Lately much has been written and said about Nicaragua and Panama as places for retirement versus Costa Rica. People argue that the latter is too expensive. One of the reasons Costa Rica is seemingly more expensive is demand. It is tops on the list of retirement havens with more Americans per capita living outside of the U.S. than any other country in world. They can’t all be wrong can they?

Regarding the affordability of the country, one you move here and get settled you will be able to find the real bargains. You will also learn how to recognize a value property when you see one if you do your homework.

Costa Rica offer a lifestyle and more choices of places where to live.

The advantages that Costa Rica really has over Nicaragua and Panama are lifestyle and more choices of places where to live. It’s all about lifestyle anyplace you reside. Costa Rica has more options in this area. Just pick up a copy of the Tico Times, the local  English newspaper,  and you’ll see what’s available to keep you busy and happy. Whether its an indoor our outdoor activity, we have it all here. Costa Rica also offer a variety of places to live. You can live at the beach, the Central Valley with its perfect climate, in an alpine like setting on the slope of a mountain or in any of the areas in between.  Costa Rica’s unique geography and many microclimates make this all possible.

Another added plus to Costa Rica is its time-tested affordable healthcare system. Costa Rica has one of the highest longevity rates in the world!

On the other hand, Panama is very hot and air conditioning bills can run a couple of hundred dollars per month. There are some cooler mountain areas like Altos de María and Boquete but they are isolated and down right boring for most folks and getting more expensive all of the time.

Here is what one expatriate who moved from Panama to Costa Rica said about both countries and visited Panama recently. This sums up most of the differences between both places.

“In Cerro Punta and Volcán, which are really the breadbasket of Panama, I could not believe the few vegetables and poor quality of them that I found. They don’t have weekly ferias, and most good quality fruits and vegetables are shipped to Panama City. I went to five supermarkets in Volcán, and three vegetable sellers, and only found a small portion of what I have come to expect in vegetables here in Costa Rica. And in such poor condition that I ended up without tomatoes and lettuce. I couldn’t even find cauliflower, broccoli and leeks. Things were much better there 25 years ago!”
“I would agree that compared to Escazú, prices are lower in most all of Panama except Boquete which has become the playground of a lot of Hollywood stars. But compared to where I live , housing is really on a par with Panama.”
“There may be less problems with thievery in Panama, though having had my house broken into twice in Panama, I wouldn’t say it was that much better. You simply need to protect yourself as with anywhere in the world these days. Counting with thousands of members, 209 gangs nationwide (130 in the capital) are now bigger and deadlier.  One hundred forty-three juveniles were killed in 2006.  The rising murder rate can be directly linked to the soaring drug abuse.  Panamanian juveniles have the highest narcotics consumption rate in Central America.  The average age in which children are introduced to drugs is 12 to 14 years old, but some risk groups are exposed earlier in life.”
“I was amazed to see the changes in Panama City. They have constructed or have in construction over 120 skyscrapers over 40 floors high. 17 are over 50 floors and several will be over 100 stories tall. A large number of these are being constructed on Punta Pacifica which was a landfill when I lived in Panama 25 years ago.  Panama City’s new condos are getting closer or matching the average price of similar dwellings in the Greater Miami, South Florida’s international banking, fashion and film center and the thriving hub for Latin American’s finances and commerce. But what’s more, the worst Miami’s neighborhoods could be considered as peaceful and prosperous towns when compared to El Chorillo, Curundú, Santa Ana, Panama Viejo, Boca la Caja, Mano de Piedra and many other dangerous areas of the Panamanian capital!  Security is one main issue when relocating abroad since well-off foreigners living in poor countries are often preferred targets for criminals.”
“I have friends in both countries, but to me, the Costa Ricans win hands down. I have never seen such open friendliness as here. Perhaps it is because I don’t live in the city, but for whatever reason, I am constantly amazed by them. My daughter and granddaughter have come down and are renting here, also. While I was in Panama, her Costa Rican neighbors got together and brought over a Christmas tree and decorations knowing that she didn’t have a car to go find one. They shared the lights and decorations that they had and helped her set up the tree and decorate it. They have all made them feel welcome and have set up a date to make tamales and gingerbread cookies.
In the 15 years I lived in Panama, I never saw a neighborhood pull together to make virtual strangers feel welcome as I have in Costa Rica.”

Nicaragua is another story. First, the weather and geography can’t match Costa Rica’s for beauty. The largest section of the country on the east is basically uninhabitable.

Unfortunately the country has been really unlucky.  Mother Nature even conspires against the poor country in the form of natural disasters like the devastating earthquake in the 1970s and Hurricane Mitch more recently. The country has also been victimized by a whole string of leaders  from the Samoza family dynasty to the country’s current leader the infamous Daniel Ortega. You should remember him from the past century and his failed socialist revolution. All of this has combines to make Nicaragua the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere after Haiti.  The average monthly salary if you can find work is less than $100 dollars. It is not surprising therefore that over 500 thousand Nicaraguans have fled to a more prosperous Costa Rica to find work and better their lives.

There you have it. Make your choice. You can live in Nicaragua more affordably than Costa Rica or live I Panama which has more advantages than Nicaragua. When you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of living or retiring in all three of these countries, Costa Rica comes out the clear winner.