Top 5 tips to live in Costa Rica

1.  Slow down.  Things will take time to get done.  It will be more time than you were told.  But it will happen eventually and no amount of raised blood pressure, shouting or frowning on your part will speed up the process, so relax and go with the flow.

2.  Come for an extended vacation first.  Don't sell everything you own and move down to sunny Costa Rica.  Visit for a few months and stay in a number of locations to find which suits you best.

3.  Learn Spanish.  You don't have to be fluent, but your whole experience of life in Costa Rica will be far more enjoyable if you can speak to people around you.

4.  Live like a local, if you want to budget.  You don't have to give up all you love, but cut back on imported foodstuffs and indulge in local fruit and vegetables for a lower grocery bill.

5.  Be active.  If you are retiring to Costa Rica, bring your paints, camera, gardening books or whatever tools you need for your hobbies and interests.  Volunteer for a few hours in a local school or hospital. Join a local bridge club, theater group or book club.  Avoid homesickness caused by lack of social activity.

Right on sarainCahuita...I couldn't have said it any better myself    especially response #5 and intend to live on your own.

Great tips above. I'll add some additional practical tips:

1) Visit the specific areas you want to live. Each area, town, microclimate, has a different vibe and way of life.

2) Come with suitcases, not a container. Just in the last two months I have seen a family and a retired couple send their full containers back to where they came from without even unpacking them... even though you think it will be forever or for a long time, you just never know. Travel light - it will mean less baggage physically and emotionally.

3) Take action on advice directly from the source, not from internet forums (even me!). Forums are full of opinions - some right and some plain wrong.

4) Have enough disposable funds to cover at least three months of income. Setting up bank accounts, transfers, wires etc can take way more time and effort than you expect.

5) Come with the understanding that things do not work the same way they do where you come from. Go with the flow and enjoy the ride. Make a good, detailed plan, but be prepared to deviate from it.

I just posted an article on this topic  - an interview with a relocation expert - here's the link

We've traveled all throughout CR, Nica, & Pana for the past 15 years and have lived in CR full time for 5 years. We operate a Boutique Style Beach Front Hotel. Many people ask us "what made you decide to make the move?" and "It must be so wonderful living in paradise"
We say yes it is wonderful. Like any thing it poses it's challenges. We can chose to become frustrated or embrace them. We have learned to embrace them. Here is our list for those considering the move down to CR.

1, Open mind & Open heart. Situations won't always work the way you expect them to and you may not always find what you're looking for. Water will go out, houses/ rooms will flood, roads will be tricky, you won't have the correct "paper work" well that's ok. Go outside look up & around, smile, take time to smell the flowers. Be in the moment.

2. Have a Purpose. Many expats move here and become sedentary and complacent. Find a worthy purpose to keep yourself active & out of trouble. ;-)

3. Give Back- Ticos are sweet, kind people and we are privileged to live here not entitled. Appreciate, admire and show gratitude towards Costa Ricans. Learn to Live in peace & harmony.

4. Rent before you buy- once you buy something it's not easy selling it. Try renting / living here for at least a year before you take the plunge.

5. Leave your Bubble & Explore. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful counties in the world go out & see it.

Pura Vida,
Mikey & Diana
Owners
Pelican Beach Front Hotel
Esterillos Este, Costa Rica

liivsav, I just had a quick look at the site you posted the link to, and seems to offer good advice. However one very important item stood out, though, that is incorrect where it is written about importing a vehicle "After six months, you have to legalize your car and paying taxes" when according to information found here, "All taxes and duties must be paid before the vehicle can be released. It is recommended that a customs broker or agent is used to assist with the customs process. Shipping companies usually provide a clearing agent in the destination port, often for an additional fee".

When you drive your vehicle into the country, it will be given a  temporary entry permit which is issued that corresponds with the length of your stay, for no more than a 90-day period. When this period expires, the car must be taken out of Costa Rica permanently, or must be registered with Costa Rican license plates.Vehicles that do not leave the country within the time period specified may be subject to import taxes or it will be impounded at your cost. However, it may be possible to renew the temporary entry permit for a further 90 days.

Additional information can be found reading the pertinent information on this website or others on the internet

We have imported 3 vehicles, three separate times and this requirement also applies to any ATV's, quads, motorbikes, Seadoos, etc.

Don´t drink alcohol or do drugs! you will mix up with the wrong people only to suffer the bad consequences

Hi, Yes, I believe that the relocation specialist I interviewed was referring to driving a car into the country... you are correct about 90 days and then an extension for an additional 90 days (at most). I think her point is that it's a real pain and you're better off keeping it simple.

