Many times when we publish articles where Costa Rica is listed as one of the top destinations to retire/live in these articles refer to the country as “affordable”, we get comments from our readers stating their strong disagreement with these affirmations always wondering how much it really cost to live in Costa Rica?

Well, the answer is far from simple; there are many things to consider, for instance:

Location: It is not the same to live in Cartago for example, than to live in Guanacaste, or Escazu (Cartago is certainly much cheaper), I believe it is safe to say that it works the same in every country, there are areas that are more expensive than others. You can live at the beach in Uvita for instance which is very different from living at the beach on the gold coast of Guanacaste.

Lifestyle: Yes, surprise, surprise your lifestyle defines how much you will spend living in Costa Rica and pretty much anywhere else in the world. There are people that prefer a simple life, choose natural, local food, cook and clean after themselves, don’t own a car and don’t require a huge living space. While others need the comfort of a large size home, enjoy or need technology, a/c, a home with a pool, eating out, having domestic house help, etc.

Do you live by yourself or with your significant other? Do you have children? What kind of education do you want them to have?

The International Living Magazine in its Annual Global Retirement Index 2018 stated that Costa Rica offered:

“Excellent bang for your buck”…” It’s possible for a retired couple to live very comfortably on $2,500 a month in Costa Rica. On this budget, they might eschew the “fancy” grocery store with imported goods in favor of the feria, where they can fill the fridge for the week for $30. Instead of hitting up the tourist restaurants that charge a premium, they might go to local sodas, restaurants serving up hearty Tico fare. But combine those cost-saving measures with the modest expenditures required on healthcare, rental homes, and utilities (no heating costs, and no cooling costs at least in Arenal and the Central Valley) and you can see how a good life can come at a modest price”.

Costa Rica is NOT cheap, but it is not terribly expensive either, for example, take a middle class family of four (2 adults 2 children) living in safe neighborhood in the Central Valley, with children attending private schools with domestic house help 3-5 days a week  can expect have expenses of around $2500-$4000 depending on their lifestyle, preferences and whether or not they pay mortgage or car lease etc.

With this example it is safe to say that for a couple to live COMFORTABLY (as the I.L. article states) on $2,500.00 a month or even less than this, is realistic, depending on the couple’s choices, this is not cheap, but if you are willing to make some sacrifices it can be done for less.

“$30.00 a week to fill the fridge (with goods from the farmers’ market)”, the farmers’ market is a perfect place to buy fruit and vegetables at a cheap price, even eggs and cheese; in my personal experience a family of 4 can spend $40-$50 at la feria on a week and indeed fill up the fridge, but of course you’ll have to get the rest of your products from the supermarket unless you are a vegetarian and don’t need , meat, bread, or cleaning supplies.

What is really expensive in Costa Rica? Cars, electronics, gasoline, clothes, these are probably some of the things that most of us consider extremely pricey in this country.

Real estate? Again, it depends, but yes, as the article suggests you can “buy an ocean-view property for under $200,000“ and this is what a comfortable, good size home in a safe area may run you. Property taxes are very reasonable, unless you are living in a luxury home in which case you do have to pay an additional luxury tax.

How much is the cost of living in your country?