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31 Jan 2025
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Expat Living

Come spend your golden years beneath the tropical rays of the Costa Rican sun! Whether you’re a long-time lover of this Central American country or are considering far-flung places for retirement for financial and lifestyle reasons, ‘Pura Vida’ is worth your attention. In fact, it’s among the top three international retirement destinations for American citizens.

With a slower pace of life, an abundance of natural beauty, a low-cost healthcare system, warm weather year-round, and tons of comfortable, even luxurious, real estate at Los Sueños Resort to choose from, retiring to the rainforest nation is a no-brainer.

Here’s our guide to retirement in Costa Rica that will make you feel like a real tico in no time.

Why Costa Rica is An Excellent Retirement Destination

Photo Credit: Brian Glowacki

The Pura Vida mentality of this laid-back nation in Central America appeals to travelers and long-term visitors looking to slow down and reconnect with nature. And with an American expat community of 120,000 strong, you certainly won’t be alone. Here’s a quick look at the many reasons Costa Rica is the ideal place to retire.

  • No frigid winters. Skip the shoveling and slippery sidewalks to live in the land of eternal sunshine. Each season offers something different in Costa Rica!
  • Active communities. All the excellent weather has residents spending more time outside in Costa Rica.
  • Easy Access. Need to visit family members back in the USA? No problem. You don’t even have to deal with challenging time zone changes. Just hop on a flight out of San Jose in the Central Valley.
  • Low cost of living. Spend less and get more from your money than in the US.
  • Many Bilingual residents. Retirees worry about the language barrier, but you’ll find that most Costa Ricans speak English as well as Spanish making communication a breeze.

This is only the tip of the wave. Read on for what to know and where to go to make your dream retirement happen!

Who Should Consider Retiring to Costa Rica

Obviously, retirement abroad isn’t for everyone. But if you have an average retirement income (often monthly income from social security), love the outdoors, are passionate about nature, are curious about other cultures, and are excited to embrace the warm tropical weather — Costa Rica could be your top choice for international living.

The pros of this retirement plan far outweigh any perceived cons.

Logistics of Retirement in Costa Rica

Now that you know WHY you want to uproot and move to the idyllic shores of the Pacific Coast, let us teach you how to relocate to Costa Rica. Because while traveling to Costa Rica is as easy as purchasing a plane ticket, moving here requires a little more pre-trip planning.

How to Obtain a Costa Rica Visa

Photo Credit: PixieMe

While travelers and short-term visitors (stays under 90 days) to Costa Rica don’t require a visa at all, permanent or long-term residents like retirees will require the Rentista Visa. Requirements for this visa are very straightforward, but as a lot of the paperwork and official government documents are in Spanish, you’ll probably want to hire a lawyer (or at least a fluent friend) to help.

All three options require a background check and payment of the $250 visa fee.

Option One: Pensionado Program

This route is made specifically for retirees. To qualify, you just need a monthly income of at least $1,000 from a pension or retirement fund that you can then transfer into a Costa Rican bank account to exchange into local currency.

Option Two: Rentista Visa

The Rentista Visa requires that you have a regular monthly income of $2,500 USD or $60,000 deposited at once in your Costa Rican bank account. This means you cannot be an employee but may still own or run your own business. Once you have obtained the visa, you can stay in the country for two years, which then offers you the option to renew.

This is an excellent option for those who don’t have enough fixed retirement income but have enough cash in their bank accounts.

Option Three: Inversionista Program

This option is mostly for investors looking to better the Costa Rican economy. To qualify, you must be willing to immediately invest at least $200,000 in an approved Costa Rican business or property.

Should I Split My Time or Become a Costa Rican Full-Time Resident?

Since one of the main allures of retiring in Costa Rica is the escape from winter, it should come as no surprise that the country is full of snowbirds. This means they flock to the sandy shores of the tropical nation only during the peak season (or November through April), choosing to split their time between their home country and here in Costa Rica. This is an excellent option for those not 100% sure they want to work toward becoming a permanent resident.

If you choose to go this route, depending on your length of stay, you can remain visa-free within Costa Rica and save yourself some bureaucratic hassle.

Buying Property in Costa Rica

Good news! Foreigners can easily buy and own property in Costa Rica on a tourist visa without worrying about applying for citizenship. This makes it the most difficult part of your move to choose between all the spacious beachfront homes on the market.

Here are some important things to know when buying property in Costa Rica.

