Nature lovers would love the chance to retire in Costa Rica. It’s national parks and wildlife protected areas cover more than 23% of its total land area. This is practically the largest percentage compared to other nations. Anyone who prefers to retire in a place that has a combination of modern development and natural beauty will love to live in this beautiful country.
About The Republic of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the only democratic country in Latin America. It ranks as one of the top countries with the highest Human Development Index. The Pacific Ocean lies on the western side of this country while the Caribbean Sea is to its east. Nicaragua and Panama are among its direct neighbors.
The landscape of the country is lined with beaches along the ocean and sea coasts. This makes for over 1,290 kilometers of coastline – most of which is facing the Pacific Ocean. Since it is near the equator, Costa Rica is considered to be a tropical country. That means the locals only have two seasons: dry and wet. The dry is associated with the summer season while the wet is likened to the winter season that is relatively full of rainfall.
Apart from the beaches, there are several active volcanoes throughout the country – some of which can be safely visited. Islands are a part of the country’s territory – Cocos Island and Calero Island.
Costa Rica is a country rich with coffee plantations and banana as well. These two are among the top export products that generate income for them.
What is remarkable about this country is its flora and fauna – which lives up to its reputation as one of the best destinations of nature lovers. In fact, 25% of the country’s territory is protected by the National System of Conservation Areas or SINAC. They have the highest density when it comes to species. It contains 5% of the biodiversity in the world.
The government of Costa Rica is bent on becoming the very first country to be become carbon neutral by 2021. The lush forests and greenery is a result of their efforts to solve their deforestation problem in 2005.
The Costa Rican Lifestyle
The locals of Costa Rica are known to be among the happiest nation in the world. This is something that they topped in 2009 and again in 2012. It probably has something to do with living in a country that has so much natural beauty and green life. In fact, that is another accolade of the country, being the greenest in the world.
With quite diverse culture, hot climate and breathtaking landscapes, retiring in Costa Rica is a dream. The rainforests, volcanoes, beautiful beaches and high mountains make up the perfect ecotourism that the country is well known for.
People literally come here to experience nature. The tourism board notes that all foreigner who come to this place do something that is related to ecotourism. That can be exploring rainforests, reserves, trekking, bird watching and visits to the rural areas.
The language that is spoken in this country is mostly Spanish but destinations frequented by foreigners can speak English quite well.
The food in this country is wholesome at best with a hint of spiciness from its Mexican roots – nothing that is not blended well when they are cooked in large pots. The locals are hefty eaters of rice, beans and meat. Fresh fruits also come in abundance and low prices too.
Cost of Living
The Costa Rican way of life can be both expensive and cheap. That really depends on how you want to live your retirement. If you want to live like a tourist, you will find that it can be quite expensive. However, living like one of the locals will help you search for better deals for your day to day spending.
Based on the Numbeo website, here are the common prices for basic expenses in Costa Rica.
Food: Inexpensive restaurant ($6.5/meal), Fastfood ($7/meal), Beer ($2/0.5 liter), Soda ($1.54/0.33 liter), Water ($1.5/0.33 liter), Milk ($1.38/liter), Rice ($2/kg), Bread ($1.5/loaf), Chicken ($9.67/kg), Fruits (ave $3/kg), Egg ($2.55/dozen), Vegetables (ave $1.5/kg), Wine ($11.91/mid range)
Transportation: Local transport ($0.79/one-way, $27.50/monthly pass), Taxi ($1.1/start, $1/km), Gasoline ($1.4/liter)
Home: Utilities ($50.50), Internet ($59.55/Unlimited Data, 6Mbps), Rent City Centre ($500/mo/1bd, $900/mo/3bd), Rent Outside of Centre ($401.44/mo/1bd, $802.09/mo/3bd)
Sports and Leisure: Fitness Club ($37.20/month), Cinema ($5/seat)
Clothing: Jeans (ave $59.55/pair), Dress (ave $40/pc), Shoes (ave $70/leather, $100/rubber shoes)
Your lifestyle will dictate the cost of living in Costa Rica. But in general, it is very modest and affordable to live in this country.