I want to relocate to Costa Rica and I need direction?

Question

I am thinking of moving to Costa Rica from Phoenix and I really don't know where to begin or where to go. I would greatly appreciate any help....

Answer 1

I agree... Costa Rica is not the best option to relocate. Its the most expensive country in Central America, and it has the least effective services around (taking into account that the government owns the telephone, cellular, electricity and water companies). Another bad thing is insurance. In Costa Rica you are not allowed to have private insurance.. only public insurance... so that is not good for a country.
You should try Guatemala. Its the largest economy in Central America and has wonderful places.

Answer 2

Crap...someone beat me to the "south east" answer.

WHY costa rica? Costa rica is beatiful and great for americans, but it's also quite expensive compared to it's neighboring countries.

You may want to consider Nicaragua (although you may not want to be there with Ortega in power), Honduras, Guatemala, or Panama. Chetumal in Mexico is also cheap, yet very up and coming. Costa Rica doen't have the same latin flavor that many other latin countries have. They go to bed early, get up early, and have pretty mild hollidays. Very low crime rate, stable government, etc though.

1. Start looking into what you have to do to relocate there. Contact their consulate or embassy for help. Costa Rica probably has a wealth of information.

2. I'd go there on vacation for AT LEAST a month. CR is a very dynamic country. It changes drastically from one corner to the next. The pacific has better waves, surfing, etc. The atlantic has warmer water and a more laid back lifestyle. The central has more commerce.

3. While there, start talking to real estate agents (assuming that you want to buy). Don't buy with the first one you talk to. Get referals from other americans who are living there.

4. Go to Barnes and Noble and Browse. There are entire sections dedicated to this topic.

5. Start learning Spanish. The ticans aren't excessivly bi-lengual. What you learn here, will make your experiences there much richer. Start with a $20 software package from Costco and do it every day.

That's my $.02. Good luck and enjoy!

Answer 3

I spent six months in Costa Rica.
#1 property is not cheap in Costa Rica unless you are from the northeast or California
#2http://directory.costaricainternational.com/
http://www.infocostarica.com/cgi-bin/forum//Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true here are some forums to research
#3 Panama has the best enhancments for expats in Central America

Answer 4

Lots of a Americans live there and there are numerous websites that can help.Do a search on yahoo for living in Costa Rica,you'll find help.

Answer 5

Get a plane ticket but make sure that you have a place to go when you get there. Check out the real estate online. I hear that it is really cheap and you can get great deals for property down there.

Answer 6

You are wanting to move to a place you know nothing about and you want total strangers to act as your resource guide on a website where people often give the craziest answer they can imagine? Please do not begin here. First phrase that come to mind when I hear Costa Rica---- Drug Smuggling!!

Answer 7

Dont' worry about drug smuggling. If you don't buy any your safe. As far as a transit point, avoid the SE, there are plenty of DEA agents down there and they coordinate with global operations as it is/was a transit point. But, if you don't buy any, you'll be fine.

Answer 8

I'd recommend it, but go on vacation there first. maybe not vacation, but an Eco-tourism type of thing, so that you get the having to work experience while you're there. then judge it. but i would go to the Caribbean side if i were to move there.

Answer 9

Go south east.