QBLOGS — Yes! I know many foreigners who are doing it. The most important factor in living on a low budget is knowing how to do it.
1. Housing. Apartments can be found for around $500 or a little more. Larry from South Carolina lives in a charming one-bedroom apartment in San José’s historic Barrio Amon. Everything he needs is close by: supermarkets, outdoor and indoor farmers markets, a variety of affordable stores with a variety of products in walking distance of Larry’s apartment.
Some ex-pats share a house or large apartment to further reduce costs while others do house sitting.
– Advertisement –
2. Medical care. Any person on a limited budget such as with Social Security or other lifetime pensions of at least US$1,000 dollars per month, can qualify for becoming a legal resident and can join the public health care system known as, La Caja. Under this low-cost system everything is covered including pre-existing conditions.
3. There are NO heating or air conditioning bills in Central Valley because of year-round spring-like weather.
4. No automobile is needed. The country has an affordable public bus system that goes almost anywhere. I live in the city of Heredia about 10 miles from San José. A bus ride to San José or other areas in the metropolitan area usually costs around one dollar or less. A long-distance trip to any place in Costa Rica is no more than US$10. Rates are kept very low so that everyone who does not own a car can get to work cheaply.
Taxis and Uber are also much less than in the United States or Canada. If one does buy a car, bear in mind that automobiles and gasoline are imported. So, are taxed heavily and are much more expensive than what you would pay in your home country.
5. Stay away from imported food products. Foods that are imported are expensive because of import duties. However, most local versions of similar products are much more affordable.
6. Bargain food. On weekends every city or good-sized town has a year-round outdoor farmers market where affordable fruit, vegetables, and other items can be found at rock-bottom prices. Costa Ricans and expats flock there to get the lowest possible prices and stock up for the week. On my relocation tours, we tour a huge outdoor market with about 100 stalls. My guests are amazed by the variety of fresh products and the savings.
– Advertisement –
7. Avoid malls and pricey restaurants. The price of both is about as high or more expensive than back home. American fast-food chains in Costa Rica charge the same prices here as up north. To save money many ex-pats often eat breakfast or lunch at one of the many central markets where there are small eateries called sodas. Once you live in Costa Rica you will know where to find affordable food.
8. Affordable clothing can be found here. Every city or town has stores called Ropa Americana where many locals and ex-pats, who are on a tight budget, can find bins full of second-hand clothing from the United States. Believe it or not! A friend of mine bought a used two-piece suit for a wedding that cost under ten dollars. A woman lawyer I know purchased a designer purse from the U.S. for five dollars. She also buys her children’s clothes at factory outlet stores found here.
9. Avoid costly and wasteful habits like casinos (the house always wins) or hanging out it bars.
10. The Internet is free in most public spaces like city parks, so you do not have to pay for it.
– Advertisement –
11. Streaming TV programs for under US$10 per month is available. So, ex-pats can see all of their favorite programs and movies from home including sporting events like the NFL or NBA.
12. Affordable live entertainment is “free” in some cases or inexpensive. Concerts and soccer games cost less than in the U.S.
13. Numbeo is the world’s largest cost of living database. It collects crowd-sourced data that accumulates insights into various aspects of life in different cities and countries around the world. Examples in Costa Rica:
- “A single person’s estimated monthly costs are ₡436,978.00 or around US$800 dollars without rent (see above).”
- “The cost of living in Costa Rica is, on average, 26.4% lower than in the United States.”
- “Rent in Costa Rica is, on average, 63.0% lower than in the United States.”
See more here: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Costa+Rica
Christopher Howard Conducts monthly relocation tours with a seminar included.
For information visit: www.liveincostarica.com
– Advertisement –
Source link
Christopher Howard
