For people who want to retire in Costa Rica on a shoestring it is important to be aware of how little money most Costa Ricans scrape by on. The majority of Americans and Canadians wouldn’t be content with the average Costa Rican lifestyle. We are just use to too many goodies and would find it difficult to live like most ticos. However, there are some Americans who move here and due to different circumstances are forced to live like Costa Ricans on far less than $1000 per month. Under the new residency law you need to have at least $1000 per month to qualify for residency status which you need to live here legally.

Let’s take a look at how the ticos survive on little money.

1. Most them buy their clothes at second-hand stores. Most of these establishments called “Ropa Americana,” and sell used clothing from the States which is very good condition. I have friend who spends her time searching for bargains at these stores and has found brand name clothing like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, Louise Vuitton handbags and a lot more. Most of said items cost less than $10 dollars. I have been to these “bargain basements” and am amazed at the quality of what is available for almost nothing.
2. Ticos buy their vegetables and fruits at the weekend farmers markets called ferias. At any of these markets you’ll see hundreds of Costa Ricans carrying large bags and/or pushing small carts full of the fruits and vegetables that have purchased at incredibly low prices.
3. Many unmarried adult children live at home and contribute money to their household.
4. Other adult family members do the same thing.
5. Public buses are the cheapest form of transportation and used by the majority of the people who can’t afford cars. You can go anyplace in the country for under $10.
6. Instead of eating at expensive restaurants, thrifty ticos eat breakfast at small family-style establishments called sodas. Most meals only cost a couple of dollars.
7. Ticos on a budget will do their grocery shopping at Pali which is a grocery store with rock-bottom prices.
8. Costa Ricans buy odds and ends like cups, plates, home decorations at discount department stores like Importadora Elizabeth. Most everything is from China and very inexpensive.
9. For medical care ticos depend on the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social which provides universal cradle-to-grave health care for as little as $20 per month. This socialized medical system meets the average person’s health care needs.
10. Ticos also shops at small stores for beauty supplies, some clothing and shoes instead of the expensive American-style malls.
11. Public education is virtually free as are the state-run public universities. So, education is a bargain compared to the U.S. Or Canada.

The bottom line is that if you are a retiree on a budget and want to live inexpensively copy the locals and “When in Rome do as the Romans.”

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about Costa Rica’s wonderful people. In it I basically that the country’s wonderful people are one of the reasons retirees and other should move here. However, if you do decide to move to Costa Rica there are certain rules you have to follow to get the most out of the country and get along with the locals. I have formulated these rules based on my observations during the 30 years I have lived here.

1. Learn the language to the best of your ability to facilitate communication and avoid misunderstandings. Learning Spanish will open up a whole new window of opportunities and enrich your retirement years in Costa Rica.
2. Try to understand the cultural differences and don’t attempt to change the culture because it won’t change for you. ‘When in Rome do as the Romans.”
3. Don’t lend money to a Costa Rican. As they say in Spanish “Si quieres enemigos, presta plata a un amigo.” “If you want enemies, then lend money to a friend.” Costa Ricans are notorious for not paying personal debts.
4. DON’T choose a Costa Rican business partner. Eight out of ten gringos who go into business with Costa Ricans end up getting the ”short end of the stick.” I have seen it over and over again. Ticos tend to go behind one’s back. It is a cultural thing.
5. Don’t be overly generous, especially with your hired help. Don’t give them too many extras and gifts or you will spoil them and they will expect it all of the time. I am not saying to be mean or mistreat them, but don’t go overboard.
6. Ticos generally tend to be “takers” and not “givers.”

Remember! The positive qualities of the Costa Ricans far outweigh the negative.

If you move to Costa Rica to retire you may live longer. Costa Ricans who reach 80 years old have the longest longevity rate in the world from that date on. I was talking to a Canadian friend yesterday who has lived here for 10 years. She says that she looks at least ten years younger than her female friends in Canada. Perhaps it’s the water but it is probably due to the Costa Rica’s less –stressful lifestyle or that what keeps the Costa Ricans younger and healthier just might rub off on those who move here.

Here is an article from Inside Costa Rica that talks about longevity in Costa Rica

Humberto Angulo swears by working hard, drinking castor oil every morning and keeping active is the secret to his longevity. Angulo, a resident of Carrillo, Guanacaste, is getting ready to celebrate his 98th birthday and is looking forward to his 100th.

