car, then a house, then have a kid. My face looks Canadian but from deep inside I feel I m a tico. I dont regret having moved here a single day since then.
I am costarican, born and raised, work in property management and tourism in general; and i’ve seen all sorts of tourists and foreigners coming to CR looking to retire. What you say in your article is true but also, in my personal experience, some persons come to this country with unreal expectations and not willing to learn how we live and our customs. About people getting scammed and ripped of, i can say that a lot of times, this is done by other foreigners, not costa ricans (which some do screw tourists or investors). But i think the biggest problem and that’s why some cannot get past that curve, is that they are unwilling to 1- learn spanish, 2- learn our way of living, 3- realize that this is not their country and things are done differently and we think in a different way, 4- we do not have to put up with bad attitudes just because you carry a passport and dollars. And yes, it is an imperfect country, just as any other, but there’s a reason why they moved here, enjoy it and learn to chill a little. 🙂
When I was young, I travelled to Europe and ultimately settled in The Netherlands where a friend helped me to get a job. My intention was never to stay, but I ended up staying for 5 1/2 years anyway. Circumstances brought me back to the U.S. for another 12 years and then I got the opportunity to return to Holland where I ultimately met an old Greek boyfriend from 25 years prior and we moved to Greece for 11 years until his death. I returned to The Netherlands for work and then retired at 60. My intention was to move back to the U.S., but by that time America had changed so much from when I had left it (plus I had adapted too well to the Dutch ‘democratic socialist’ system) that living in the States would have been far too costly for me. This makes me very sad because nothing would have pleased me more than to have died in my own country. I’m nearly 73 years old now and have come to the realisation that no matter where I have lived, I adapted perfectly fine .. whether inside the United States or outside of it. I didn’t necessarily prepare for a life in a foreign country, but when I got there, I chose to live like the natives do, learn their language and their customs and never to compare them to America’s way of life. We shall see where it all ends one day. Thanks for your insightful article.🌹
I found your article to ring true for almost any third-world country. For instance, I live on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, and have done so for the past thirteen years. Over that time, I cannot tell you the number of expats I have seen move here “permanently” and then leave just a few years later. In fact, Philippine Immigration says that the average that expats (not including tourists) stay in the Philippines is less than three years. So many people move here believing all the stories they hear about low cost of living and wonderful tropical climate, only to find out that many things are more expensive than in their home countries, and that the tropical climate also includes high temperatures and high humidity as well as typhoons. When people move to a third-world country, they need to know that the country they are moving to is probably third-world for good reasons. Things like lack of infrastructure and corruption are leading reasons for this, and they must be dealt with, if you are going to live there. In most of these countries, you can insulate yourself from most crime, but you can’t insulate yourself from everyday life. Therefore, you need to be very sure that you can deal with the reality of everyday life BEFORE you commit to living there permanently. Otherwise, you will be disappointed, you won’t stay nearly as long as you had planned, and you will likely leave poorer than you arrived. Various countries have different advantages and disadvantages, but no third-world country is like what you are used to back in your home country.
We were in Italy few years ago…enjoying the culture, incredible scenery, people, food, wine…this one particular wine was amazing. We’d visited the vineyard, met the winemaker…just incredible. Thus we had a couple of cases shipped home. We had a party and opened a few bottles…it was then I realized…it was just average red table wine. It was the Italian experience which made the Wine. Moral of the story…Vacation is generally not like real life.
This is a GREAT article. At age 76, newly retired, I had been looking into moving to CR for this past year. The more I looked, the less I wanted to move to Costa Rica. Vacationing there even seemed dodgy. Your take convinced me that travel…to any or many countries in the world, makes a lot more sense. And this article has freed me to plan trips around the states and Canada as my first step. Thanks!
As a Costa Rican from the Central Valley, I have to say that this is a pretty balanced summary of things. I have to underline that going to a country for a prolonged time and not trying to adapt/mingle with the locals/learn the language is always going to make things harder, I also consider it shows many times some disrespect and unwillingness to really know the place and its people.
I have lived in Costa Rica since 1998 (24 years as of this writing). I expected a lot of exaggerated BS when I started to watch this article but I am happy to say I found it very accurate and balanced! Costa Rica is not for everyone but for many of us it is home. (I think I might actually have culture shock if I moved back to the U.S.!) I’m glad to see you talked about the acculturation cycle (It’s true!) and about expectations. Unrealistic expectations are a big factor in people being disappointed with Costa Rica, As for Grandkids, Costa Rica aside, I know so many people who aren’t living where they want but are living to be with there grandkids! Thanks for your realistic and balanced assessment of Costa Rica. I’m sure it will help many people decide.
Im from Costa Rica and we moved to the Texas last year. Is waaaay cheaper living here and better quality of life. Unless you are retired or have money, not the place to live. Vacations are awesome tho, the country is so so beautiful!!! But yeah, sadly, very expensive and not very safe . But I also noticed that most of North Americans don’t even try to learn Spanish, they expect everyone to speak English, and most people do, education is good, but if you move to another country YOU are the one who needs to learn the language.
As a Costa Rican I agree and disagree with some of your statements, of course it is your personal experience about the country. My recommendation for those who want to leave here is to install a power back up to avoid continues interruptions of electricity (some days it is bad and annoying) or solar panels, water back up as well and be very patient when you want something delivered to your house. You won’t get many things as fast as you want so plan ahead and it is polite to learn Spanish to not face a language barrier. Costa Ricans will help you to learn. (start with bad words to break the ice). I know several foreigners (specially Americans) that have leaved in the country many years and they only know how to order Cerveza so learn the language to not get fckd up, learn the language to avoid frustration and learn the language to grow your own intellect In Costa Rica everybody is welcome 🙂
I retired 10 years ago and moved to Thailand 4 years ago. Life lessons: 1) Retirement is not like vacation. 2) Don’t move to a foreign country expecting to live your same life as back home but only cheaper. Both of these lessons fall into the category of realistic expectations. Maybe a corollary lesson is that you need to live your own life.
