So glad you mentioned Kelowna as a reference point. Trying to learn everything I can about a handful of places to move and I lived in Kelowna for about 2 months. It was the most expensive place I ever lived, as well as just... a lot of things. Tbh I hate everything about Kelowna and it didnt take long after getting there for me to want to leave. So anything that is the opposite of Kelowna in every single way, I want that! Lol Thank you for reading my Kelowna hate comment and thank you for all of the information you shared. It was very useful and a lot of it went into our notes 😊
You're welcome! It's a pleasure, and thank you for watching 😊 Our beautiful Sea Casa Vacation Rental property is located in Samara, the best beach town in Costa Rica! It is currently still for sale and would be a great investment for someone as a full business opportunity, or to do the live on site and run the units themselves situation like we did. We recently dropped the price as well. Might be the perfect fit for you? Send us an email if interested. seacasasamara@gmail.com 😊
Everything sounds very expensive in Coasta Rica. I live i Arizona and my utility's run around $120 per month. Food varies $500 to $600 a month. If we want to go to the beach we can go to Rocky Point Mexico or San Carlos which are both around 4 hours away, and very affordable with a hotel room on the beach starting at $80 per night and food cost around 60% of what it would be in the US. Property taxes are very reasonable in Arizona especially in the 55 communities. Property insurance is less expensive in Arizona, I'm paying $95 mo. Gas prices are somewhat reasonable at $3.89 for diesel and about the same for regular. Oil change is $76 for a diesel. If I need a certain medicine I can be across the boarder in a nearby Mexican town in 35 minutes an get whatever prescription drug I want or get my teeth worked on for much cheaper than the US. I know Arizona can get hot in the summer months but its a dry hot not a humid hot so its tolerable. And its a good excuse to visit the northern latitudes in the summer months. I'll stick to the US unless I can find a country that is irresistible and cheaper than my current situation.
Another informative video. Thanks guys. I live in Southern California. A lot of things are a bit cheaper there. But I was shocked on how much you are spending on food. That’s what really stuck out to me. It’s almost double what we spend on groceries. We have been averaging $500-$600 per month. But again nice video. Costa Rica is cheaper than Cali but much more expensive then Taiwan.
We cook very well at home with local and fresh ingredients. Sometimes we personally spend a bit more on certain items needed for the ingredients. It's just personal preference. Groceries are definitely expensive here over the past 2 years specifically. We are also a family of 4 which is what the grocery price is based on.
I budget $1,000/month for groceries and eat out twice/month (one single person). I also don't drink. If you're someone who shops at the cheaper grocery stores and is happy with rice and beans type meals everyday, you might be able to do $500/month per person.
I live on 1600 to 2000 per mo. In San José 650 mo. Rent. The Food is Insane, I Eat Well but it Cost me 700 to 900 per mo. Single and I dont have a Car. Example $8.30 For a Loaf of SPAM, $18.00 per a 2 Pack of Gillete Shaving Blades plus 14% Tax. yes Food is Taxed.. TICOS Struggle Hard here PURA VIDA 🇨🇷🙏🙏
@@GasPipeJimmyThey live together many in one 2 Bed House. And they never have any Spare Walking Money. They cant Afford a $2.00 Taxi so they walk 1 1/2 miles home with BAGS of Groseries with small Children in the RAIN. Its Tough in CR. But they Manage. Many Homes dont have Hot Water Either.
@@lucindajenkins8693I Lived 4 years there I recently left. I was there for Medical.. Long Story.. But Good Medical can be had in CR with $$$$$, I recently retuned to the U.S. The only thing for me in CR. is the Medical thing.. Otherwise CR. Doesnt work for me. Just like the Rest of the World now CR. is Headed for hard times..Look DEEP Before you Leap. Good Luck CR. What else is it you would like to know??
These videos are so helpful! We are considering relocating to Samara with our two kids (6 & 8 years old). Can you share any info about why you took your kids out of the private school? Did they do online school instead?
I live in California. My property taxes are $7500 a year, auto insurance is $4000 a year for two cars, mortgage is $2600 a month, electricity is $2400 a year (will solar panels), and the list goes on and on. My wife and I are exploring possibly retiring to Costa Rica in a few years. Hearing how much more affordable things are in Costa Rica is promising!