Angulo told his story to Irene Rodríguez of the La Nación of how he lives today like he did 30 years ago, getting up each morning at 5:30am, feeding the chickens and help out with the house chores.

“I am still here because God wants it, but I have helped him as well”, said Angulo, who shares his stories of how as a child he has gotten up at the early hours of the morning, feeding the animals before heading out to school.

“You must keep moving, so that God sees you want to live”, says Angulo.

The almost 98 year old man lives in area of Guanacaste that is internationally declared a “blue zones”, a region of the world where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years.

In Costa Rica, Carrillo, Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Hojancha and Nandayure, all in Guanacaste, are “blue zones”.

Among other “blue zones” in the world are in Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda, California, and Icaria, Greece.

Scientists and demographers have classified these longevity hot-spots by having common healthy traits and life practices that result in higher-than-normal longevity. The name blue zone seems to be first employed in a scientific article by a team of demographers working on centenarians in Sardinia in 2004.

In Costa Rica life expectancy is 78.7 years.

Currently there are 9.995 Costa Ricans over the age of 90, of which 417 are over 100.

Part of this article Courtesy of Inside Costa Rica

Most people in Costa Rica are very happy while those in the States are into the doom and gloom mode.

In a recent interview Debi Nova, Costa Rica’s famous composer and singer, stated, “The people are what make this country something special.” Debi studied music here and then migrated to the United States to pursue her career in music. She has performed all over the world but still thinks Costa Rican people are the country’s greatest asset. I agree and most of the American retirees here share my opinion. When I do my monthly retirement and relocation tours I always make it a point to talk about the country’s fantastic people.

Besides its excellent weather and natural beauty, Costa Rica’s unique people are probably the country’s most important resource and one of the main factors in considering Costa Rica as a place to live or retire. Costa Ricans proudly call themselves ticos. They affectionately and playfully use this nickname to set themselves apart from their neighbors. This practice is derived from their habit of adding the diminutive suffix -”ico” to words instead of “ito,” as is done in most Spanish-speaking countries. For example, instead of saying un ratito (a little while), ticos say un ratico.

A recent study found the Costa Ricans the most “happy people” in the world.

Costa Ricans are mostly white and of Spanish origin, with a mixture of German, Italian, English and other Europeans who have settled in Costa Rica over the years. There is also a small black population of about two percent, living mainly on the Atlantic coast. In recent times, the country’s stability and prosperity have made it a kind of melting pot for people from less stable Latin American countries, such as neighboring Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba and Argentina.

National Geographic reported several years ago that, when asked why Costa Rica isn’t plagued by political instability and wars like its neighbors, a Costa Rican replied, in typical tico humor, or vacilón, “We are too busy making love and have no time for wars or revolutions.”

Costa Ricans are healthy people and have a life expectancy on par with most first-world countries — 76.3. In fact, they have the highest life expectancy in all of Latin America and just about the same as people in the United States. This is primarily due to the country’s excellent Social Security System that provides “cradle-to-grave” health care.

Generally speaking, the people of Costa Rica love to have fun, to live with “gusto” and know how to enjoy themselves. One has only to go to any local dance hall on a weekend night to see ticos out having a good time, or observe entire families picnicking together on any given Sunday.

So as you can see the people are another reason to live or retire here. I might add that if you really want to get close to the tico and develop friendships, it is essential that you lean some Spanish. The people make great friends!

Most costarican shop for their fruits and vegetables at the weekend farmer’s markets which are held all over the country.

I recently met a single gentleman who lives on a little over $1,000 in Costa Rica. He told me it is tough but he manages to do it. He rents a small apartment in a Costa Rican neighborhood for $250 per month. He shops at the weekend farmers markets, occasionally eats at sodas (small Costa Rican restaurant and uses public transportation all of which are both affordable. Once in a while he will splurge by going to a good restaurant or one of the local watering holes in downtown San José.

He tried living in David Panama but didn’t like it because of the heat and quality of life. It must be pointed out that there are retired Americans living in David because in some ways it is more affordable than Costa Rica. However, as this person found out you really “get what you pay for.” He says it is worthwhile for him to make a few sacrifices so that he can continue to live in Costa Rica on his meager pension. He could never afford to retire any place in the U.S. on what he does here and have the same level of comfort.