Can I live in Costa Rica on a budget of $650 a month?

Question

I just started getting SSI Disability of $650 monthly. I've been hearing about Costa Rica for awhile and want to visit and possibly retire. I know it's not a lot but let me say I am a very modest person. The only material things I have are my cell phone ($15 a month), and internet service. And I'm a vegetarian. While expensive in the USA, I've hear that fruits and vegetables are dirt cheap in CS. So what are the best places to live on this income? Are they safe? Is there a local market? Etc, etc, etc. Thank you.

Answer 1

First off what does the law state on collecting SSI and living in another country? SSI is an American benefit.$650 a month isn't much anywhere! It sounds like your SSI is not a retirement version of it but possibly a medical benefit. Try healing from whatever you claim is perminantly wrong with you and get a job.

Answer 2

I would say that you can, unless prices have gone up a lot since a few years ago.  I would recommend living in a small town. San Jose is, if I recall, considered more expensive (although still cheap by US standards), and some neighborhoods do have crime problems (although crime in CR is much lower than in nearby countries), and the small towns are usually much more pleasant anyway. The capital is kind of dingy and polluted.

The really rustic towns in the boonies are probably dirt cheap, but there seem to be lots of well-developed easygoing little towns in the central valley.  There are also moderate-sized towns like Cartago, Alajuela, and Heredia that are nice.

Aside from San Jose, I recall hearing that the Caribbean coast had high crime, but I don't think its very high in most places.

In San Jose I recall a 2-bedroom house in a middle class neighborhood renting for $300, and $200 in a working class neighborhood. Be aware they may try to jack up the rent for foreigners.  

Food is cheap, as is transportation- the buses go everywhere and are dirt cheap. The city bus into downtown SJ cost 25 cents, and a 2-hour ride to the Pacific cost $2-3. Clean hotels start at $4-10 a single, depending on the location, and basic restaurant meals $2-3.

I might add that $650 a month is significantly more than probably most Costa Ricans earn.

Answer 3

If you are modest as you stated and vegetarian I think you will be ok.We just moved here only my husband works and he makes $600 per month.My mom and son lives with us.The rent for 3 bedroom house in not rich but safe area is $200 per month.My mom is also vegetarian and she finds it like paradise here.Fruits and vegetables are very cheap,Internet is about $20.I live in San Jose right now,there is a local farmers market every Friday and Saturday.The only thing is not to spend you money on agency or locals if you decide to move,they will overprice everything for you because you are an American.Email me at [e-mail] if you have any questions or need help.You might want to check out Panama also.We are moving there is 3 months.Is cheaper than here,more beautiful,there is huge American/Canadian community and with $650 you will qualify for citizenship

Answer 4

You can definitely live on that. But how you'll live depends a lot on where and how you want to live. I would avoid San Jose. The thing you have to decide is whether you prefer the highlands or the lowlands. The difference is climate, mostly. I find the lowlands, including all of the beach areas to be too warm and humid for my comfort. Others prefer the warmth. Other than the resort towns on the oceans, the farther you get from San Jose the lower the cost of living. Most towns of 5 thousand up have decent markets and health services. You might want to look at San Isidro and San Vito. Both have nice climates, cooler than the coast but not as cool as San Jose. I'd recommend you go to your local library and see if they have any books on Costa Rica for travel and/or retirement. At $650 a month you'll be bringing in more than the average Costa Rican family.