Living in Costa Rica - My summary after 15 years here!

Living in Costa Rica - My summary after 15 years in the country.
In this 10th episode of TRIAL Costa Rica Adam talks about his own experience of living in Costa Rica and highlights some of the tips from the last 10 episodes!
Originally from Devon, in South-West England, Adam has lived and worked in Costa Rica since 2006, following his graduation from Plymouth University studying Photo-media & Design Communication.
He has always aspired to travel and document his experiences on film.
This become a reality shortly after starting with the Namu Travel Group back in 2008 where he began to cover Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama as a creative director. He is based in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Explore more on living in Costa Rica: bit.ly/trial-c...
To get in touch with Adam directly: [e-mail]
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0:25 Introduction
1:20 If you are relocating to Costa Rica - visit first. Tourist Visa info
3:30 The costs of living in Costa Rica
3:50 Rental costs in Costa Rica
5:05 Grocery costs in Costa Rica
6:15 What's your average monthly spend in Costa Rica?
6:50 Practice your Spanish, get by in English.
7:25 Embrace Pura Vida, be prepared to be patient!
8:30 Get out and explore! Travel the country.
Presented by Adam Baker
Produced by Tempest Pictures

[@Outlawes]

Super insightful! We’re heading out to Costa Rica next week and we can’t wait!

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Fantastic @outlawes have a great time and let us know how it goes!

[@fertilevessel1271]

I’d love to see this video redone without generic advice for viewers and just YOUR personal summary sharing YOUR personal experiences, opinions and wisdom.

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Hey Fertile, that sounds like a great idea. And certainly something I can do. What kind of questions do you think would be most valuable to answer? - Adam

[@spanishwithisrael]

Thank you for this videos :)

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Thanks Israel!

[@spanishwithisrael]

@@CostaRicanVacations Con mucho gusto :) La VIDA ES BELLA

[@internationalrelocationparner]

We help people to move and retire in popular destinations like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama (many more) We would love to collaborate with your videos.

[@claudettejoseph605]

Thank you

[@claudettejoseph605]

I would be coming in the beginning of 2023

[@dandalorian2470]

Good tips. Just returned to Canada after 39 days in Costa - mainly Quepos/Jacó and SJose.. Could def see myself living there.. I’m late 40’s, kids grown, single.. just need to figure out online income perhaps… 🤔

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Sounds like a great plan!

[@John-Val056]

Working with about $3750.00 a month, just gf and I so only need a 1BR, this work to be near the ocean?

[@fd2blk78]

Ever get any answers on this? I'm looking into it as well.

[@John-Val056]

@@fd2blk78 No, I didn't. We are gonna be taking an extended trip next year to do some looking for ourselves

[@IntensePeppers]

Yes, 3750 a month is more than enough

[@badrtravels]

If I stay there for a couple of months, can I manage without a car? using only public transport and private drivers? where would you recommend I look for rent?

[@TimMaloneyNMactor]

yes , driving a car is isolating and can be a hassle $$$ . many towns are small and walkable . I stayed in the Southern Zone (south of Dominical ) for 5 mo. Bus , walking , hitch hiking . practice Spanish . very safe Country , good people . fb groups for x pats post rentals , cheaper by the mo.

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Hey Badr for sure easily. I personally don't have a car and spend around $10 per month on lift sharing apps and public transport, so much easier! Cars are expensive to buy and run in Costa Rica. Where you would like to look for rent depends on what kind of lifestyle you are looking for!

[@drunkenfist3084]

Watch out in the Caribbean side of Costa Rica recently has been an increase in sexual offenses in those areas like Limon and police is doing nothing about it. We had have like 4 crimes against female tourist in less than 2 months so watch out I don't want those duckers to harm more people.

[@viniciusreis6407]

i think in to go to costa rica and visiti la fortuna then travel to monte verde then go to san jose, do u think i need a 4x4??

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Hey Vinicius, thanks for getting in touch! It helps to have a 4x4 but it is not totally needed these days as the road is paved all the way!

[@NoLifeStack]

Good videos but after watching a few, look into getting a new mic :) the audio need to be a little more vibrant and clear. Great videos tho

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Great - thanks for the feedback @NoLifeStack always very helpful!!