Single father in Canada 1650 for rent 150 for hydro 100 for internet 1000 a month for food car payment 600 plus ins 198 fuel for vehicle and travel to work and back is about 1100 a month I make 35 dollars a hour building houses hard work no play and perpetual debt my savings are gone and my credit card is at max do the math it just doesn’t add up anymore I need out of this country asap oh and I live in the countryside not a city it’s hard to stay hopeful out here iv been trying to find a way to move to cr but it just seems impossible I need help or a opportunity of some sort does anyone have a idea let me know thanks
Sorry to hear your situation. Unfortunately, Costa Rica is not very cheap either. You may have to explore countries with a much lesser cost of living and make sure you can find some employment online or start your own business as you will legally not be allowed to work in other countries. Best of luck and hope your situation gets better!
IS A VERY EXPENSIVE COUNTRY..I was born here and grew up in USA, ..it use to be great along time ago, I am a retire U.S.Marine and US pensionado..and still is a very very expensive place to live, no matter where you live or go...
Just wanted to say hello all the way from Edmonton!! Having viewed your video on how much things cost there you should tell viewers that at least they don’t have to pay Justin Trudeau’s useless carbon tax! LOL All political jokes aside I have to say a lot of what you guys pay down in CR is comparable to what we’re paying here for groceries, fuel (we are at $1.39 a litre Cdn unless you go to Costco), rent… Anyway hoping to check out Costa Rica next spring with my wife as we’ve never been there and it’s on our bucket list of places to visit!
We would like to explore living in CR. We are not retired and need to maintain creating an income. I have heard that unless you are a Tico, you can not own a business (is this correct?), but a lot of videos talk about having rentals? Can you explain this better, please
I have lived in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, for 15 years. Things have gotten much more expensive, including a 13% Value Added Tax on goods and services. I am currently researching SE Asia, cheaper cost of living, better infrastructure, better food selections, great weather, and less home breakins and petty crimes.
That's an excellent idea and we can vouch for that! We moved to SE Asia 3 months ago, Bangkok, Thailand, specifically. We absolutely LOVE it here and especially for the reasons you mentioned! You will not be disappointed in this part of the world. Be sure to check out our videos from here over the past 3 months, and many more to come! All the very best ❤️
well, it is quite discouraging to say the least that the hope of leaving the U.S and moving somewhere so I don't have to spend so much on certain things. I want to retire in January 2025, the lease on my apartment is up March 1st and I want to relocate somewhere outside the US because I see great trouble coming to this once great country. I DO NOT fly, so wherever I go, I will be driving there. I just want a small place to live that is less than $500 per month, and a few disc golf courses nearby and / or large city parks that are within walking distance, and just buy food and have decent internet / wifi service. and plenty of clean potable water to drink
Good info. You both speak well and are expressive with your faces and gestures. If there’s a way to film without wearing sunglasses, you’ll connect with the audience even better. Perhaps under shade or wearing a hat? Just a thought.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. When we make videos outdoors, most days here in the tropics it's bright even when in the shade, especially when we have to have the camera facing us in a certain direction and this can cause the sun behind it to be directly on us no matter what. Therefore, we wear sunglasses to protect our eyes and also so that we are not looking silly and squinting at our audience. In these types of videos and situations it's best for people to listen to the important and valuable information we are taking the time to provide them with, rather than worrying about what we wear on our faces 😉
@iwonab7644 it is 100% cheaper than most parts of Canada! We have friends that lived here for 2 years and are in Canada for a few months (in BC) and even they have told us how much more it is back in Canada. Especially once you own here. Not sure where you're living but I guarantee you it's much cheaper here.
The title and subject of the video is "how much does it cost to live in Costa Rica"....not "is it cheaper to live in Costa Rica than the U.S." or "is Costa Rica a cheap country to live in"
Because you don't have UA-cam premium and you're watching free content that we need to get paid for, in order to continue to make free content for people like you to leave annoying comments on.
Great informative video. Just a comment...the musical transitions between your comments/topics are really distracting from your message...it interrupts the natural flow of your conversation.
