A few months ago I led a group of prospective residents on a tour around Costa Rica. After a week of traveling and attending a series of informative seminars, the majority had decided they would like to live here for at least part of the year. Costa Rica has more Americans proportionately than any other country outside the United States. Why do so many people want to live here?

The most obvious reason is the climate. People are tired of freezing winters, scorching summers and the high utility bills that go with them. In Costa Rica they can enjoy one of the best year-round climates in the world (72Fdeg. average in the Central Valley.) We have only two seasons here - dry and rainy, both with an abundance of sunshine. We rarely need air conditioning and never need heat. Costa Rica has more winter sunshine than Hawaii or Florida and fewer people.

Costa Rica is called by many “the Switzerland of the Americas” due to its neutral political status and spectacular mountains. From the huge, curling waves of the Pacific coast, to the sight of molten rock tumbling down the sides of a volcano, Costa Rica’s natural beauty has something for everyone. This unique little country offers a real paradise for the nature lover, the fishing enthusiast and water sports fanatic as well as the retiree.

Many come here for the lifestyle. Costa Rica fits the bill for anyone sick of the hustle and bustle, seeking a more laid-back way of life. One of the tour participants remarked, "Costa Rica reminds me of the U.S. about 40 years ago when everything was unspoiled, unhurried and not crowded." It will also appeal to people of all ages seeking to move to a new and exotic land outside of the States and Canada and the energetic entrepreneur, the burned-out baby boomer, those sick of long rush-hour commutes and anyone seeking an alternative way of life.

This beautiful country is so appealing because it has the warmth and flavor of Mexico, without anti-Americanism and fear of government expropriations; the physical beauty of Guatemala without a large military presence; and the sophistication of Brazil without the abject poverty or endemic violent crime.

But Isn't It Expensive?

Although much has been written about the high cost of living here, what you spend depends on your lifestyle. If you must have a luxurious home, drive a late model car and buy imported goods, you will spend as much or more than you would in the States. But if you live more like the locals and watch your spending, you will spend considerably less.
Many Americans living below the poverty line in the United States can live in moderate luxury on a modest retirement or investment income in Costa Rica.
The favorable exchange rate and low rate of inflation let you stretch your dollars here. The cost of food, utilities and entertainment are all substantially lower than in the United States.
Costa Rica’s affordable medical care is among the best anywhere. The quality of health care is comparable to North America but the prices are one half or less! Considered by many to be the healthiest country south of Canada, Costa Rica has a higher life-expectancy rate—rumoured to be the third longest in the world (76.3 for men)—than the United States (76).
Housing is a fraction of what you are accustomed to paying. An American friend just purchased a new three-bedroom home in a gated community in the suburb of Heredia, about five miles from downtown San José, for $155,000. It has a cathedral ceiling, sits on a 350 square meter lot and is very comfortable for three people and a dog.
Besides his home my friend has a car and a full-time maid. Household help makes life easier. (You can hire a full-time maid for as little as $200 per month or $1 per hour.) My friend’s son goes to one of the best private schools in the country. He eats out a few times a week and enjoys various types of entertainment. He also spends a week at the beach during Easter and goes to the United States every Christmas. His monthly expenses are about $2700.
The country’s inexpensive medical care, affordable housing, excellent transportation and communication networks, every imaginable activity to stay busy and happy, a government which goes to great lengths to make retirement and living as easy as possible, contribute to Costa Rica’s appeal and make it tops on the list of retirement and expatriate havens.
According to a survey of potential foreign retirement areas in the Robb Report, Costa Rica surpasses all countries including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Portugal, Australia, the Caribbean Islands and Greece.

What Sets Costa Rica Apart from Its Neighbors?

Countries such as Nicaragua, Belize, Honduras and Guatemala have lower living costs, but I believe you get what you pay for. The quality of life and lack of infrastructure in those countries leave a lot to be desired. Safety is a concern, especially where paramilitary police have power or where police are corrupt, as in Mexico.
Costa Rica is politically stable and is unique in having no army. Although theft occurs, violent crime is minimal.

A Place to Invest

Costa Rica has a myriad of business opportunities awaiting creative, hard-working individuals. You can run a global business from here by using Internet access, fax machines and cell phones. It is also relatively easy to start a small business on a shoestring. Furthermore, tax incentives and a government that encourages investments and affords investors the same rights as citizens contribute to a propitious business climate. Many countries do not permit non-citizens to own property or place restrictions on foreign-owned real estate, but this is not the case in Costa Rica. Anyone may buy real estate with all the legal rights of citizens. Actually, an investment in Costa Rica today is much better than an investment in California real estate was 30 years ago.

What gets people excited about Costa Rica , however, is that it offers some of the most undervalued prime real estate in the world. In fact, a recent report on CNBC news said that the country has one of the five best emerging real estate markets in the world. There’s only so much beautiful beachfront and prime real estate left in the world. When you think that almost every bit of the coastline in the US is becoming overcrowded and overpriced, Costa Rica seems like a bargain. Passive investors will find CD's, second mortgages or other investments that generate good interest rates.

With the new millennium upon us, a shrinking world due to better communication, a burgeoning global economy—possibilities are unlimited for doing business in Central and South America. Trade pacts between Costa Rica, U.S., Mexico, and South America are a reality. They promise to link all of the nations in the hemisphere into one powerful trading block.
Costa Rica’s current prosperity is being fueled by the emigration of affluent baby boomers from around the world seeking their own piece of paradise and the same engine that fueled the growth in California for the last 30 years, technology. When Intel decided they needed more capacity, they looked all over the western hemisphere and chose Costa Rica for the very same reasons you will.

Word is getting out about Costa Rica. And that’s why now is such a good time to invest.

The Adventure of Starting Over

Some move here to start over and seek adventure in an exotic land. They are tired of dead-end jobs or the rat race and want new challenges, a chance to pursue their dreams and achieve greater personal growth. As an expatriate, you have the challenge of immersing yourself in a new culture and, if you choose, the rewards of learning a foreign language.
Newcomers can make friends easily because foreigners gravitate towards one another.

Adjusting and Keeping Busy

Adjustment to a new way of life can take many months. However, an open mind, a positive attitude and a willingness to seek out new experiences can make the transition relatively painless.
Costa Rica has come a long way in the last decade. Satellite and Direct TV, private mail service and the Internet make it easier to stay in touch with family and friends in the United States and keep up with what is going on all over the world. If you don't own a computer, you can go to an Internet café.
A friend of ours, a 20-year resident of Costa Rica, said, " My days are so filled with exciting activities and interesting experiences that each day seems like a whole lifetime. I really feel that I have discovered the fountain of youth."
You will never be bored here unless you choose to be. Costa Rica has “something for everyone and everything for someone.” In the Tico Times, the weekly English-language newspaper, you can find hundreds of interesting activities: movies in English, support groups, computer and bridge clubs. You name it, and Costa Rica has it.
Living in Costa Rica can open the door to a new and exciting life. Who knows? You may never want to return home.

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