- Costa Rica Retirement

Discover how to make a dream your reality and retire in style by living and investing in the heavenly paradise of Costa Rica!

Retirement in Costa Rica is on the rise today. A lot of people are opting for Costa Rica as one of the best places to spend the twilight years of their life. Costa Rica is an enthralling country located in the isthmus of Central American between the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This country comprises of a number of small, beautiful islands. When this country was discovered by Christopher Columbus in the 1500s, he named the country “Costa Rica” which means “rich coast” in English. This is because this lovely country has a rich and vast coastline.

Costa Rica offers a very peaceful and calm life, as compared to the stressful and busy lives that we lead in major cities on a daily basis. The country and the people are extremely laid back and friendly. There are no major hassles of everyday life in Costa Rica. A tranquil and enchanting morning with long walks on the beach that flows into a lazy and restful afternoon with a quick lunch and good siesta which blends into an intoxicating and unwinding night is what Costa Rica has on offer for you.

Retirement in Costa Rica is a much preferred option because this country has a very enchanting and soothing atmosphere which can relieve any person of the stress of daily life. After spending years of life in running around to earn a living, taking in the stress and anxieties that come with the territory, it is but natural to anticipate a very relaxing retired life. Costa Rica just offers that and much more.

Costa Rica is a haven for weary professional who have had stressful careers. The enchanting and intoxicated rich landscape, the exotic wildlife and vegetation and the picturesque countryside have a dramatic effect on the people with demanding careers. Any person who visits Costa Rica returns with the dream of spending their retirement here.

Many Americans find this country as the best place to retire. There are many reasons for them to make this their preferred destination. Firstly, it takes less time to reach Costa Rica through air from the United States of America. Another reason is that, this place easily reminds them of home, especially because of its beautiful weather and amazing beaches which are a haven for surfers. The only thing they will miss is the stress and anxiety of the day that they experienced in the USA. But then, who will regret it?

Not only United States of America, but people from countries all over the world and now flying to this beautiful land to find themselves a piece of paradise. There are two aspects which people coming here will have to look into before making this place their home.

There are also certain legal aspects that you need to keep in mind while moving into Costa Rica. There are two types of legal status that is given to a foreigner who settles down here depending on their monthly income. One status given is the “pensionado” if the monthly income of the person is a minimum of $600. The status of “rentista” is given to people who can show a monthly income of $1000 each month for the last five years.

Costa Rica satisfies every need of a retired individual. This country is considered paradise on earth. It is worth spending your hard earned money to buy your nest in this blessed land to spend to most treasured years of life.

Are you starting to plan your retirement and worrying about how the state of the economy will affect your life style after you turn 65? Are you watching your friends make plans to cash in their paper assets, move to a smaller home, and cut down on spending? This is what many people are doing in the face of a recession in the United States right now. But you imagined having a little money to travel, visit Paris maybe, or go on a cruise. Is all of that just a fantasy now?

Well some people have discovered out how to make the dream a reality and retire in style by living and investing in the heavenly paradise of Costa Rica! It all begins with the real estate market. Those who know say the real estate market in Costa Rica is one of the most stable in the world, and prices are easily comparable to US property or lower. You could easily find a beautiful beach house for $300,000 overlooking the ocean. Or buy a piece of land near the beach for $100,000 and build your dream home. Imagine spend your days walking on the beach, a drink on the terrace, watching the sunset, and socializing with new friends who share your enthusiasm for a good retirement!

You may think it sounds crazy, that people only go to Costa Rica on vacation, but that’s no longer true. More and more foreigners are retiring in Costa Rica, especially Americans but also Europeans and other foreigners. And they are all doing it the same way: investing in property which will only go up in value for years to come, while living their retirement in the sunshine. But how, you ask. The following are just a few examples of the things that make it so easy to live the dream and retire in Costa Rica:

ONLY 2 HOURS AWAY
Costa Rica is only 2 hours away from Florida and all the comforts of home. Take a log weekend in Miami and do some shopping, or grab a connector flight to visit your family, and have them come visit often! And be careful who you invite to come visit you, it is so easy to get to Costa Rica that they will certainly come!

ESPANGLISH
Maybe not everyone speaks English, but no matter where you are, there is probably someone around who will be able to translate. A large majority of the population can speak at least some English, and most of the private schools are English Immersion, so from a young age many of these kids are bilingual. And hey, why not take some Spanish lessons yourself? Stretch your brain a little and make some friends while you are at it.

COST OF LIVING
The cost of living is comparable to the US if not slightly lower. There are some items which are shockingly inexpensive, while others are what you are used to at home. Groceries, restaurants and shopping tend to be about what as you are used to, however workers such as a live in maid or gardener are much less expensive than in the US. During retirement, it can often be a great blessing to have people around to help you with the daily chores.

HEALTH CARE
Health Care in Costa Rica is known for its quality and inexpensive price tag. Many of the doctors are trained in the US or Europe, and hospitals are very modern with all the latest equipment and technologies. Not to gossip but Costa Rica is known for its movie star plastic surgery!

MEDICARE
Both the Costa Rican government and Medicare and are making it extremely easy for ex-patriots to receive their Medicare cheques in Costa Rica through a network of banks in now offering direct deposit to your Costa Rican bank account.

VISAS & LEGAL ISSUES
Do I need a visa, or how does it work? If you are 45 years or older you can apply to be part of a retirement program set up by the Costa Rican government to encourage foreigners to come to Costa Rica. Benefits include tax exemptions and incentives, but the greatest thing is that you don’t have to pay tax on your retirement income in Costa Rica!