Wow, Becky, you sound super smart! 😂 And very observant to the point that you somehow got $1300/month confused with $2000/month. Maybe listen and pay proper attention while watching videos and also take into consideration as to how many people are in a family when watching a cost of living video. Feel free to also watch our most recent grocery video so you can properly educate yourself before making stupid useless comments. 🥴🤦♀️
Not only wealthy people, you just need to budget properly. It's not a free for all like it once was. Eating out is expensive now, grocery prices have gone up and just like anywhere in the world inflation has hit.
![What is the cost of living in Costa Rica? [Updated for 2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rA57rYd_VoY/mqdefault.jpg)
We've decided to open up comments on this video!
So glad you mentioned Kelowna as a reference point. Trying to learn everything I can about a handful of places to move and I lived in Kelowna for about 2 months. It was the most expensive place I ever lived, as well as just... a lot of things. Tbh I hate everything about Kelowna and it didnt take long after getting there for me to want to leave. So anything that is the opposite of Kelowna in every single way, I want that! Lol
Thank you for reading my Kelowna hate comment and thank you for all of the information you shared. It was very useful and a lot of it went into our notes 😊
Just came across your channel. We’re leaving Samara on Wednesday. We love it here!
Great info! Thank you so much 😊
12:43 talk to a property manager for actual prices
16:25 can be on medical if you are a resir
Congrats on your success guys! Pura Vida 🌴
Muchas gracias!
Thank you for the great info!Wondering where your Air B&B is located...We want to investigate real estate as we are considering relocation.
You're welcome! It's a pleasure, and thank you for watching 😊 Our beautiful Sea Casa Vacation Rental property is located in Samara, the best beach town in Costa Rica! It is currently still for sale and would be a great investment for someone as a full business opportunity, or to do the live on site and run the units themselves situation like we did. We recently dropped the price as well. Might be the perfect fit for you? Send us an email if interested. seacasasamara@gmail.com 😊
Everything sounds very expensive in Coasta Rica. I live i Arizona and my utility's run around $120 per month. Food varies $500 to $600 a month. If we want to go to the beach we can go to Rocky Point Mexico or San Carlos which are both around 4 hours away, and very affordable with a hotel room on the beach starting at $80 per night and food cost around 60% of what it would be in the US. Property taxes are very reasonable in Arizona especially in the 55 communities. Property insurance is less expensive in Arizona, I'm paying $95 mo. Gas prices are somewhat reasonable at $3.89 for diesel and about the same for regular. Oil change is $76 for a diesel. If I need a certain medicine I can be across the boarder in a nearby Mexican town in 35 minutes an get whatever prescription drug I want or get my teeth worked on for much cheaper than the US. I know Arizona can get hot in the summer months but its a dry hot not a humid hot so its tolerable. And its a good excuse to visit the northern latitudes in the summer months. I'll stick to the US unless I can find a country that is irresistible and cheaper than my current situation.
Sounds like you’re in Yuma as well
Appreciate the updated video! Thanks guys.
Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video I’m thinking about moving there from the states ❤
Another informative video. Thanks guys. I live in Southern California. A lot of things are a bit cheaper there. But I was shocked on how much you are spending on food. That’s what really stuck out to me. It’s almost double what we spend on groceries. We have been averaging $500-$600 per month. But again nice video. Costa Rica is cheaper than Cali but much more expensive then Taiwan.
We cook very well at home with local and fresh ingredients. Sometimes we personally spend a bit more on certain items needed for the ingredients. It's just personal preference. Groceries are definitely expensive here over the past 2 years specifically. We are also a family of 4 which is what the grocery price is based on.
I budget $1,000/month for groceries and eat out twice/month (one single person). I also don't drink. If you're someone who shops at the cheaper grocery stores and is happy with rice and beans type meals everyday, you might be able to do $500/month per person.
I live on 1600 to 2000 per mo. In San José 650 mo. Rent. The Food is Insane, I Eat Well but it Cost me 700 to 900 per mo. Single and I dont have a Car. Example $8.30 For a Loaf of SPAM, $18.00 per a 2 Pack of Gillete Shaving Blades plus 14% Tax. yes Food is Taxed.. TICOS Struggle Hard here PURA VIDA 🇨🇷🙏🙏
Tell me more please?
Yeah! HOW DO the Ticos manage. I seriously wonder.