My parents lived down there for a few years, they were retired, visited, bought property, built a house….then another American “expat” in their town swindled them. Scared them into coming back to the US for a little bit, then stole their house, forced them to spend a bunch of money on Costa Rican attorneys who couldn’t do anything. They loved it down there and an American conman destroyed their dream retirement. He’s still down there. My mom has since passed away, and my dad isn’t too far off. Now, I am making plans for my own trip to Costa Rica, and I’m gonna find Ed. Don’t know what I’m gonna do yet. But he’s got a karma debt that needs to be paid.
Wow! I wasn’t expecting much from this article and it turned out to be extremely helpful and accurate. Besides a few CR-specific points, your expert advice applies to pretty much everywhere. I first emigrated to the the US to study and work until i realized i need something else so i then emigrated to Portugal. Thank you so much for this article and best of luck!!
I am from Costa Rica raised and born. I do actually feel that a lot of the surprises some foreigners get when they arrive here are due to their own fantasy of what Latin America is about. I cant count the times I had being ask by foreigners on the internet if we have electricity or if we party everyday. Also a lot of them had have the mentality that here in Latinoamerica everything is party and we are so easy going that we do not have works or complicate lives. On the same time, there is an idea that living in Costa Rica is like having a vacation in Costa Rica and that it is not realistic in any country. Another thing that I notice is that a lot of foreigners don’t learn spanish and even when you can find people here in Costa Rica with a very good level of english, some people dont speak it. Another point, prices are higher in Costa Rica that in other Latin American countries but you need to understand that the minimun salary here is higher. Violence in Costa Rica is relative if you compare it with a country as the US, not a single tico will left their camara or phones exposed alone and it is true the organized crime has increase as well . But for example situtation as shootings in supermarkets or schools is something that does not happen here. Other stuff, our health service is public, that means that we wont ever have the problem that our insurence wont cover something, but when you have something public is not as efficient as something private (economic principle) but there are also private health services in Costa Rica and actually they are very good (but you would need to pay this and and it is expensive), actually for example Costa Rica have a better immunization schedule that many countries in Europe and the USA.
I’m 78 years old. My family is mostly disconnected with me by miles, personalities and history. I believe moving somewhere you can share you life with feeding birds, taking care of animals on a farm and experience wildlife rather than hoping to join other family networks would. be next best to ideal. Being alone anywhere is tough if you don’t have any connections to nature and sometimes with friendlies.
I can’t argue with anything you said. I moved here from the US, fell in love and have a couple of kids… so in some respect, I feel like I have to give it a real go. Have I missed my home country, yes, have I missed my family, yes, do I wish my parents could see their new grandchildren more, definitely yes. I’m guessing I have been lucky, that I have not personally seen or been a victim of any crime. I do realize being a big strong man, may have it’s advantages, as people do not see you as an easy target? The language barrier has been a big issue with me, because of memory issues… but I do my best to communicate (a lot of pointing, Spanglish, and showing of pictures of what I want). Yeah, the long lines to get any business done, like at the banks and post office really puzzled me. I never had that experience in the U.S. PS: Costa Rica government and banks, if you are listening, please update your ATM’s to receive deposits, not just withdrawals, which will help with the bank congestions of people. 😁 Basically treat others as you want to be treated. “Gringo’s” have a bad reputation with some Tico’s, because of the way they have been treated. I have hired Ticos several times to do work around the house… I feed them, give them drinks, ask if they need anything else, etc. This blows their minds, because they tell me other gringo’s don’t even offer them water. Anywhere you go, treat them as equals, and remember you are the visitor/guest. Thanks for the article. 👍
Very on point and well thought out. Having been a career U.S. Merchant Marine, I spent a lot of time in Costa Rica with friends who lived there, and they all had similar experiences to those you noted. Also these same issues can be applied to other countries such as the Phillipines, Mexico, even Israel to mention just a few. Keep up the good work, people need this quality information.
I’ve lived in CR for 30 years, and still live in CR part time. But due to my health (including my Diabetes type1) I have to live in the USA part time as well. My daughter started Kids Saving the Rainforest in Manuel Antonio in 1999 when she was 9 yrs old. I am still the President and love helping to save the rainforest in this amazing country! Pura Vida!
My family and I lived there for 7 years. I agree with everything mentioned and would only add the difficulty banking. Crazy wait times because people pay all their bills at the bank, you have to prove where deposits originate, and don’t even think about borrowing money for a house (10-12%). For us, it’s just MUCH cheaper to live a middle class lifestyle in Tennessee. But we LOVED the weather, the beauty, the people (except the thieves).
Finally someone that explains it like it is instead of “hey leave the US and you’ll be happy”. There is a reason why so many people from latin america do everything to live in the US, I am one of them. My wife and I will be retiring to CR but on different circumstances since she is a Tica and I have lived there for 7 years. Americans see youtube articles and think they gonna have a vacation experience every day when they move over there. Also most Americans living there dont speak Spanish and still wonder why they not having a good time
I had big plans on living in Santa Teresa (buying a house) after visiting many times for the prior 4/5 years. a friend recommended doing a long term rental first so I moved there for a year….unfortunately it didn’t work out. But anyone coming across this…id recommend doing a long term rental first and deal with the prices, infrastructure instability, jungle living, etc… most may have visited in the summer months but its a whole different story making it through rainy season. muddy roads, floods, etc…
I’ve lived in Costa Rica for 21-plus years. I came down (Houston, TX transplant) three months after I finished college. Initially, I was uncertain about my decision. Years later, when I think about returning to the U.S., my stomach turns. That is to say, I love living here. BTW, I live in the mountains, 20 minutes from the closest beach (Playa Dominical). I live without A/C, and my monthly electric bill is about $20.00 USD. My municipal water bill is about $10.00 USD.