CAN I OWN PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA?
In Costa Rica foreigners are in no way penalized when purchasing property. Foreigners have the same rights as a Costa Rican and the law will treat them as an equal. You can also incorporate your own company and purchase the property through your company for additional tax breaks.

OF COURSE THE BEAUTY …
The words Cost Rica actually mean Rich Coast, a name Christopher Columbus bestowed on this country overflowing with natural beauty, lush rainforests, mountains, cloud forests, and sandy beaches. Costa Rica is world famous for its diverse natural habitat and beautiful sunsets.

So there you have it, not a bad list of reasons to rent out your house, cash in your paper assets, and retire to a beach house in Costa Rica! There may be a coming recession, but you don’t have to live in it, or let it spoil your long awaited liberation from the rat race.

10 reason to retire in Costa Rica

10) Climate, Climate, Climate: You can almost pick your preferred temperature in Costa Rica and we selected 72 degrees year round at our home in the Central Valley Mountains. But what about the Rainy/Green Season? Sure, we have about 2 hours of rain during our “winter” months each day, but most mornings are beautiful and sunny. That sure beats Fargo in Winter and Phoenix in Summer! We also happen to delight in that expected afternoon rain in green season for a few hours. In fact if you haven’t experienced the sound of rain falling on a tin roof, with a good book, frankly, you haven’t lived.

9) Nature Lover’s Paradise: From rain forest to crisp mountains to experiencing the “Gifts from the Sea’, Costa Rica is a Nature Lover’s Paradise. Each morning Barry and I hike out our front door to the countryside where following a cow on the road is as common and much more delightful than interstate traffic.

8 ) Health Care: As Business Owners in the United States faced with staggering insurance costs, we sought out a location for retirement that would provide, quality, affordable health care. Costa Rica has U.S. Trained Dr’s with state of the Art Hospitals and Medical Facilities. It also has a thriving medical tourism industry. When we first moved to Costa Rica, private insurance cost $1400 annually for the two of us covering most of our medical costs and prescriptions. What this meant was state of the art care when hospitalized. Third World? I don’t know about that. In my private hospital room, I had a flat screen t.v. dining menu options and a companion bed for my husband to stay with me. While our insurance has increased slightly as we have aged, I believe the care in Costa Rica unbeatable.

7) Adventure: We probably saw too many Raiders of the Lost Ark movies, but we wanted the next chapter in our life after the rat race to be a True Learning Adventure ! Flying through the Forest Canopy, White Water Rafting are just two examples and we have a long list of adventures still on the list. Every day, daily living in Costa Rica is an adventure from exploring exotic fruits to rescuing a sloth. I have to say it beats going to Walmart.

6) Social Community: We could keep ourselves entertained 7 days and nights a week with Costa Rica’s busy and diverse ex pat community. There’s a club for every interest (Birding, Hiking, Bridge, Gourmet Food and Wine, Volunteer Opportunities) just name it and it’s here. Foreign residents find each other at social centers and hubs and groups like the Newcomers Organization that help with the transition of moving to a foreign country.

5) Safety: While we now look back to the good old days when there was virtually little crime when we came to Costa Rica. Sadly we are not immune to the increasing crime rates that you find almost everywhere in the world, much linked to the growing drug problem. Still crime tends to be more property related than violent and so we have added precautions like a home security system. What should be noted is there is more violent crime in most major U.S. Cities in one day, yet the media will spotlight any violent crime against U.S Citizens that occurs outside of her borders. Costa Rica ,it should be noted , is also a peace-loving and stable country with no Army, often referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas.

4) Cost of Living: Indeed there are financial benefits of being a U.S. citizen living in Costa Rica. One of the attractions for us in selecting and moving to Costa Rica was the benefit of the first $75,000 of foreign earned income being tax free; Another? property taxes on our new contemporary home in Escazu, Costa Rica were a whopping $100.00 a year. That sure beat $6,000 a year property taxes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. . There was also no heating or air-conditioning expenses to contend with and the real kicker indulgence for me was massages were $10.00 an hour. I remember saying “I’m so there” There is no doubt, that we could not afford our current lifestyle in the United States and while Costa Rica is unfortunately being increasingly discovered and developed, there are still affordable options for creating a quality lifestyle at a fraction of U.S. prices.

3) Warm and Hospitable Costa Rican People: Pura Vida! “That’s a Costa Rican expression that means “pure life”. Sunday morning is our favorite day for walking in the barrio…Mothers and Fathers walking hand in hand with their children to church reminding us of our own childhood. “It’s like the United States in the 1950’s” . There is tranquility and a commitment to family.

2) Connected: Today’s Ability to Work and Live Anywhere. Yes, we have wireless Internet and low-cost phone service in Costa Rica that enables us to work from home on the deck with parrots flying overhead. It’s not everywhere in the country and certainly not deep in the rain forest, but technology has enabled us to work and stay connected with our offices and families and friends. Just 2.5 hour flight from Miami and 3 a.5 hour flight from Houston, we are closer to many relatives and clients than they are with others living within U.S. borders

1) The Mangos, The Monkeys, The Magic: I love to watch visitors in our learning retreats discover their own magic here while staying amidst the jewels of the Costa Rican rain forest. Forever changed from their journey to paradise, their discovery is almost child-like. I developed the brand for my speaking and retreat business from the voices of those who have discovered their own passion here. On seeing lava flow from an active volcano, a child-like WOW would be uttered competing only slightly with the volcanic rumble.”