@@GasPipeJimmyThey live together many in one 2 Bed House. And they never have any Spare Walking Money. They cant Afford a $2.00 Taxi so they walk 1 1/2 miles home with BAGS of Groseries with small Children in the RAIN. Its Tough in CR. But they Manage. Many Homes dont have Hot Water Either.
@@lucindajenkins8693I Lived 4 years there I recently left. I was there for Medical.. Long Story.. But Good Medical can be had in CR with $$$$$, I recently retuned to the U.S. The only thing for me in CR. is the Medical thing.. Otherwise CR. Doesnt work for me. Just like the Rest of the World now CR. is Headed for hard times..Look DEEP Before you Leap. Good Luck CR. What else is it you would like to know??
@@GasPipeJimmy, you need to shop at PALI
Did you bring your cars with you from the US?
These videos are so helpful! We are considering relocating to Samara with our two kids (6 & 8 years old). Can you share any info about why you took your kids out of the private school? Did they do online school instead?
Thinking about buying me a place there would love to know a real estate and what all needs be done
What’s top places would u recommend to move to? In Costa Rica?
I live in California. My property taxes are $7500 a year, auto insurance is $4000 a year for two cars, mortgage is $2600 a month, electricity is $2400 a year (will solar panels), and the list goes on and on. My wife and I are exploring possibly retiring to Costa Rica in a few years. Hearing how much more affordable things are in Costa Rica is promising!
@@detcordxxxi only a Californian would say this 😂
Thank you
You're welcome and thank you for watching and leaving a positive comment. It's refreshing 😊
What about finding work? Is there work for Americans
Was this break down in Canadian dollars?
USD, they don't use Canadian dollars in Costa Rica, only Colones and USD
Single father in Canada 1650 for rent 150 for hydro 100 for internet 1000 a month for food car payment 600 plus ins 198 fuel for vehicle and travel to work and back is about 1100 a month I make 35 dollars a hour building houses hard work no play and perpetual debt my savings are gone and my credit card is at max do the math it just doesn’t add up anymore I need out of this country asap oh and I live in the countryside not a city it’s hard to stay hopeful out here iv been trying to find a way to move to cr but it just seems impossible I need help or a opportunity of some sort does anyone have a idea let me know thanks
Sorry to hear your situation. Unfortunately, Costa Rica is not very cheap either. You may have to explore countries with a much lesser cost of living and make sure you can find some employment online or start your own business as you will legally not be allowed to work in other countries. Best of luck and hope your situation gets better!
IS A VERY EXPENSIVE COUNTRY..I was born here and grew up in USA, ..it use to be great along time ago, I am a retire U.S.Marine and US pensionado..and still is a very very expensive place to live, no matter where you live or go...
Yes the price has gone way up in the last 2 years, much like the rest of the world
What are the rents and are they furnished
We aren't in the market for a rental so it's best to find a property manager and ask them what's available. It varies just like where you live.
What a good website to look for near beach real state?
The exchange rate is really making things tough. I think today it's amost 500:1 the us dollar has lost almost 30% in value over the last few years
Just wanted to say hello all the way from Edmonton!! Having viewed your video on how much things cost there you should tell viewers that at least they don’t have to pay Justin Trudeau’s useless carbon tax! LOL All political jokes aside I have to say a lot of what you guys pay down in CR is comparable to what we’re paying here for groceries, fuel (we are at $1.39 a litre Cdn unless you go to Costco), rent… Anyway hoping to check out Costa Rica next spring with my wife as we’ve never been there and it’s on our bucket list of places to visit!
We would like to explore living in CR. We are not retired and need to maintain creating an income. I have heard that unless you are a Tico, you can not own a business (is this correct?), but a lot of videos talk about having rentals? Can you explain this better, please
Yes you can own/run a business as a foreigner as long as you hire locals to work for/with you.
So you can't work the business yourself but you must hire locals to work it, correct? Thank you
@Nutritionbuff yes you can also work at your own business as long as you hire at least one local to work at the business as well
Again thank you for the clarification I appreciate it
So if i got this right, about 2k rent. 1+k for food, 60 for electricity, 350 car insurance year or month? And basically 5k/ month? Midline. Sheesh.
