Your Complete Guide to Living in Costa Rica
Imagine living in a country where you can experience the beauty of nature at its finest. Sound intriguing? Costa Rica is an absolute paradise for those of you who want to closely observe nature. Located in Central America, Costa Rica is a tropical country where you’ll find astounding sea beaches, dense rainforests, scenic mountains, eclectic flora and fauna and much more. So, if you’re a nature enthusiast, living in Costa Rica will allow you to explore many amazing things. Whether it’s the rich biodiversity or the sunny sea shores, your visit to this magnificent country will simply be the time of your life. In this article, you’ll find the essential aspects of life here that you need to know in order to live a wonderful life in this mesmerising country. So, let’s begin.
Culture
Like any other culture, Costa Rican culture has its own uniqueness and beauty. Your stay in Costa Rica won’t be complete without experiencing its culture. Costa Rica is regarded as one of the happiest countries in the world. So, visiting this wonderful country is a must if you want to make many amazing memories. Costa Ricans affectionately call themselves “Ticos”. Spanish is the official language of the country, with a distinctive accent. Apart from Spanish, there are quite a few indigenous languages as well. And this makes Costa Rica linguistically diverse.
Food
One of the best parts of living in Costa Rica is the local food. You’ll get to taste many amazing and sumptuous dishes that you’ve probably never tried before. The local dishes are simply delicious and incredibly mouth-watering. During your time living in Costa Rica, trying out the local dishes is an experience that you can’t afford to miss. In Costa Rican cuisine, rice and beans are two of the main ingredients and you’ll see them in many dishes. Gallo Pinto is the national dish of Costa Rica and a must-try while living in this beautiful country. So, if you’re visiting Costa Rica, don’t forget to order Gallo Pinto for an unforgettable meal.
Places of Interest
In Costa Rica, there are plenty of places to visit and all of them are equally fascinating and charming. You’ll find astounding green forests, enchanting volcanoes, serene blue beaches, captivating architecture, vibrant cities and much more.
Costa Rica is also an absolute paradise for wildlife lovers. This beautiful country in Latin America is home to many amazing species, many of which you will never seen before. So, for wildlife lovers, Costa Rica is a country that you need on your bucket list. Whether visiting the Manuel Antonio National Park for an unforgettable wildlife experience or witnessing the sheer beauty of the Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica will never fail to amaze you with its natural wonders.
If you love sea beaches, a visit to Tamarindo Beach is a must while living here. The sunset that you’ll get to witness here is simply magical.
And for those who love to enjoy city vibes, San José is the perfect place for you. It is also the capital and the largest city of the country and is visited by hundreds of thousands of expats and travellers every year- for good reason! Located in the centre of the country, this stunning city is surrounded by green forests and tall mountains.
Things to Do
Are you an adrenaline lover who loves to try out different adventure sports? If so, then Costa Rica is the perfect place for you. Here you can enjoy many thrilling adventure sports, which will definitely be worth your while. Apart from that, if discovering the less trodden paths is your thing, you can experience that here as well. There are many picturesque mountains in Costa Rica and trekking in one of those mountains is the experience of a lifetime. If you’re a coffee lover and want to know about the coffee production process, visiting one of the coffee estates in Costa Rica is something that you should also consider.
Here’s some of our highlights:
- Various adventure and water sports activities
- Visit the Diamante Eco Adventure Park
- Rio Celeste Waterfall Hike
- Bajos del Toro Waterfall Hike
- Doka Estate Coffee Tour
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Costa Rica is much less than in many western countries. That is why expats prefer to live here and have an amazing time. Moving to Costa Rica can lead you to experience lots of awesome things at a lower cost. Depending on your needs and wants, the cost of living varies but you should comfortably spend an entire month with a budget of US$ 1200 – US$ 1700.
San José, the capital of Costa Rica, is the most expensive city in the country. A single-bedroom apartment in the city centre can cost you around US$ 450 – US$ 600 per month. For food, you may need to spend between US$ 200 – US$ 400 each month. However, if you don’t visit the restaurants every day and make your own food, you can cut the cost and save more money. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around US$ 6 – US$ 10. If you choose a more expensive one, your bill could range between US$ 20 – US$ 40 per meal. For utilities, including a Wi-Fi connection, US$ 150 – US$ 170 should be sufficient, depending upon the location where you’re staying. For additional purposes like going out for movies, watching games or other small expenses, expect to spend around US$ 70 – US$ 100 per month. So, if you maintain a proper budget, it is possible to save money while living in Costa Rica.
Friendly People
Friendly and nice locals make a place more charming and beautiful. While living in Bali you’ll encounter many local friendly people every day. The warm hospitality of the locals will always make you feel like Bali is your home. Interacting with them can lead you share and hear many amazing stories. Making new friends in Bali is really easy as people here are known for their friendliness. It doesn’t matter which language you speak, their genuine warmth will always create a lasting impression. You may visit tourist attractions, do adventure sports, experience delicious foods but it’s the local people who make your life here the most memorable.
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