Finding Your Place,
Finding Your Peace

By and large, the answer is yes. Though more populated areas will have higher crime rates, Costa Rica is safe for expats. Many choose to live in gated communities, but making friends with Ticos – in any neighborhood – is smart for anyone concerned about safety. Violent crime is comparatively low, and securing your home when you’re away will help protect your belongings.

The United States Department of State can keep you up to date with advisories here.

Housing, food and utilities are affordable in virtually every area of Costa Rica. However, those who choose to live by the beach, or in gated communities, will naturally pay more for real estate. Most medications are inexpensive, but cars can be pricey. The day-to-day living in Costa Rica, however, is very affordable, and a couple can easily live a good life on $2,000 per month or less.

Yes! You need not be a resident to own property in Costa Rica. Many foreigners invest in vacation homes where they spend a certain amount of time during the year and rent the property at other times. If you choose to do this, make sure you have a good property manager locally.

It’s advisable to rent before making the decision to buy or build. Visit as many areas as possible and rent for short periods like 3 – 6 months. This will be useful in determining which areas of Costa Rica you like best.

The quality of life in Costa Rica is among the best in the world. Being a Blue Zone, Costa Rica has higher life expectancy and a more vibrant lifestyle. Healthcare is good and accessible, there are more quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables and the pace is slower in most areas. In Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, men over the age of 60 are seven times more likely to reach the 100-year age mark than the global average. SOURCE

If you apply for residency, you will be enrolled in Costa Rica’s single-payer health insurance known as CAJA. CAJA covers nearly 100% of non-elective healthcare costs, including prescriptions, appliances and many types of therapies. However, the wait on non-urgent care may be longer than many foreigners are accustomed to. To bridge the gap, private hospitals are throughout the country and offer pay-as-you-go care at a far lower cost than in North America or Europe.

If bringing prescription medications with you, make sure they are in their labeled containers showing your name, medication name and expiry date.

911 is Costa Rica’s emergency call number and is staffed with Spanish- and English-speaking representatives.

As of this writing, Costa Rica issues visas for up to 180 days. With that, “perpetual tourists” leave or cross the border when their visas are expiring — giving them another 180 days in the country.

However, if you plan to make Costa Rica your permanent home, you should apply for residency. There are a number of classifications, including pensionado, rentista, digital nomad and investor. We can help you sort out which one fits your needs best.

As a resident, you can obtain a driver’s license in Costa Rica. If you have a license from your country of origin, you may not need to take a test in order to secure your license. You will need to provide COSEVI (Costa Rica’s transit authority) your proof of residency, passport and current license. These will need to be copied and translated by a certified translator.

If you do not have a current license, you may be subject to both written and road tests.

Yes! Regardless of where you live or stay in Costa Rica, chances are good there are ample bus routes to get you where you’re going. Taxis and shuttles are also readily available and typically quite affordable.

If you’re unsure of which buses are available in your area, check out the Bus Schedule website for departure and arrival times.

Without permanent residency, it may be impossible for you to get a job in Costa Rica. There are two exceptions: digital nomads (who work for a company based outside of the country) and business owners. For business owners, you may not collect a regular salary, but your investment entitles you to a certain dividend. There are other considerations, like hiring Ticos to run the business, paying into their CAJA and so on.

It is always best to consult with an attorney prior to hanging up your shingle.

Costa Rica is an outstanding place to raise a family. The culture is family- and child-friendly and Costa Rica’s legal policies work to protect children and mothers. There are plenty of private schools which teach in bilingual curriculum, offering your child a chance to learn Spanish more easily. There are also many activities for children that expose them to nature, wildlife, bird life and flora.

By most standards, yes. Costa Rica is safe for tourists of all nationalities. As with any country, larger cities require heightened personal awareness. San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, and many coastal towns draw large groups of people. For this reason, pick-pocketing and other petty crimes are possible. Use cursory precautions to avoid troubles.

Ticos, as they call themselves, are rather gracious, often humorous and typically non-confrontational. As Costa Rica depends heavily on tourism, it’s only natural that Ticos accommodate foreigners readily. Ticos are Eco-conscious and have a keen understanding of nature, wildlife and conservationism. The culture is a bit more reserved than other countries, but Ticos enjoy a party or community gathering. Most common of these are topes and street parties with music, food and libations.