  • Using a Real Estate Agent is Key. There is no database to search all the properties for yourself.
  • You should vacation in Costa Rica once before your move. This way, you can be sure that this is a good fit as a retirement destination for you.
  • All land within 50 meters of high tide is public property in Costa Rica. So, while you can be close enough to kiss the waves, you can’t actually own the beach.
  • Costa Rica requires a 10% downpayment when purchasing a property. Be sure you understand the buying procedure in Costa Rica before you commit.
  • Buying property helps streamline your path to residence status!

What is the Cost of Living in Costa Rica for Retirees

Photo Credit: Andrzej Rostek

Obviously, the cost of living anywhere varies largely by your interests and activity levels. But there’s no comparison between the cost of living in the United States and living near a beach in Costa Rica. Costa Rica will always be more affordable. That’s to say nothing about the serious upgrade in quality of life and lifestyle. Let’s start with the average numbers.

In 2022, the average cost of living (minus rent) was around $600 per person. This includes all necessities, groceries, and entertainment for the month. The same statistics for the United States listed about $2,000 as the average monthly overhead without rent. This varies wildly by person and what kind of lifestyle you lead.

The truth is, your life will most likely be exponentially cheaper than it is right now in the USA. That’s why so many people come to Costa Rica. To improve their day-to-day life without spending heaps of money.

What to Expect From Your Money in the Pure Life Lifestyle

Costa Rica is a blue zone. This means that people who reside in the country live far longer than their neighbors. This is likely due to the non-processed food diet, active lifestyle of beach walking, surfing, and abundance of outdoor activities.

Not only will you have access to tropical fruits you’ve never before seen at your local farmers market, but you’ll also have an abundance of densely forested national parks to explore.

Additionally, Costa Rica, like Panama and many other Central American nations, puts an emphasis on community, which means making new friends will be far easier, and you’ll find yourself integrated into the fabric of the neighborhood in no time.

Healthcare in Costa Rica

This is one of the biggest concerns for retirees moving abroad. But we are here to assure you that Costa Rica offers excellent services at a lower cost for both public and private healthcare.

As a Costa Rican resident, you can get private insurance for a lot less than the United States. A surgery that in the United States costs more than $100,000, has a cost in Costa Rica of less than $20,000 with the best doctors. Most of our doctors at private facilities have a master and PHD degrees from universities in Europe and the best schools in the United States.

Not only are the costs lower, the service is impeccable. Instead of waiting for months to see a doctor, with private healthcare, you’ll receive personalized service in beautiful clinics with VIP service.

Costa Rica also has a public healthcare system called Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social. In Costa Rica, the public and private systems work together so you can be referred from one to another seamlessly.

At the time of publication:

  • A doctor’s visit usually costs under $85.
  • A specialist is generally under $110.
  • Major surgeries are about half (or less) than you would pay in the United States.
  • In some emergencies, the CCSS can cover the cost of the care completely.

The Bottom Line When Considering Retirement in Costa Rica

If you’re a US Citizen with a retirement fund like an IRA or social security benefits looking for an affordable cost of living that includes quality medical care, health insurance, and an abundance of stunning natural landscapes— consider Costa Rica.

Here, you can explore the tropical rainforests and Costa Rica’s best beaches while living out your beach bum dreams. Thanks to living in the blue zone, you might just extend your lifespan by decades!

Is Retirement in Costa Rica Ethical?

A major modern-day hangup for expats looking to move abroad is the ethics of it all. Yes, while the influx of well-to-do immigrants does contribute to a rise in prices for the locals, it also contributes to the creation of new jobs and the expansion of the economy. Costa Rica is notoriously welcoming to retirees and expats, easily welcoming them into their communities.

Another way you can give back to your community is by volunteering your time to local organizations and charities while maintaining good relations within your community. And as always, be sure to be considerate of local customs and culture.

Important Resources For Retirees in Costa Rica

Here are a few more important articles to browse when planning your move to Costa Rica.

Get More From Your Retirement With Los Suenos!

Get ready to retire in style. With the help of a realtor from HRG Real Estate, you can score your dream home within Los Sueños Resort on Herradura Beach for high-quality amenities near Jaco in the stunning Puntarenas province. Or maybe you’re looking for a place in Tamarindo in the diverse Guanacaste province.

From Escazú to Quepos to Arenal, the Los Sueños and HRG Properties and Rentals team is ready to help you move to Costa Rica with ease and enjoy your retirement to the absolute fullest!