Thinking of Retiring in Costa Rica?
Bret Dudl Costa Rica As A Retiring Destination By Mitch Bowler
Costa Rica is a Spanish word which means “Rich Coast”. It is officially called the Republic of Costa Rica. The cost of travel is more expensive than any other countries in Central America but cheaper than United States and Europe. To enjoy your stay in here you have to learn their language which is Costa Rican Spanish. The cost of living in is not that expensive the average estimation is US$ 1,500 monthly if you prefer to live in a simple life style. Costa Rica is a tropical country. It has two major seasons dry and rainy. Rainy season starts from the month of May to December while dry season starts from January to May.
If you want to become a permanent resident retiree in Costa Rica you must have at least US$ 1,000 to US$ 2,000 monthly income however, if you plan to put up a business or invest here you must show a proof that you have US$ 200,000 minimum worth of investment.
Like Brazilians, Costa Ricans are also very friendly and hospitable. It counts as one of the most stable countries in Central America because they have high a standard of education and life style. While the pace of life is slower here, for anyone that is sick of being stuck on the freeway in traffic, you are going to love Costa Rica as there is almost no highway traffic here which means you can visit beautiful places such as beaches, volcanoes, rainforest and hills in just a short time.
For retirees who want to buy a house, you can save a lot of money because you can buy a house in Costa Rica for approximately 70% lower than what houses cost in the United States. Another great money saving benefit of living here is that as of the time of this writing social security here has definitely no tax.
The staple of Costa Rican food is quite simple and consists of rice and beans, but as the country grows in popularity with tourists many different worldly restaurants are springing up everywhere. If you are a fan of spicy food then you will likely want to spend your time on the Caribbean side of the country where there is more of a Jamaican influence. When it comes to drink the most famous drink in Costa Rica is the Horchata, it is a cornmeal drink with a cinnamon flavor.
Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America since the rate of crime is very low and as mentioned earlier the people are friendly and honest, however like any city or country in the world you need to keep your wits about you wherever you are and be aware of your surroundings.