Christopher Howard is Costa Rica’s most read author and blogger and has lived in the country for almost 35 years. He has written 14 guidebooks about Latin America, including the best-selling “New Golden Door to Retirement and Living.”
The most obvious reason people to move to Costa Rica is the climate. They are tired of freezing winters, scorching summers and the high utility bills that go with them. In Costa Rica you can enjoy one of the best year-round climates in the world (72 degrees average in the Central Valley). We have only two seasons here, dry and rainy, but both with an abundance of sunshine. We rarely need air conditioning and never need heat. Costa Rica has more winter sunshine than Hawaii or Florida and fewer people.
Costa Rica is called the “Switzerland of the Americas” by many, due to its neutral political status and spectacular mountains. From the huge, curling waves of the Pacific coast, to the sight of molten rock tumbling down the sides of a volcano, Costa Rica’s natural beauty has something for everyone. This unique little country offers a real paradise for the nature lover, fishing enthusiast and water sports fanatic, as well as the retiree.
Many come here for the lifestyle. Costa Rica fits the bill for anyone sick of the hustle and bustle, seeking a more laid-back way of life. One of my Costa Rica tour participants remarked, “Costa Rica reminds me of the U.S. about 40 years ago when everything was unspoiled, unhurried and less crowded.” It also appeals to people of all ages seeking a new and exotic land outside the United States and Canada: the energetic entrepreneur, the burned-out baby boomer, those sick of long rush-hour commutes and anyone seeking an alternative way of life.
Although much has been written about the high cost of living here, what you spend depends on your lifestyle. If you must have a luxurious home, drive a late model car and buy imported goods, you will spend as much or more than you would in North America. But if you live more like the locals and watch your spending, you will spend considerably less.
Costa Rica’s inexpensive medical care, affordable housing, excellent transportation and communication networks and an abundance of activities to help you stay busy and happy, all contribute to the country’s appeal and place it at the top of the list of expatriate havens.
The country also has a myriad of business opportunities awaiting creative, hard-working individuals of all ages. You can run a global business from here by using Internet access, fax machines and cell phones. It is also relatively easy to start a small business on a shoestring. Tax incentives and a government that encourages investments and affords investors the same rights as citizens contribute to a propitious business climate. Many countries either do not permit non-citizens to own property or place restrictions on foreign-owned real estate, but this is not the case in Costa Rica. Anyone may buy real estate with all the legal rights of citizens.
Some move here to start over and seek adventure in an exotic land. They are tired of dead-end jobs or the rat race and want new challenges, a chance to pursue their dreams and achieve greater personal growth. As a foreigner, you have the challenge of immersing yourself in a new culture and, if you choose, the rewards of learning a foreign language.
Costa Rica has more American residents per capita outside of the U.S. than any other country in the world. They can’t be wrong!