[@KathrynBraithwaite-oj3zc]

Is there a good place for massage bodywork and yoga?

[@damirez8493]

Hey mate I strongly recommend you invest in a lapel microphone can get them really cheap now - it will turn your videos into a masterpiece. Thanks for the effort

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Thanks Damirez we have many of them just didn't use it for this video! Thanks for the tip tho!

[@richardgarcia3940]

I think if you could create a perfect video it would be a video explaining the basic cost of living there with details of the cost of rent and an idea of ​​the cost to create a house as your property. How much does the food cost, such as milk, fish, chicken meat, rice, potatoes, etc.? How much is the electricity bill, the water. How much does a car cost. Make a list of all the details, make a great video since you can't find one like that. And how a foreigner can earn a living there. then create more content, on an adventure with animals, talk about how How perfect your life have been there ect, and it is difficult to find a woman there ?

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Hey Richard, Thanks for the feedback some great ideas here for sure that we can look at!

[@Amun27]

Canadian looking to make a permanent move to Nicoya. What are your experiences in that region if any?

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Hey Amun, it's a very relaxed part of the country, greatif you are looking to disconnect more with plenty of chilled out beach towns along the coast. I have not spent that much time there myself though, a bit too hot for me!

[@markward7088]

Is it necessary to be able to speak Spanish to become citizen in CR?

[@CostaRicanVacations]

Hey Mark, When doing your citizenship exams they will be in Spanish and one of then will be focused on your Spanish speaking skills and the other will be on the history and past of Costa Rica. So in that case it certainly an important area to be able to speak Spanish.

[@markward7088]

I was told by American expats you can be a "resident" of Costa Rica without being a citizen. Therefore it's not necessary to take the citizens test to permanently live in Costa Rica. Not sure if that is true or not

[@CostaRicanVacations]

@@markward7088 100% correct. To get your residency (different from citizenship) there are a number of ways. Either through Marriage, children, sponsorship through business or investing $150K in property or land are the most common. You will find many people speak English here so it's easy to get by if you don't speak Spanish. Nor does speaking Spanish effect getting your residency.

[@markward7088]

Property investment is what I planned on doing. Hopefully I'll be relaxing on a west coast beach within 2 years

[@CostaRicanVacations]

@@markward7088 Sounds like a good plan!

[@fernandobreneszamora222]

Hola costa Rica,es caro y hay un poco menos de delincuentes que en otros países,pero es hermoso,y Pura vida🇨🇷

[@homeincostarica914]

Great tips! I would maybe disagree with your opinion about "learning Spanish". If you only stay at very touristy places you are going to be fine without Spanish. Everywhere else you will be alone. The average Tico doesn't speak English. Also, your experience will be very different and you'll never really feel at home here.

[@CostaRicanVacations]

True regarding the Spanish, you will be fine in CR around all the tourist hot spots with just English. If you go off the beaten path a little bit, some Spanish may well help you experience the local life a little more!

[@tiquillo1000]

Average tico doesn’t speak english, what a clown, spanish is the lenguaje. It’s like say that the average gringo doesn’t speak spanish

[@edsal26]

@@tiquillo1000 why would we want to speak Spanish? They come to the U.S. and most don’t even try to learn English. We order fast food by the numbers… then get what we didn’t order.

[@rinzler7578]

@@edsal26 classic fat american complaining over getting a wrong mcdonalds over then saying you don’t need to learn Spanish 😂

[@StevenDavisPhoto]

If you can get by in English, it means you live in an Expat location. I'd rather live somewhere in between.

[@dougdileo4727]

deal with locals not agents...way overpriced in the name of commisions

[@Amun27]

How do you know of those locals are the actual owners? How can you find these sellers prior to making the trip?

[@Bill-dj9hv]

This man can't even pronounce the name of Costa Rica properly.

[@rickgolden2396]

He must learn how to pronoun the country's name!

[@RobertWilliams-mb9jb]

Some pronounce tomato differently also.

[@elerigriffiths4550]

How do you say it then?

[@Bill-dj9hv]

It is pronounced Coasta Rica. Spanish for rich coast..

[@raphaelkoster6099]

Still shrill and annoyinv voice