A very good article, Kristin. I watched your article on the best places to live in in Portugal and we shared comments. What I see now, from perusal these articles, is that there are a lot of people moving to Portugal, or thinking of doing so. Also, there are now tons of articles about expat life in Querétaro and Mérida, in Mexico. Ecuador seems to show up a lot too. You never find a article from an expat or a retiree who has moved to Brazil. I guess it is the high crime rate and the economic instability or maybe Brazil doesn’t make it easy to get residency. The advantage of Mexico of course is that people can stay there for 180 days and go back to the border and renew their tourist visa. A very big disadvantage is the high crime rate and the corruption in the police and government officials. In Portugal we have amazing safety, little corruption, and a good healthcare system. Unfortunately, a lot of the ocean water is freezing cold and winters in the north are not very tropical. For me the big positive of Portugal is the proximity to Spain and even France. You have all of Europe at your fingertips, or should I say at your car’s tyre treads. Once again, a great article. Very professional.
Many years when I first went to Costa Rica there was relatively little crime and the prices were low on most things. The best way to avoid getting charged on the Gringo price scale is to have a native get things for you at the price the locals pay. Meantime watch your back where ever you go. Costa Rica is still nice but not as nice as it was back in the day. Too many negative elements have come in from outside the country. You could also say the same thing about the US.
Good discussion. I lived in Costa Rica for 5-1/2 years. I left because I realized that I could keep up with their inflation on my SSAI payout monthly. I moved to Medellin, Colombia in February 2019 to enjoy a 30% to 40% boost in buying power I had discovered possible on my fact finding trip in November 2017. Moving to a new country is not an extended vacation, but it’s a lifestyle change. South American is the last stop on my bucket to due list I wrote up for myself in 1957.
I’m costarican and I haven’t had dengue ever or weird diseases related to bugs or mosquitos etc. Very few places have issues with floods or earthquakes etc. There are huracanes in the US, snow etc. I think you are speaking about a couple of locations maybe, San Jose and some coasts. There are many other beautiful places in CR with lower cost and very low crime. If you just buy prepared food it could be very expensive too but not more than in the US.
Lived in Costa Rica for 11 years before returning to the US. I don’t regret the adventure but it was good to be home again. Still have a 16 acre property in Puriscal that I’m willing to sell at a deep discount just to be completely free to move on. Do NOT buy land unless you are SURE you’ll be staying. You, likely, won’t know that until after about 3 years or so. Great job, Kristen! Pura vida 💯
This very well balanced. I played it for my wife because we travel to about two countries a month since retirement and every place we go she wants to relocate to. Even the taxi driver in San Andreas Island Colombia was trying to tell her we are seeing the country through rose colored glasses. People have to be realistic and manage their expectations even my dear wife. 😊
After having lived abroad, I learned to love and respect other cultures from around the world. One of the most important things to be able adapt to a new culture or country is that you change (move) your perspective. You have to immerse yourself into the local culture, whether you love it or not. You have to know the history of the country, learn about different ways of living, of doing things, new ways of thinking, learn their idiosyncrasies, and become familiar with their behaviors. You have distance yourself from the “being a foreigner in a foreign land” perspective and behavior. Avoid engaging the locals like a tourist, integrate into the local culture and become more like being one of them. You don’t have to comprise your social or family values or social behavior for this. Just being nice, polite, and respectful will do many wonders and will take you a very long way. I love Bollywood just as much as Hollywood.
i’m ngl, i’m sick of foreigners going to costa rica and fucking up a lot of things for locals. our culture is beautiful and i don’t want it ruined by foreigners who are unwilling to change and who act like they would in america. like i’ve seen hawaii is veryyy touristy and hawaiians have lost so much of their physical country to tourism, as well as a lot of their culture. i see it getting worse in costa rica and it makes me sad to think what it might become, but ofc it’s still far from lost. anyone should be allowed to move anywhere, but please be respectful and learn about the culture.
Probably one of the most valuable articles I’ve ever watched about life abroad. Great work breaking it down Kristin. I totally get that language can be a barrier in that it can trigger how others perceive and/or treat you. Breaking through the culture membrane is definitely a catalyst in my ignorant opinion as I’ve never been there, but will be going there in a month. I speak Spanish to I trust this will be my biggest asset in integrating myself into the CRican community. Once you make a friend or two, that’s new Costa Rican family. After all, home is where the heart is. I’ll let you know how it goes for me. Thanks again for taking the time out to share your invaluable advice. Good things!
13:58 “That country doesn’t have to change for you.” I’m American and still live in the US and I also feel that it would be easier to move to another country than to hope that the US changes for me. I plan on moving to the Netherlands, which seems to be my ideal country despite the high cost of living. The Dutch are known for being frugal anyway, so adapting to their culture will help me adapt my budget.
For me, its expensive, I adapt. I have caja, a healthy lifestyle. Its a great spot for doing the inward journey, healing. I love my simple life here. But I hated it for quite awhile. I got ripped off so many times….many times by other expats. All of the negatives your mention exist….4 hours to go 12 km. If anything, this place has taught me patience, to be chill and to have great boundaries with others. So glad I stuck it out. I have wonderful Tico friends, not many expat friends. Your perspective is awesome.
I lived in the US for 5 yrs, had decent job with good salary however, that was not the life I wanted to myself, and I retuned to my country, Costa Rica. My reason? Family, tranquility, no corporate stress, looking for a more relax way to live. Since then, I have traveled to more than 20 countries for vacation, but I keep coming back, because this is home to me. Btw, really good article, very accurate information.