Thanks for the clarification - I appreciate you reading

I would change the wording on it then, as it could lead to a major misunderstanding for someone..

Dear co-members,
thank you kindly for your spontaneous valuable comments regarding my intention to relocate to CR.
They mean a lot to me as i just got started with my process of preparations. Learning from seasoned expats will help me avoid many mistakes. Thus i began learning Spanish online over a year ago and took a Castellano course in Guanajuato, Mexico, last fall when that country still had been considered my future home.
Saying farewell to a lot of household stuff to get a fresh start sounds reasonable and, of course, the same applies to a German-Canadian efficiency attitude, to go with the local flow instead, poco a poco.

Si, voy a tener bastante tiempo. I've been a bicycle afficionado for many years, so i hope to settle in a region that provides the opportunity to keep pedaling. And i do look forward to pursuing a modest lifestyle, which includes focusing on local instead of imported items and amenities. I plan to live in CR without owning a car.

Part of my homework will be to determine which regions of CR i tentatively favour for prospective residency and visit them on an extended reconnaissance mission, probably this fall. Talking to locals, Ticos and Expats, will assist me in determining how to proceed.

As someone who has lived in Costa Rica and is currently moving back, permanently, I offer the following tips:

1) LIVE there for at least a month or two before deciding to move there or buy property there. Live in an area you like which means you may have to live in each area for a month or two before deciding unless you just happen to love the first place you live.

2) Learn Spanish. in the beginning it's okay if you just know the basics but if you do decide to live there your experience will be a lot better if you learn more and more Spanish as the time goes by.

3) Expect to be frustrated by the way things are done (shopping, banks, utilities, permissions, government regulations...) and commit to accepting it instead of getting angry and frustrated over it. Learn to take books, mp3 player, magazines, food etc because you WILL be waiting considerable time for many things that here in the USA are much quicker. The "Latino modus operandi" of not being on time, not keeping appointments, not being reliable in general is fully present in Costa Rica as it is in many other Latino countries so get used to it and accept it. (I'll be the first to admit this is probably the most frustrating thing about Costa Rica life.)

4) Make Tico friends, enjoy Tico culture and life, give back to and participate in the community you live in. Help out if you can - if you have no $ to give, give your time or organize charity events so others who can afford to give, can give.

5) Enjoy the beaches, forests, animals, birds, and beauty all around you. If you aren't a nature person or outdoors person then maybe Costa Rica isn't for you because I think the outdoors is really what makes Costa Rica so attractive. If you find other things more attractive, then great, but you have to enjoy the things a country has to offer before deciding to live there imho.

A man's perspective:

1.  The first couple months are not the time to save dollars.  Bite the bullet on a rental car for a couple months and use Waze on  your smartphone to find your way around.  Waze is remarkably easy once you start using it.  Use the car to drive around the towns and areas you think you might want to live in.  When you narrow the towns/areas down to three or four, spend the money to stay a week in each and determine if all is what you thought it would be.  Drive somewhere during morning and evening rush hours even if you don't plan on working.  you will have to go somewhere at least once during those times so you will know what your facing.

2.  Most of the potential good deals are not necessarily in the web/newspapers/ or realtors.   one needs to drive around and look for signs and stop and ask.   Don't speak spanish yet?   its going to be hard, but you have app tools you can use to communicate.   Better yet, start taking spanish classes/ tutors/books NOW and be ready to not understand anything said when you first get to Costa Rica.   The dialect is softer, and more fluid than Mexican spanish.  or anything you'll hear in the usa.  but one simply has to ask people to repeat it word, by word, SLOWLY.   as many times as necessary.  but very politely and very graciously.  This isn't Italy or NYC. Finally,  all the landlords want a years lease.   AND a pricey deposit in case you move out.   so either spend the cash on hotels in the area you like, or be prepared to walk away from your deposit if you decide you chose wrong.

3. Efficient preparation is a vague / confusing topic.  I brought all kinds of crap I didn't need.  Living in the central valley, ?  Long pants are the norm among locals.  Jeans are hot in the day time.  So buy some light cotton casual pants.  Living at the beach ?  bring shorts and multiple swimsuits.  life is CASUAL here.  so be casual!!  Buy any booze you plan on drinking here at the duty free shop here in CR at the airport just before you go outside.   buy all you want.   you will pay double for it here in CR.

