Nearly everyone who takes my retirement tours asks if they should bring their belongs from the States or purchase everything here. Really this is an individual decision depending on a person’s particular situation.

For those who choose to buy everything here there is good news. It was just announced that the free trade zone in the southern city of Golfito will now let residents and Costa Ricans purchase $1000 worth of goods every six months instead of the $500 as before. Unfortunately it isn’t accumulative. That is to say if you don’t use your tax free exoneration for two years you can’t buy $4,000 worth of merchandise in one single shot.

Merchants say the new limit will also give them a chance to offer a wider variety of products.

The Golfito Free Zone was established on November 4, 1985 when Law 7012 was signed to create it.