That was a great and comprehensive treatment of the subject of why people leave ANYWHERE. I’m an older long term working expat, and have lived in a Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore (currently) as well as Ghana, Ireland and Qatar. I find that ex-pats get targeted more in developing countries. We’re basically assumed to have more resources and are therefore targets of opportunity. Also I’ve discovered that the police and judicial systems in many countries aren’t always “principle based” and are often on the predatory side of the equation. It’s one of the reasons I do appreciate Singapore. It’s safe, clean, and well administered. As much as I like adventure, I’m done with third world countries, and all the uncertainty that goes with them. While no place is perfect, less developed countries are less developed for some very specific reasons, many of which are reflected socially in terms of safety, justice and responsibility.
This article should clinch the absolute truth that “Life is Suffering” (Shakyamuni Buddha – 2700 years ago). There is no ultimate paradise ANYWHERE. Even if a place fulfills all the criteria as the most perfect place to be it is still only temporary, still subject to environmental and political changes, still subject to the reality of one’s own aging, ill health and approach to death. Personally, I’ve found that everything is dependent on my own mental condition; if I’m content with simple needs and a decent space to live, then I can create my own heaven right there. In the middle of a blizzard in southeast Wisconsin.
I feel for those who have left and maybe they have left feeling defeated. I don’t live in Costa Rica and haven’t ever been there but am thinking about it. Just about all the reasons that Kristin has listed as reasons for living are easily understood and I was able to overcome all those obstacles. Although I now live in the US I suffered reverse culture shock upon returning here after 20 years in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. More and more I am considering moving back to maybe a new country that I haven’t lived in before, Costa Rica Panama, Ecuador and Portugal are all on my list. The very best thing that prepared me for living in the countries I have lived in was to learn Portuguese in Brazil and Spanish in the other two countries. Several have commented about the wisdom of becoming like the natives that you live with. I would do anything to NOT act as a foreigner because you set yourself up for failure if you expect everything to be like home regardless of where you come from. Part of the experience is broadening your perspective and learning the culture and integrating with that culture. I hope this helps someone considering to move around the world.
You are 100 percent right. I lived in Puntarenas for a year…hotter than blazes before relocating to Alajuela. All my friends and family assumed it was so cheap to live there. It wasn’t! It’s the hidden costs. If you don’t get residency you have to pay to travel out of the country four times a year. Even if it is just to Nicaragua or Panama it can kill your budget. A maid might be cheap but expect to pay through the nose if you need a laptop! I left my car behind in the USA, took public transportation and shopped in local markets. I didn’t live in an American enclave, I was as native as one could get…I even speak Spanish but eventually I returned the the midwestern usa! You nailed it in this article!!!’
After spending my COVID year in Costa Rica (we moved down here 4 years earlier but I was in and out over most of that time) I can say I truly love my life here. I have health issues and chose to go back to the States to see doctors (I pay for Medicare and supplemental insurance there) but feel the medical care here is excellent. I don’t use the public system but have friends who do with great results (patience is, however, needed). I know it is there for me if I have an emergency. I agree with a lot of the article and feel that the most important issue in whether you will be happy is you. The cost of some things is high but instead of $7,000 a year for property taxes in Atlanta, we pay $700 a year here. You can buy a lot with that savings alone!
We moved to Hawaii 20 years ago. All the points you bring out, proves true here. Probably everywhere! I’ve notice one TRUTH. If people who move here, (or move anywhere) refer to where they came from as “HOME” or “BACK HOME”…. They are going to eventually move back “HOME”. I refer to Hawaii as Home. I refer to where I came from as “my old home town.” But it’s not Home anymore.
I lived in CR from 2003 to 2019 and your article is basically right. I used to brag to my friends back home at how much I could buy at the store for $50 when I first got there. A few short years later that wasn’t the case anymore. Markets are definitely the best places to lower your food costs. While we all have our unique experiences living there, as I was listening I could definitely relate. Good job.
My cousins lived there for 10 years. Their property got squatted on while they were actively developing it. One day they were working on it with backhoes and clearing it out. The next day, 20 guys with machine guns from the local drug lord were there. A few weeks later, they went to court and the local drug lord had paid off the judge and the property was awarded to them under squatter’s rights laws. Their entire retirement nest egg along with kids college funds. Gone. They still have 2 properties and one was rented to a guy who stiffed them on rent for a few months and they just sold up and left. They were able to recover around 600 grand split between 4 people from their remaining properties. On their way out, someone poisoned their dog, who died of kidney failure a few months later in Canada. Very sad. He was literally falling apart as the pads fell off his feet and eventually they had to just take him in for the big sleep.
My boss’s niece moved there and literally lived in a hut next to the beach. She told her family she loves it there. One day with her fiancee she got bit and infected. If he was not there to drive her to town (fly to hospital) she would have died. She insisted that the medical care there was excellent. Her family stated if was alone at the time there would be no way to get help. She later moved back home.
One thing that was a downside for me that is not mentioned in this article is the day-length. I adore my northern summer days with daylight up to 9:30 at night. If I have to live with very short days in winter at least that’s when it’s too cold for me to be going out in the garden for anything, and nothing is growing anyway. Near the equator, the sun comes up at 6 AM and it sets by 6 PM every day. That’s really, really early to me when it’s warm outside. As for the rest, I visited many, many times, and I intended retiring there. When I first started visiting to get to know the country, it was very safe. I traveled (a single woman) on the buses and taxis like the citizens, and stayed in the Costa Rican hotels (where a lot of times you need to bring your own pillow and blanket if you want one) not the tourist hotels, as well as at homestays. Everyone was friendly and helpful. I spoke some Spanish but was not expert. When I started it was safe, I’d say safer than a woman traveling alone in the U.S. There was a LOT of crime but it was all thievery rather than violent crime. Normal life is everyone lives with bars on the windows, and walls topped with razor wire around the yards and the car locked up inside this area; everything locked up like Alcatraz when you leave the house. This is normal and in the good neighborhoods. It meant never leaving ANYTHING in your car including your groceries while you stepped into the drug store to pick up some sunscreen or your windows would be broken.