What? No, that's not what we said at all. You have a few numbers wrong and way off.
Dufresnes! Party of two. Dufresnes??
😂😂😂 Party of 4!!!!
I have lived in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, for 15 years. Things have gotten much more expensive, including a 13% Value Added Tax on goods and services. I am currently researching SE Asia, cheaper cost of living, better infrastructure, better food selections, great weather, and less home breakins and petty crimes.
That's an excellent idea and we can vouch for that! We moved to SE Asia 3 months ago, Bangkok, Thailand, specifically. We absolutely LOVE it here and especially for the reasons you mentioned! You will not be disappointed in this part of the world. Be sure to check out our videos from here over the past 3 months, and many more to come! All the very best ❤️
Just posted our most recent video today, the cost of groceries here. It might be valuable to you during your research stage 😊
well, it is quite discouraging to say the least that the hope of leaving the U.S and moving somewhere so I don't have to spend so much on certain things. I want to retire in January 2025, the lease on my apartment is up March 1st and I want to relocate somewhere outside the US because I see great trouble coming to this once great country. I DO NOT fly, so wherever I go, I will be driving there. I just want a small place to live that is less than $500 per month, and a few disc golf courses nearby and / or large city parks that are within walking distance, and just buy food and have decent internet / wifi service. and plenty of clean potable water to drink
Let me know when you find that place 😂
Much cheaper than Mexico and much safer
Definitely not anymore!
Good info. You both speak well and are expressive with your faces and gestures. If there’s a way to film without wearing sunglasses, you’ll connect with the audience even better. Perhaps under shade or wearing a hat? Just a thought.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts. When we make videos outdoors, most days here in the tropics it's bright even when in the shade, especially when we have to have the camera facing us in a certain direction and this can cause the sun behind it to be directly on us no matter what. Therefore, we wear sunglasses to protect our eyes and also so that we are not looking silly and squinting at our audience. In these types of videos and situations it's best for people to listen to the important and valuable information we are taking the time to provide them with, rather than worrying about what we wear on our faces 😉
Really expensive living there I thought it would be amazing cheap it’s cheaper living in Canada
Cheaper than Canada? Where? Saskatchewan maybe, and that's a maybe!
Lol cheaper in Canada , I was 30 years ago .
@iwonab7644 it is 100% cheaper than most parts of Canada! We have friends that lived here for 2 years and are in Canada for a few months (in BC) and even they have told us how much more it is back in Canada. Especially once you own here. Not sure where you're living but I guarantee you it's much cheaper here.
Costa Rica is much much cheaper than Canada. Now is 2024 the prices go up up up.
costa rica is expensive
So is Canada and the United States
@ yup 👍🏾
That’s about same price as the U.S. that’s not cheap
The title and subject of the video is "how much does it cost to live in Costa Rica"....not "is it cheaper to live in Costa Rica than the U.S." or "is Costa Rica a cheap country to live in"
Why so many commercials?
Because you don't have UA-cam premium and you're watching free content that we need to get paid for, in order to continue to make free content for people like you to leave annoying comments on.
Great informative video. Just a comment...the musical transitions between your comments/topics are really distracting from your message...it interrupts the natural flow of your conversation.
It's used in a lot of video production to indicate a change of topic. It was done for a reason and the same song is used for consistency.
You people live extravagantly. Most people don't live high in the hog and spend $2000 a month for food.
$2000 a month? I think you need to watch again and yes most people spend more than that for a family of 4
Wow, Becky, you sound super smart! 😂 And very observant to the point that you somehow got $1300/month confused with $2000/month. Maybe listen and pay proper attention while watching videos and also take into consideration as to how many people are in a family when watching a cost of living video. Feel free to also watch our most recent grocery video so you can properly educate yourself before making stupid useless comments. 🥴🤦♀️
@@shaynadufresne please tell Becky how much health care is in Costa Rica cuz she needs to visit a burn unit ASAP😂😂😂
@@detcordxxxi 💯😂
@@shaynadufresne very unprofessional response
So this and the comments make seem that CR is for wealthy people only, WTF?
Not only wealthy people, you just need to budget properly. It's not a free for all like it once was. Eating out is expensive now, grocery prices have gone up and just like anywhere in the world inflation has hit.