4.   Know what you are looking for when moving here.   Do you really want USA but like the weather?   move to Escazu.   and be prepared to pay more than you would in America.  Want to live like a Tico?  you will live for about 3/4s the cost of USA.   Costa Rica is now (2014/15) expensive.   Need something less expensive?   Look at Nicaragua or Panama, or Ecuador.  or other South American countries.   

5.  expect all your decisions to be wrong.   relax and go with the flow.  no one, especially Ticos like obnoxious Americans.  This is Costa Rica.  Relax..   get some sun.  Have a drink.  smoke a joint   take a long walk.   its the rest of your life.   why rush?

Great post, sporto!
I just wanted to mention one thing and that is that I have never found it to be true that landlords want year leases.
I have lived in San Jose', in San Ramon, in Matapalo, and in Montezuma and never have I even been asked for a 6 month lease - no lease at all. Maybe I've just been lucky in that regard.

I will say that only one of these 5 places were found via the newspaper or online. Most were found by asking around in the place I was and someone saying, "Oh yeah, go talk to the guy who runs the hotel" or "Yeah, go talk to the guy that lives up on the hill on that road out of town, you'll see a cabin and house on the left. Go talk to him..."

I just rented a place from a friend of a friend for 2 weeks (a complete 2br home) and a Tico friend is hooking me up for a 2 month rental in June/July.

So while I don't doubt your experience re landlords requiring leases of 1 year, is true for you, I just wanted to add that it's not always true and hasn't been true for me.

Otherwise your post is spot on.

I agree that most Costa Rican landlords don't expect you to sign a lease.
They don't as you can, tell by how many small businesses are open today...and gone tomorrow.
We also have purchased used vehicles here, with no problem, imported a couple and it really wasn't 'difficult'.

kohlerias wrote:

I agree that most Costa Rican landlords don't expect you to sign a lease.
They don't as you can, tell by how many small businesses are open today...and gone tomorrow.
We also have purchased used vehicles here, with no problem, imported a couple and it really wasn't 'difficult'.

Thanks for giving us some hope re buying a used vehicle!
Could you share any tips on how to do it successfully?
Did you buy private party or from a lot?
Did you find your used cars in a particular paper or web site?
Any tips on how you successfully bought a used car would be much appreciated!

We saw a few vehicles at the side of the road, and checked out the one that caught our eye. Worked for us twice.

We used this site and this site for the most part while searching for a vehicle.  Our biggest stumbling block was our limited Spanish.  We were lucky enough to find a company vehicle that was bought new and was being upgraded for the employee. It took us two months but we were not in a hurry.

kohlerias wrote:

We saw a few vehicles at the side of the road, and checked out the one that caught our eye. Worked for us twice.

What area? and were they owned by Ticos or Gringos?

TerrynViv wrote:

We used this site and this site for the most part while searching for a vehicle.  Our biggest stumbling block was our limited Spanish.  We were lucky enough to find a company vehicle that was bought new and was being upgraded for the employee. It took us two months but we were not in a hurry.

Thanks! Unfortunately I will probably be in a little more of a hurry ... due to circumstances beyond my control... but maybe we'll get lucky.

There are certain things that are way more expensive here than in the states.  Plastic stuff and BBQs and metal stuff in general.  I would advise bringing those things with you.  Also, if you like nice comfortable fabric sofas/chairs, you don't find them here, so you might want to bring those along with you also.  I know when I moved here, I bought all new kitchen appliances and brought them with me.  For what I would have had to pay for the oven alone here, I got all 5 of the things I wanted for the kitchen back in the states.  Imported stuff just costs more.  I live near a small village in the middle of the jungle and I love it.  I knew I would when I bought.  I didn't do extended stays and I know a lot of people move after a year being here because it's not what they thought it would be.  I knew what  I was looking for and found it.  Just a few neighbors, who happen to speak English - most Canadans, but one Tico family.  My Spanish is improving, but far from fluent. If you want to fit in, you need to try to be a part of your surroundings.   Get you resident visa.  Set down roots.  Meet the locals and respect them.  Yes, in my area, it is poor and I have a very large house.  But, aside from my luxury house, I live like the locals.  I shop where they shop and I probably spend less as I try to use local produce rather than the imported fruits and veggies.  About once every 4 months I get a ride into San Jose and load up on the better stuff- like from PriceSmart and AutoMercado and WalMart. These things no one else sees.  I don't flaunt what I have and I no longer wear my jewelry - because I know they only have costume jewelry and again, I just don't want to offend anyone or give them reason to resent me.

hola amigo.  If heat and humidity do not bother you, check out the southern part of the country.  Verdant and lots of animals.  if you prefer dry heat, go to guanacaste.  Playa Tamarindo and Hermosa are both cool.  The first is busy and the latter is tranquil.  If you like cooler heat stay in the central valley.  unless you enjoy auto gridlock for several hours in the morning and late afternoon, stay out of San Jose metro area.  look at  smaller towns at least 20-40 minutes from centro San Jose.