I have lived in CR 21 years, I’m 74 and live on SS and a small business. I sold my car here because it’s expensive and she’s right, sometimes it will take you 1 hr to drive 5 miles. I bought a 400cc scooter and never have a problems with traffic, I drive around it. As for cost of living, yes, it can be expensive if you shop at the top supermarket, like Automercado. Just don’t buy everything you need there. Shop where the Ticos shop, local meat markets and vegetable ferias on Saturdays. I pay $400 a month rent (includes cable, water) 2 bdrm 1 bath. Electricity runs about $30. The house I live in is really nice, best place I have had in the 20 odd years. I’m going to be honest like I have been. My sex life here has always been fantastic. Sometimes too fantastic, I can’t handle it. Thank God for viagra….. I live a much, much better life here than I would be able to in California. I would never buy a house here, to expensive. And if you sell you don’t get your investment back. I spend $6 on my phone bill. I get a good pizza, 12 slice, delivered for $11. Anything you want delivered costs 2 to 3 bucks to deliver. You just have to shop. No it’s not cheap, but what is? As for crime, just watch yourself. She lives at the beach, highest crime areas in CR, why,,,,tourists, money. Biggest item for crime,,,Passports.
“You find it’s just another country full of regular people…and you’re still YOU” That is so deep and true. You are clearly a well educated person you know a lot about human psychology. These are exactly the things I am preparing myself for and the emotions I am trying to keep at bay. There truly is no “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” It’s comes down to me (again). Thank you very much for your insightful commentary. So tired of hearing from people with hurt feelings about a place or folks who have some kind of agenda. Refreshing!
I’m a native Californian who has lived and worked abroad for the better part of twenty years. Prior to getting married I worked in Venezuela. After kids came along we lived in Panama, England and now presently in Spain. I would suggest a major obstacle for some Americans is we grow up hearing the US is the “Best. Country. Ever.”, and we judge other places by how much they are or aren’t like back home. Obviously, this can set people up for frustration and disappointment. One of the best pieces of advice I could offer anyone considering a move overseas is to learn the language, not just to make things easier, but as a sign of respect for the country and its people. Secondly, immerse yourself in the activities, culture and vocations of the locals. Here in Spain, our son attends a local conservatory studying piano. He also teaches music to local kids. He is learning the music important to them, and never assumes he’s “better” than anyone simply because he was born in the US. As a result, he’s been welcomed into their society. Last night, in fact, he performed with a choir and 80-piece orchestra in an iconic 13th century cathedral. Obviously, such an opportunity would have been impossible stateside. In the end, the most important aspect of any country is the people themselves. Do they love their families? Do they respect their elders? Are they proud of their country and its traditions? If ‘yes’ to the above, you’ve likely found a great place to hang your hat.
Latin America is definitely not for everyone. But I believe that anyone who is willing to learn the language and actually socialize with the locals will soon find out that, besides the crime, we are very friendly and open people. We actually are specially friendly with foreigners, and if you are friendly you will always have someone to talk to or party with
I am from Costa Rica and that is true, it is so expensive to live in my country and it is an insecure place to live, if you let your home alone for a while it is very probable you get robbed. The crimen rate is increasing every year exponentially. And the traffic is terrible….in the rush hour you could take 3 hours to travel 60 miles…
How long have you been living in Costa Rico? Your accent is so “valley girl” with ending most of your statements with the upward question???? So eighties. I am surprised you have not lost some of that affect while living there. With that said, your article is outstanding and fully developed. Thank you so much.
I am from Canada, I have lived in CR for the past 29 years, I moved here very young and started my own business, it’s not an easy place to do business as the government is very anti business, and yes it has become very very expensive due to over taxing, there is no utopia but I am not ready to go back to Canada
I’ve relocated over and over again throughout my life. Initially, it was due to my Dad’s line of work. Infact, we relocated so frequently, I attended 13 different elementry schools by the time I finished Grade 6. Later, I was constantly relocating due to my own vocation. What my life’s travels have taught me is, if you go with the flow life (in your new home) will go much easier. And, any place you hang your hat is, or can be, home if you do not expect you new surroundings to be anything other than different than your old surroundings. Great educational, honest, non-judgemental article. Thank you 👍
One thing you didn’t mention is that it really, really makes a difference to learn Spanish. Its the national language here, and in the rest of Latin America. Sure, if you live in some expat/tourist communities, you can get by with little or no Spanish, but once you get out of those areas, you really need to know Spanish. And that will also make a big difference in you quality of life here.
I lived in Costa Rica in 1992. I loved it while I was there. I didn’t leave it because I didn’t like it. I left Costa Rica because I wanted “1st World” services. I wanted “customer is king” in USA, where I didn’t experience it in Costa Rica. I wanted courteous, thoughtful behavior from the owners/workers stores I frequented, where business owners were not that thoughtful. I wanted higher logic and understanding in everyday dealings with people, where like bank tellers in Costa Rica were often so clueless. So in part it boiled down to patience, even though I was only about 25 years old at the time — I just did not have the patience for dealing with such rampant stupidity. One experience with developing film in downtown San Jose at a 24-hour service, was that 24 hours later, the film was not developed. I was living in Guadalupe (a suburb of San Jose) and I had to walk a mile, take a bus a few miles, then walk quite a few blocks — only to discover my film was not developed. The film-store owner had no remorse whatsoever, no apology, nothing, nada. The next day I was smart enough to call ahead to confirm they had developed the film. And back to the one-mile walk, the bus ride, the multi-block walk, and sure enough the film was developed. But wait, no, as I looked at it, I discovered that they had not developed the last 5 film negatives. When I pointed it out, not only was the owner not apologetic, the owner actually acted ‘put out’ and annoyed. I had to return the next day (a fourth time!
