Living in Costa Rica comes with some unexpected benefits – Make the most of your new life in the tropics.
For those of you looking for a new place to call home, Costa Rica is an excellent choice. The country boasts beautiful beaches and landscapes, phenomenal weather all year round, and all the natural beauty that would dazzle even the most jaded of travelers.
Moreover, living in Costa Rica doesn’t come with high costs despite its popularity among retirees and ex-pats from around the world. Food prices are low while services remain affordable; there’s no need to worry about your retirement savings when moving to Costa Rica!
In fact, many retired couples report being able to live comfortably on less than $3000 a month!
Furthermore, Costa Rica has plenty to offer.
Health care is excellent, there is plenty to keep you entertained from nightlife to nature, and we have all the modern conveniences you’re likely used to back in the U.S., Canada, or Europe.
Living in Costa Rica means an exciting new chapter in your life. And, living in this beautiful Central American country may just come with a few surprises.
From health benefits to affordable living, unimaginable tranquility, and opportunities to improve your lifestyle, living in Costa Rica promises to be one of the best decisions you could ever make.
Here are a few things that may be at the top of your list when it comes to the unexpected benefits of living in Costa Rica.
Health Care is affordable and excellent in Costa Rica
After moving to Costa Rica, many ex-pats find themselves paying a fraction of what they did back home for healthcare. Healthcare in Costa Rica is both high-quality and low cost.
There are two systems: private, for which you can pay cash or use insurance, and the government-run public system that any legal resident joins automatically when they start living permanently in Costa Rica.
Private insurance companies are available and offer plans that can cover everything from dental costs to emergency care abroad.
And, it’s worth noting that the CAJA (Costa Rica’s public health system) is an excellent option – especially for more serious illnesses, surgeries, or longer hospital stays.
Many ex-pats choose to use a combination of both private and public healthcare, easily covering all of their healthcare needs.
Expats who move to Costa Rica typically see their healthcare bills drop dramatically but still have access to world-class hospitals like Hospital CIMA as well as lower costs on prescription drugs from pharmacies and easy access to affordable labs.
The Costa Rica lifestyle takes a step in a healthier direction
And, speaking of healthcare, your lifestyle in Costa Rica is likely to take a step in a healthier direction.
Costa Rica is a tropical paradise that encourages you toward fit and healthy living. The weather ranges from warm to temperate, so there’s no 6-month, cold-weather enforced hibernation as there is in colder countries.
You can get outside with an abundance of outdoor activities like jungle hiking, horseback riding, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, kayaking, yoga, or beach walks for starters!
Do you enjoy getting out in the evenings and socializing? Why not take a salsa dance class or join a beach bonfire with other local ex-pats in the community?
There are also plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available along with readily available fresh seafood too. Your local Farmer’s Market will have everything you need and want – and more!
Into growing your own veggies? Gardening is a breeze in this rich, temperate, humid climate. You’ll instantly become the green thumb you’ve always dreamed of being.
Finally, Costa Rica is a place where you can enjoy the little things in life. With so much to do and see, there’s little time for stress or chaos because it’s all about the pura vida (pure life) vibe.
Costa Rica boasts an amazing culture that values relaxation over most everything else – in fact, there is a well-known axiom that says, “tranquilidad ante todo” which means, “tranquility before everything.
Costa Rica offers plenty of opportunities to stop and smell the orchids (literally!), take long walks on the beach, gaze at sunsets, hummingbirds, and dragonflies, and enjoy a bit of hammock time on the daily.
A family-oriented culture, don’t be surprised when you see large families out for lunch together on Saturdays and Sundays- this is a country where most of its countrymen put family first- and, we find that as refreshing as it is healthy!
Families are at the center of life here, which means it’s important not only that you work hard but also spend time with your family too.
Costa Rica is a peaceful place that upholds human rights and sustainability
The small Central American nation of Costa Rica is often referred to as the “Switzerland” or peace-loving country, and they abolished their military in 1948.
The government instead invests heavily into education and healthcare—allocating 75% of its budget for these two sectors alone!
Likewise, Costa Rica is well known for its just attitude toward human and civil rights. In Costa Rica, human rights are mainly upheld by the UNDHR Constitution and Inter-American Human Rights System. Women’s, children’s, and refugee rights are all taken seriously in Costa Rica.
Finally, the Republic of Costa Rica has managed to radically reverse the process of deforestation. As a result, Costa Rica is filled with lush forests which are home to hundreds of all kinds of animal species. By introducing laws that ban the cutting down or burning off anything in their forest reserves, as well as taking care not to disturb any endangered wildlife while building new airports or roads through these areas, this country is one step closer towards preserving their natural beauty for generations to come.
Costa Rica is home to one of the worlds’ five blue zones
Dan Buettner is a National Geographic Fellow and multiple New York Times, bestselling author. He has discovered five places in the world – dubbed blue zones – where people live the longest and are healthiest: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Costa Rica; Ikaria Greece and Loma Linda California.
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula is one of five Blue Zones in the world, where residents enjoy an extraordinarily long and healthy lifespan.
What distinguishes Costa Rica’s Blue Zone from other regions with similar longevity rates are its pristine beaches that provide a positive health environment for residents to relax their minds while spending plenty of time outdoors.
If you’re moving to Costa Rica, you’re in for some wonderful, unexpected benefits and lifestyle changes. Welcome home to Costa Rica where pura vida (pure life) is the way of life and things slow down just enough to leave you feeling peaceful, healthy, and happy.