First of all choose any country other than Costa Rica.  They have a very good and fair set of laws.   So did the south during jim crow, and guess who the N Word is in costa rica.  That goes for everything from your neighbors to the Pólice.  ( they have a neat Little trick of not enforcing the law if you are a gringo and in the right.  After 4 years in Costa Rica, I moved to another central American country and could not be happier.  I have been welcomed into the community and treated with respect and equality, words they dont know in costa rica.  Costa Rica has only one thing going for it, that is a good public relations department to get you to move or vacation there.  The only thing they want is your money..  You can easily find the same scenery and facilities in almost every latin american country, and for half the Price.                                 just sign me really glad i am no longer there.

tirtles1 wrote:

First of all choose any country other than Costa Rica.  They have a very good and fair set of laws.   So did the south during jim crow, and guess who the N Word is in costa rica.  That goes for everything from your neighbors to the Pólice.  ( they have a neat Little trick of not enforcing the law if you are a gringo and in the right.  After 4 years in Costa Rica, I moved to another central American country and could not be happier.  I have been welcomed into the community and treated with respect and equality, words they dont know in costa rica.  Costa Rica has only one thing going for it, that is a good public relations department to get you to move or vacation there.  The only thing they want is your money..  You can easily find the same scenery and facilities in almost every latin american country, and for half the Price.                                 just sign me really glad i am no longer there.

You have a right to your opinion, although it doesn't really answer the question in the original post. All it says is you are glad you left because they didn't treat you with respect and equality.

Your opinion might be taken more seriously if you were to explain at least some of the situations that occurred to make you want to leave Costa Rica.

No kidding ...... for all the reasons Turdles1 submitted we are that happy to be here.  I wish people would just offer information and not opinions as it is so hard for a new person to digest.  Turds experience is not everyone's experience and we wish him / her well wherever they end up.
We are loving  it here in Costa Rica and will keep the reasons to ourselves as EVERYONE must decide for themselves.

Hi everybody,

Please note that the subject of this topic is : Top 5 tips to live in Costa Rica.
Can we please only share our top 5 tips on this thread and avoid other comments please? It would be best if we can avoid being off topic.

Thanks all

Priscilla 

tip number 1 takes suitcses full of money because you will nee that and more before they are done robbing you.
tip number 2 forget about any protection from the law as there is none.  I have a court judgement against a gal that intentionally rear ended me because she was fighting with her boyfriend until her husband showed up at the scene-
tip numb er 3 you will be paying 13 % sales tax in addition to incredibly high import duties almost doub.ing the cost of a car.
tip  number 4 you will be driving on the worst roads in the world.  every country has potholes in their roads.  Costa rica has a Little road in their potholes. 
tip number 5 there are no noise laws so get ujsed to jake brakes, motorcycles without  muflers in spite of the lawx requiring them
tip number 6 get used to government monopolies of insurance (just try to get paid) sne if you want a pone be prepaired to wait 5 years if there is even a wire in your área.
now the only response I have for terry and viv who decided to be juveniles and bastardise my username, take a look at the business they are in; you are the sucker they are going to make their income off off by charging US prices and paying their help tico wages.   do not say where I moved to because I do not want more gringos ruining the place.  There is quite an expat community here and every one says they lived in Costa Rica first.  the nicest thing I have Heard is from a friend who would not say shit with a mouth full, and he discribes Costa Rica as"not user friendly.
now go ahead and start sending your hate mail and derogatory statements.  I have said the truth about my experience in that god forsaken country and will not be back to read your responses.  Go ahead, pack your bags and by all means move to Costa Rica, we will see how long the majority of you last

I am hesitant to post anything here anymore, as the regular small group of posters "who have taken control of these forums", would have some sort of complaint about my truthful comments or suggestions, as my post would not doubt violate the life of denial that they are living in Costa Rica. 
So....(so as to not offend anyone).... I will simply say;  "Everyone have a wonderful day"