I could relate a lot to many of your comments and observations about living the Ex-Pat life abroad, particularly in the tropics. I separated from my wife of thirty-plus years in my mid 40’s. We grew apart and I just wasn’t happy with her spendthrift ways. I had read books as a young man about living in the South Seas. I took a few months and visited several island groups and loved all of them. Most had serious impediments to immigrating by U.S. citizens so that narrowed my choices significantly and not being independently wealthy I needed to find something to do that would finance my life. I finally settled in Western Samoa for reasons of a business plan, a somewhat established infrastructure, and a perception that nearly all the people I came in contact with spoke English fluently. Perhaps the biggest problems eventually falling into focus had to do with culture shock, and the effect it had on me. Over two and a half years I became more and more homesick for my friends, family, and the familiar conveniences of living in the U.S. I think it is important to have a base to live from, but limiting yourself to one third-world country can be a huge problem. I spent a few weeks with Dengue Fever and it was a real drag! Women with whom I had much in common were scarce and like yourself, I was a target of repeated theft and general taking advantage of my lack of local knowledge. Every time I thought I was catching on to the eccentricities and peculiarities of living in Samoa something would happen to jerk me back to the reality, that I still had much to learn.
This is a very good and quite interesting article. I have had no intention to move to Costa Rica from Canada since we are comfortable here, but I really enjoy reading and viewing about people’s experiences and thoughts of living elsewhere. This article is really quite balanced and realistic compared to others I have seen. Ms. Kristin does an excellent job in being both respectful of the various communities and cultures involved, yet quite honest about it all. It is a rare talent and most welcomed. Well done!
Great article. I have visited CR several times and spent a great deal of time house hunting. Ultimately, I realized (with a very patient realtor) that the perfect house for me is a gated home in a secluded area. But then I realized I can seclude myself in many countries around the world so why choose this one? This epiphany caused me to stop and rethink what and why I was trying to move.
I was born in Costa Rica and moved to the U.S when I was 9. I’m so used to see the “good” articles of Costa Rica and there’s a certain pride of talking about the the “good” of Costa Rica. I found your article to be very realistic and honest. The reasons you give in the article are valid and true. Good Stuff! Pura Vida!
I spent my study-abroad summer in CR in the year….1986! I bet I wouldn’t recognize it at all if I went back there today. For example, Tamarindo Bch at the time provided no more than just one open-air restaurant—run by a Belgian man who made waffles every morning—and a quaint little motel with six cabanas that didn’t charge extra for the sandy floor. You could rent a broken surfboard for about $1 USD. There were no other humans on the beach, I’m not kidding. A large stretch of it was “for sale.” Talk about missed opportunities. And thanks for the article; you’re really good at this. Keep it up!
as a Costa Rican (born and raised) every reason you mentioned is on point. This country is slowly becoming a place where living is a pretty experience only for people with a shit lot of money; everything is overpriced and if you want to live safer, you need to spend a lot of money securing your house and your car against crime. I love my country, but I fear how unsafe is becoming.
in 2008, my 2 toddlers and I visited costa rica for 3 months. I was doing a work exchange at an eco-lodge near San Isidro. The worse experience for us was in the middle of the night, a local man came to our room and try to steal our money ( and he knew where I hid the money). I woke up and scream, he ran away. It was so dark I can’t see his face. Police came the next day, can’t do anything. People told me it’s often people’s laptop, money got stolen there. I’ve travelled to 26 different countries, lived long-term (decades) in 4 countries. I’m lucky, it only happened once in costa rica, but I feel reluctant to visit CR again ( and any high crime rate countries target foreigners).
“Wanting to be with family.” That one doesn’t surprise me at all. The older you get, the more you realize how temporal yet utterly important your family is. There is a gnawing and anguishing emptiness, when you are in a beautiful, meaningful place, but have no one in your life. “Surrounded by strangers I thought were my friends…”
What a wonderful article!! You really covered things thouroughly. I think your business model to see other countries and help people move to there is great. I had a niece that went on vacation and declared she wanted to move there, I had to bring her back to reality and reminded her everything looks great on vacation but when you move somewhere you will have to deal with getting a job, living day to day, housing etc. You may find it is no better or even worse than where you live now. You have to do your research.
I also lived in Rohrmoser (well, nearby, close to Tobías Bolaños airport), and I left mainly because of crime. The neighborhood began to seem dangerous, and more so for a person from the US than for the locals. There was a sense that it was easier to victimize a person from the US, and for some reason this actually seemed to be getting worse at the time I was there. Sorry, I do not wish to criticize Costa Rica at all. I think the fault is mine for acting too soon, buying property there without understanding more about the country.
Im italian american living in Costa Rica since 20 years ago. It is an amazing country! Yes.. is very expensive, but here you live in a peaceful and green country. Where did you live? Humm Nosara? Tamarindo? Jacó? Santa Teresa? Yeahh… you lived in the most expensive beach towns in CR. Violence?…. Yes, mostly at ” big” cities, beach towns, but not everywhere!. CR is the safest country in Central America. So, that it depends of your lifestyle! We love our Pura Vida here. Good Luck for you!
I moved from El Salvador to California when I was 19 yrs old, my dad sent me here because of the civil war. Moving to another country when you are young is so much easier, I was able to adapt within a year, learned english, got a job, adopted the new culture, and now I am retired and having a good life in the USA. I have family in their 60s who came to the US with a permanent visa and had to move back to El Salvador, because they couldn’t adapt. Moving to another country when you are older is more difficult, for the majority is hard to learn a new language, adopt the new culture etc. at least in Latin America we try to speak your language, but here in the US they tell you: speak English! anyways that would be another topic. I tried to go back to El Salvador to live, but it was hard for me now, home is where your heart is, and my heart is in California.
