I'm planning to relocate for retirement purposes to Costa Rica.?

Question

I have read many books on the subject, I read the english newspaper "Tico Times" and I have toured the country once. I need to know some of the things that are distasteful about living there. Most of what I read is about the positives but you never know about the negatives until you're in the middle of them. If you know some of them, tell me.

Answer 1

if you've been there you probably know about bad driving habits of the locals.

Answer 2

There are a lot of people who have emigrated to Costa Rica. Try to contact a few of those for your answers.

The most important part to consider is this:

Do you speak Spanish fluently?

Have you considered that you will be leaving everybody behind, friends, relatives, family members, grandchildren .

Does your better half fully support you?

How is your health. Have you researched  medical treatment in Costa Rica?

What do you plan to do all day?

What is one of you dies?

What about funeral costs?

Once upon a time, a few years ago, we traveled trough out Costa Rica and the thought entered our minds to move down there. We made the move from Holland to Canada in the early sixties and we know what we left behind. Good as well as bad.

Remember you will never become a native Costa Rican. You always will be a foreigner.

Answer 3

I love Costa Rica... if you are going to move there, touring the country once does not give you enough info.

The crime is bad in the larger cities, but not so bad in the small towns.

You also have to remember there are no services down there... most importantly, spend at least 3 months and travel the entire country, staying in each place you go for 2 weeks or so to get a real feel for what it would be like to live there. You should do this once during dry season, and once during rainy season.

Answer 4

Well, I live in Panama and I Love my country but Costa Rica is also a wonderful country and it's very safe. There's a very low Crime Rate...

But if it's for retirement purposes I recommend you Heredia(a small-medium city) or other small towns

Answer 5

I know many retirees that live in Central America. Costa Rica is now OVER! They new place is Panama. In Costa Rica the crime is horrible. It is very unsafe. I have heard many stories about the hatred towards foreigners. Also The benefits of Costa Rica are nothing compared to Panama. Costa Rica now charges Property taxes, Panama has a way to legally not pay property taxes for like 15 years.

There was a big boom for Expats to move to Costa Rica. In the beginning it was ok, but then the the Government started to take control. now you have to pay 10% duty on anything you bring in. If you bring a $16,000 car. Then you will pay $16,000 to bring it in.

If you are moving to Cost Rica for family and friends you can still consider Panama. There is a town in Panama called Boquete. It is a major Expats town. I believe there are around 500 expat family's. Boquete is close to the boarder of Costa Rica too. It is about 2 hours away. Boquete has become a little pricey, but there are areas around it that are just as beautiful and cheaper such as Caldera.

Before you jump into anything go and visit. That is the biggest mistake most people make. You have to experience it for yourself.