Cost of living in Costa Rica
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Per many years Costa Rica has been referred to as the Switzerland of Latin America. And, even today, it continues to attract new residents from abroad.
The easy way of obtaining the residence, the beauty of unspoiled nature and the climate is augmented by the low cost of living.
How much does it cost to live in Costa Rica
Compared to other countries of Central America, Costa Rica has the highest living standards; but compared to Italy we are still a savings.
So what is the answer to the question “How much does it cost to live in Costa Rica”? About 800 euro per month are enough to survive in a dignified manner, managing to satisfy some whim, such as dining out once a week.
For those who want, instead, to live in Costa Rica in luxury you need to consider a higher figure, around 1,400 USD monthly.
The House
The house prices for rent or for sale vary greatly depending on the region and the characteristics. To rent a villa with garden you can spend between 350 and 650 USD a month, while for a small apartment close to the beach you only need a third.
As for the possibility of buying a house, the law attributes to the foreigner who is not a resident of Costa Rica, the same rights to purchase real estate of a Costa Rican citizen. This means you can buy for moving or an investment.
The concept of home is, however, different from the Italian: there does not exist the heating system and the roof is made of sheet metal to comply with the standard antiseismic.
Those who want a maid or a full-time cook should remember that the salary amounts to approximately $195 per month. A gardener it may cost $148 and a driver $264.
As for water bills and light, you have to take into account about $42 per month. For subscriptions to TV and internet they must be added another $52.
Grocery shopping
In local supermarkets you can find local products such as meat, fish, tropical fruit and organic vegetables treated with no chemicals, all products in Costa Rica are 100% natural. Prices are 20% lower than those in large shopping centers, finding any product needed to live well.Costa Rican supermarkets prices are lower by 20 percent compared to those found in large shopping centers.
In the local markets everything costs less and, for those who love fish, you should purchase it directly from the locals with the inscription “mariscos”: since is very fresh and very cheap.Once in the place it is advisable to ask the places where to buy the best products
Costa Rica Offers Tax Advantages
In Costa Rica, the taxation of individuals is based on the principle of territoriality, meaning that all personal income that has a foreign source is tax exempt. Only revenue earned by an individual within Costa Rica is subject to an assessment by the tax authorities. You do not have to pay tax on your Social Security income, pension, investment income, etc. And if you telecommute to a job abroad, have a business or rental property in your home country, online business, or are a freelancer, you do not have to pay income tax in Costa Rica.
Employment income (on a monthly basis) of individuals is subject to a progressive tax of 15%.
For the self-employed, the rates range from 10% to 25%.
Sales tax (the equivalent to VAT) stands at 13%
The school
Public education is excellent and cheap, but often foreigners decide to send their children to international schools. There are, in fact, many schools bilingual or even trilingual.
In addition to the registration fee amounting to 150€, it is necessary to take into account other 230-730€ monthly.
In Costa Rica it is still possible to social progress: the son of a poor family can still aspire to a job completely different from that of his parents.
In addition, the literacy rate reaches 96 percent and the labor force is among the best in Central America.
Transportation
Due to the high taxation of the new car prices are very close to those found in Europe or the United States.
Gasoline, however, is much cheaper than in Italy: enough for a dollar and seven cents for a liter.
Public transportation is very good and inexpensive.
Eat out
Costa Rica’s gastronomy is particularly rich and varied, from fish to meat to typical dishes of the country such as the “Casado” and the “Empanadas” stuffed with cheese.
In Costa Rica there are innumerable selections of international cuisine, including Italian, and you can also enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal in small fast food called “soda”
The Fun
In Costa Rica you can find any kind of fun: for lovers of culture, it is advisable to visit the beautiful museums and the open air concerts that San Jose’s capital has to offer while for the kids there are rides, moon park, aquapark, sports, lots of tours, local fairs and much more.
With regard to entertainment close to nature, Costa Rica can be termed the paradise of ecotourism. A quarter of the territory is protected. A third is covered by national parks, nature reserves and is shelter of many protected species.
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