“But you have to remember, You are moving to that country .. That country doesnt have to change for you” …. i wish as many people ‘moving to the U.S.’ would understand that as well (its not xenophobia its reality, imo) …. and you’re absolutely right EVERY country has its problems (even the U.S. imo) …. what i get from your article is … Great beautiful place to visit, but maybe not a great place to stay for everyone…. You’re such a nice person, i love the way you’ve laid out all the info ! … Thanks Kristin 🙂
As a 38-year resident of Honolulu, Hawaii I found much of this article familiar. People arrive and leave Hawaii with great frequency. But so much of this narration has far greater significance than geography. People relocate and things change. But the capacity of an individual to accept and adjust to the ?!*%# life change/hurdle has so much to do with the person within.
I lived in Costa Rica for 10 wonderful years and absolutely loved it. I lived in Cahuita and Puerto Viejo Talamanca province. The people were wonderful and the weather was superb. I left because my grand children were growing up so fast and I couldn’t get hugs over SKYPE. I made lifelong friends there and still visit occasionally. Pura Vida!!! I love Costa Rica.
Hello, I enjoyed your article – so comprehensive. I lived in Costa Rica as a Peace Corps Volunteer 1965-1967 (Las Canas, Guanacaste). Love it and many years later considered moving there to live. Now, at the age of 78, I’ve decided a visit will do nicely; better to remain here in DC to be close to family. Thank you for sharing. Costa Rica seems greatly changed since the time I lived there. Having so many ex-pats there has surely changed the flavor of things. Be safe wherever you land and be well.
I live in Nicaragua because it is so much more affordable and take my vacations to CR. I tried living in Costa Rica for 2 years but even living cheaply like a native it is still unreasonably expensive in a lot of places. But lots of people speak English so if you do not want to learn Spanish, it’s a better choice for you. Excellent article. Very honest opinion, ty. I have seen the same issues with expats in Nicaragua.
Crime is different but there is crime in both countries! Here in CR we have car theft crimes, home invations, getting mugged, not as much as other places but there is. Unlike the USA, there is mass shootings in public places, hate crimes, terrorist attacks, gang violence. In CR just do what what the ticos do, use wild west tactics (neighborhood watch), be friends with neighbor, local bisuness owners and they help you out. Also file charges at the local police that definitively helps. But most important use common sense.
It seems that your home country was in heaven. I am Costa Rican. I travelled a lot and visited many countries. I was in the UK studying for almost three years. Once I was robbed, my suitcase was gone. I was in the university library in downtown London. Many things may happen in all countries. I am sad to learn how the Costa Rican culture has changed by the influence of American TV and culture. We have many fast food restaurants where we have a theatre. The name of many public places are in English; we lost part of our identity because we are a poor county, and tourists have become a very important component of the national income
No, I was not surprised,. I lived in Egypt for six years and too many Americans with our Embassy there never mingled with Egyptians as I did. They tried to create their own version of the United States within their community. Not me, I embraced their ways and I loved my life in Egypt. We had a home in Cairo and also a home west of Alexandria on the Mediterranean… I was married at the time and learned Arabic (speaking only) and I loved the Egyptian people who were so very hospitable and welcoming. I made quite a few friends there–was great. Nothing is perfect and we did have rolling blackouts at times in the heat, but one gets used to them. I loved my life in Egypt and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Good for you, Kristin. I lived in Honduras for 2 years and I left for basically the same reason you did. I had reached the decision point where I either had to start putting down permanent roots or go back “home.” All things considered, I chose security for self and family. My breaking point was being robbed in the middle of the night at machete point in my home in an uptownish neighborhood that I viewed as safe. After that, I couldn’t sleep anymore. I tried 3 different states before settling in Dallas and I’m still thrilled to be in Dallas. Thx 4 sharing!
As noted many Americans have unrealistic expectations. There is also false information put out by tourism, real estate, and other expat businesses that all have financial interests in cheerleading for Costa Rica. Many expats go down there and they rent a high end property in an expensive beach community, they drive a new car, and they enjoy quality steaks and fresh seafood at nice restaurants. Essentially they have a lifestyle on par with the 1% richest Ticos and then complain that things are expensive. The vast majority of Ticos live modestly, shop at local super markets, cook pretty much everyday, and if they have a car it is usually an old one.
I’m very impressed with your explanations. I knew that Costa Rica was becoming more expensive because of expat moves to there but I did not know the crime was as meaningful as you described. There were also things you described that would make me think twice about moving there. Great bringing up being away from family as not such a great thing, trying to get things done might be slower than one is used to, etc. Also, I think at this point if I was to move to a Latin American country OR any other country (from the U.S.) I’d want to live out of central area BUT also be close enough to really good health care – e.g. have my cake and eat it too and I’m not sure how viable that is. Thank you so much for this – extremely helpful!!
Glad you are back and please take good self care to prevent burn out. My first burn out happened in the US because I adopted this Accomplishment self worth based culture. Since then, I had to be very conscious of where I put my identity and worth knowing I am a human being with boundary and limits. It is very tempting and a constant struggle trying to not give into this cultural norm but it is possible when I consciously practice establishing boundaries and limits without feeling quilt and “I am doing enough syndrome .” I really appreciate your vunerbility and sharing your human experience of Burning Out in the US. It is so real and genuine. So happy to see you coming back and taking better care of yourself. Thanks for sharing.
Lived here for 6 years, married to a tica. Learned the culture and know Spanish, part of the beauty is learning those things about CR especially the culture since it has a lot of very insightful and interesting things and gives deep insight to which the country builds itself upon. It’s called respect. Never met nicer people than I have in CR, always inviting and very polite. Are there bad people in every country? Yep, as well as bad areas? Yep. You’ll find that anywhere – this is not a surprise. I don’t know, never had a problem here with the country or its locals. Shrug … I love Coronado, and love the rural of CR. Beautiful country and the people are beautiful. Pura Vida <3
As a Costa Rican (born in the US) and live there 6 months out of the year—the cost of living is the issue. You have to realize that taxes are way different. Living sustainably will definitely help here. Invest in growing your own produce and try bringing a national with you everywhere. It’s not going to sound nice but as soon they realize you have an accent from somewhere else they will take advantage and charge you two to three times the amount of an actual service or good. I love my country but there are many negatives to the cost of living. TIP: If growing your own produce isn’t an option go to street markets and this will be a difference in price. Lots of times you will find people sell produce.
