Costa Rica Insider Archives

Loving Life in Costa Rica’s Central Valley

Loving Life in Costa Rica’s Central Valley

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January 6, 2014

It wasn’t practical reasons like lower cost of living, great—and cheap—medical care, and friendly people that convinced Dave Scott, 65, to move to San Ramón, a town on the western edge of Costa Rica’s Central Valley region.Though the country has all those advantages and more, and while those were factors in the decision, it was something else that drew him.“It was like an invisible string around my neck pulling me here,” says Dave. “It’s more of a heart thing than a head thing. It’s hard to explain. It was just the feeling we had.”

Property at Affordable Prices on Costa Rica’s Southern Coast

Property at Affordable Prices on Costa Rica’s Southern Coast

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January 2, 2014

Despite interest from investors and well-heeled vacation home owners, you can still find good-value real estate. Prices start at $150,000 for simple digs, going up to multi-millions for the luxury palaces favored by wealthy vacation home owners. So it may not be dirt cheap. But with ocean-view homes starting at the low $200,000s, prices are a quarter of what you’d pay for similar property on the southern California coast, for example.

California to Costa Rica: “I Can’t Help But Think How Lucky We Are…”

California to Costa Rica: “I Can’t Help But Think How Lucky We Are…”

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January 2, 2014

While my wife and I were on our daily walk the other day, 400 feet from the deserted Bejuco beach, we were stopped short by a white-faced capuchin monkey who raced gracefully across the bridge, then launched himself into a tree on the other side of the water. His family trailed close behind. Looking around me, I can’t help but think how lucky we are to have so much nature in our everyday lives.

Video: The Perks of Living in Costa Rica

Video: The Perks of Living in Costa Rica

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December 6, 2013

There are a lot of practical advantages to living in Costa Rica that I've discovered during my two years here. A big one for my family is the savings on medical care. When my son was born in June of 2012, we paid just $3,000 for the birth at a private hospital, including all the doctors' fees and an overnight hospital stay. That's cash, no insurance. We would have paid $15,000 to $20,000 in the U.S. When, at six months, the baby developed some health issues, testing and treatment was cheap too.

This Is Why Expats Are Healthier in Costa Rica

This Is Why Expats Are Healthier in Costa Rica

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December 6, 2013

Costa Rica has a lot to recommend it: low cost of living, bargain real estate, the "Pura Vida" lifestyle, great weather, fabulous beaches...the list goes on and on. But one of the biggest benefits for retirees, business owners, and other expats is the health care. In a time of rising costs in the U.S., not to mention a contentious political debate over insurance and medical care, Costa Rica's take on the issue is refreshing.

Poco a Poco…Getting Settled in Costa Rica

Poco a Poco…Getting Settled in Costa Rica

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November 29, 2013

A fter more than four years of living in Costa Rica, we are still taking Spanish lessons. It’s a process; as they say here, poco a poco (little by little). Of course, we could just speak English. Many expats do. Lots of locals speak some English and we have many expat friends. But when we first decided we wanted to live overseas, we knew that we also wanted to integrate into our new home.