Getting ready to retirement and looking for a paradisiac place to live? Then Costa Rica might be the perfect place to invest in buying a house to spend your well-deserved retirement.
Is Costa Rica a Good Country to Retire In?
Costa Rica has natural wonders, intriguing wildlife and an affordable cost of living.
Costa Rica’s remote beaches and dense jungles are both beautiful and exotic. You can hike a volcano, visit a cloud forest, relax in thermal waters and snorkel through new worlds beneath the sea. Costa Rica’s cost of living can feel very affordable to retirees relocating from the U.S. This country has been a popular place to retire overseas for over 40 years.
Costa Rica’s attracting more than just tourists to its sparkling shores — a new survey recently released by International Living ranked this Central American country tops when it comes to places to retire.
Indeed, many snowbirds are now flying a bit further afield and making their permanent post-career home in Costa Rica. But what really makes it such a special place? As in most good things, there’s not a single answer … but many considerations. And many of them go well beyond the beaches and ocean waves.
In this article we will cover some of the many reasons why you should consider Costa Rica as your retirement destination as well as a few other aspects and numbers on the country.
The Healthcare System – Retire in Costa Rica
Something that’s certainly top of mind for any retiree is access to good healthcare, and that’s what you’ll find in Costa Rica. Our country offers Universal Healthcare to citizens and permanent residents.
La Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social offers free emergency care, preventative services, and medical procedures for a small monthly fee, much lower than in the United States.
In addition to the CCSS, any retiree can choose from a variety of private healthcare system, which as any service provider will be the faster option to receive your attention.
Outside the US but not that much – Retire in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is located in Central America witch means is not so far from any US destination.
The country offers two main airports, one located in the Central Valley (SJO Juan Santamaría Aiport) and the other one located in Guanacaste (LIR Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport). Both options will let you travel from/to all of the major cities in the United States in a breeze.
With very affordable fares, you can easily make it home, and loved ones can come to visit you for some sun, sand, and fun.
Feel Like Home – Retire in Costa Rica
American fast-food chains, American sports bars, movie theaters that show movies in English, modern malls, U.S. products in grocery stores, and even Walmart make living in Costa Rica feel oddly familiar.
Most of the zones where US citizens tends to reside have all the commodities that you might expect in any US city.
Places like Santa Ana, Escazu, Tamarindo, Dominical, Nosara, Jaco, and many others are areas where you will feel the mix of cultures from people all over the world that chose Costa Rica as their home. You will feel this mix in aspects as the food, services, languages spoken, and many other.
You Will Always Have Something to Do – Retire in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is filled with activities to do all year round. Despite being a small paradise, our location offers residents and citizens a vast selection of options to entertain you and your family and friends.
One of the country´s main source of income comes from tourism, reason why you will find attractions in almost any part of the country.
For example, in the west side you will encounter almost 630 miles of the world’s best beaches; meanwhile in the east you will be able to enjoy all of the Caribbean Culture and its fascinating people and food.
The Seasons – Climate
Costa Rica’s reputation as a tropical paradise precedes it and with sun, sea, and surf, its notoriety is well deserved. Though just the size of West Virginia, this country boasts a wide range of different climates, so there really is something for everyone.
To change your weather in Costa Rica you must change your elevation, which in turn will change the amount of rain fall.
Go to the highland town of Monteverde for example and you’ll be surrounded by a cool mist and fog at least part of the day for most of the year. The Pacific coast around Guanacaste, on the other hand is hot and dry, perfect for the many world-class beaches.
Costa Rica itself has an average temperature of 70 F to 81 F. Due to its proximity to the equator, it has no real summer or winter.
It does however have a rainy season from May to November. Average rainfall in Costa Rica is around 100 inches a year, but some areas in Costa Rica’s mountains can get 25 feet of rainfall annually. And it can rain quite heavily in rainforest areas as well.
Do you Fancy a Gallo Pinto? – Retire in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country where anything and everything grows.
You can walk down the busiest streets in San José and pick pitaya and wild tomatoes right from the sidewalk.
Beyond the cattle ranches and coffee plantations, small farmers grow vegetables like chayote, arracacha, and purple corn that are often sold through the country’s vast network of ferías, the weekly regional farmers markets held in every corner of the country.
There are minty drinks from mucilaginous, chia-like seeds of a plant called chan, and syrups made from the carob-like pods of a tree called carao.
There are addictive bar snacks made from beans and chicharrón, plus seafood from two coasts. Corn is ubiquitous, used to make tortillas, tamales, and cookies.
Setting aside traditional costa rican food you will find several restaurants that sells food from all over the world, meaning in terms of having your belly full… we got you covered!
Housing for Every Taste and Budget – Retire in Costa Rica
It’s possible to stretch your retirement dollars in Costa Rica and keep the cost of living lower than what you might pay in the United States by renting a smaller apartment or home in an inland location, away from the beach and Costa Rica’s population centers.
It’s equally possible to find upscale, luxe amenity-packed accommodations in San Jose, or right on the water. Do your research, figure out your budget, then scale up or down accordingly. Both situations are easily attained in Costa Rica.
Living The Pura Vida – Retire in Costa Rica
Yes, the oft-talked about general vibe of Costa Rica is something to consider as well.
People who live here call it pura vida — or pure life.
The Costa Ricans (or Ticos) understand the beauty of this incredible place and are grateful for it.
And it’s true — visit and you’ll see for yourself the laid-back, sunny dispositions most folks seem to have.
This is a place where you can relax, destress and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
There’s a reason why Costa Rica has been named one of the world’s happiest countries, and you can certainly feel that fact in the attitude and vibe here. It’s infectious!
If you are ready to take the next step you can visit our Properties for Sale and find that perfect place in our paradisiac country
Tony
on said
keep up the great job
gobetsoft
on said
Fantastic advice as always! Your blog is my go-to for all things real estate.
Daviddreni
on said
Your tips on navigating the home buying process have been invaluable. Thank you!
Mary B. Barker
on said
Wow, retiring in Costa Rica sounds like an absolute dream! Sun, sand, and relaxation – what more could you ask for?