I think the advice given on another “expat website” is good. Don’t burn your bridges. Once one has decided on a country to move to, don’t move, go on an extended stay for 6 months – 1 year, live as much like you’d plan on living there permanently. Then go home and really evaluate your stay in your proposed expat home and make a decision.
Kristin, you made the right choice to live in different places…your youth, business and the experiences will only expand your horizons and make you oh, so much wiser. I’m a bit older, but were I your age again in today’s moveable feast world, I’d do the same. I became ill in my early 40’s, fought disability to the point of re-education and bankruptcy, and was still unable to work in the end. After losing everything and fighting to keep working and maintain a lifestyle to which I had made myself very accustomed, then being abused, robbed, and surrounded by strangers who took advantage of my poor health, I left the states and just drove south. I really had no idea where I was going; didn’t care either. For the first time in my 43 years, I threw every last bit of caution to the dirty wind. I still visit Cali for health reasons, but most of the year, live in a great old UNESCO site in a very safe area, with a wonderful landlady from the US. It took me almost 10 years to find this pretty-near perfect place, but now in my mid-60’s, I live simply, safely, at peace and so affordably, I’ve managed to saved a few bucks, something I’d have never been able to do in the US. Moreover, I learned a valuable lesson. Take care of yourself and help those whom you can, but always remember to first figure yourself into the equation, (especially at my age), and live like a local, a few steps higher if you can. I’ve learned to do with less after many lessons, and I’m blessed God’s always been my best friend.
I lived in Los Angeles for 27 years, and everything negative you mentioned about Costa Rica, I lived in LA. My van was stolen form train station, wifi was slow or interrupted once too often, health system is pretty bad, the water isn’t potable, and I can go and on. Just to clarify; I’m not complaining. And just like you, I’ve visited many countries. There is no utopia. Humans are humans. We suck!
Hi Kirstin – I want to congratulate you on an absolutely excellent article sharing your own personal experience as well as the views of numerous other Americans who chose to move to and then leave Costa Rica. As a Canadian who has travelled pretty extensively and lived in some of the best countries in the world (e.g. Canada and New Zealand) and as someone who has spent a fair amount of time in Costa Rica, I found the 8 reasons to be not at all surprising. None-the-less it was a really good barometer for me to compare my own thoughts against as I am just now in the process of moving permanently into Costa Rica. Of all the reasons given for people to move “back home” I believe reason 2, unrealistic/inappropriate expectations would have to be the most typic and also the most fundamental. Most importantly, I just want to emphasize that a balanced approach would be to interview the myriad Canadians and Americans who have been living in Costa Rica for many, many years and remain here because of all the very significant positives associated with this country. Thanks again so much for this piece, now that I stumbled upon this one, I’ll be investigating some of your other works as well. Best of luck in your continued exploration of the world, what an incredible life you are able to live!!
I’m Costa Rican and I have never paid an electricity bill of “a few hundred dollars” or something even closer to that. We usually pay like $100, and we are 5 people working from home, using the computer, perusal TV, etc… Of course, if you want to live close to the beach and use th AC all day long because you can’t handle the wheater, well, that’s another story.
Thanks for your contribution Kristin. I’ve travelled as a tourist in a few South American countries both solo, and with friends. You have some valid points about expectations, and adjustments. I am surprised that you didn’t mention language barriers as one reasons for the difficulties of acclimatizing. Shopping in local stores knowing the basics of the local languages will help the people you interact with feel more at ease, and eventually treat a foreigner equally. Managing one’s expectations is really about having life experience. I would suggest that people make small moves to leave their comfort zone since they are no longer in the place they once were for a good length of time in the past.
Kristin’s article resonated with me. And she presented the topic in an even-handed manner. I have lived in Costa Rica for 28 of the last 60 months. That doesn’t make me an ex-pat, but it certainly offers me enough insight to see things through their eyes. I love the place. But yes, there is poverty, a lot of it. They have the most educated population of any country in Central America, yet they have been slow to grow a middle-class. Many “Ticos” have told me this is because of government policies, especially their inability to create jobs. Kristin also pointed out their reliance on import taxes to run the government. This is one of the most regressive forms of taxation. It raises prices on nearly everything, and severely impacts the budgets of low-income people. Other than products grown or manufactured in Costa Rica, everything is “as expensive” or “more expensive” than in the United States. And they are paying these prices while earning 45% less money than similar jobs in the US. I have never lived in tourist areas. In fact, when “in country,” I choose to live as far away from gringos as possible. It gives me a much better idea of how these policies affect the average Tico. All countries, including the United States, have policies that adversely affect one demographic group. What amazes me most is their enduring ability to remain happy and positive while navigating through a day where the internet can go down, the lights could be off, the potholes swallow a motorcycle, and it might take three and a half hours to visit a beach barely 60 miles from the capital of San Jose.
I’m an American born half CR and Cuban and lived in CR from 11 to 18 years old before returning to the usa in 95. My biggest reason for leaving and never going back was CRIME!!! I was mugged 8 times with one having my arm stabbed. Most of my family and friends have been mugged or worse at least once or twice. Next is expensive!!! I’ve been to Japan 12 times and CR is way more expensive imo than Japan. While there are definitely a lot of pros to CR for me the cons out way the pros. There are way better countries to move too.
I used to think I would retire to a foreign country when I was younger but I have really put a lot of effort into my home and community and I love my home and grandkids being near me. During my traveling years I was young and experienced some incredible adventures. Now my values and priorities have changed so I really don’t see any advantage to relocating to a country that I’m a guest in.