www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I was aware of Mercado Borbon. It is the more food-oriented market a block or 2 NW of the Mercado Central. I was also aware that these places get started early. I was NOT aware they start business at 1AM! I was figuring they got STARTED around 5-6AM not that they packed up at those times.

Also, that area is immediately north of the Coca Cola area which at night can be one of the most dangerous areas in SJ to hang out. How wise (or dangerous) did it seem to you to go there at those hours with a pocket full of grocery money? Did it really seem like a safe enough place to be for a gringo to be alone while it was still dark out?

I should start a thread to find out who's expenses are the most costly

I'm not quite in that boat yet, but some friends of mine moved back to the USA this year because it ended up being cheaper for the same standard of living. Once you get used to a certain lifestyle the costs escalate, and costa rica is not friendly to people with finer tastes at all.

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it is a VERY dangerous area at night, and I would not recommend going alone, although it becomes much less dangerous when you go to the market itself and there are people everywhere buying.

I went with a go who owns a small restaraunt and his wife, AND we parked in a secure parking area that's right next to the market. Walking in could be pretty dangerous, although I noticed plenty of people doing that too.

Here's an interesting article in today's Inside Costa Rica newspaper:

More than ¢450.000 Needed For Family of Four To Meet Basic Needs
A recent survey by the Spanish language daily, Al Día, reveals that a family of four needs an income of ¢447.788 (us$904) monthly to meet living expenses, including the cost of food, water, electricity, telephone (home phone and cellular), bus fares, a couple of nights out to a restaurant and payment of a mortgage of ¢20 million colones (us$40.500).

That figure is much higher that the ¢107.220 colones the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo (INEC) says is needed to make up the basic food basket and more than twice the average income of ¢259.722 colones. According to the INEC, general incomes range from ¢223.350 monthly paid by private business to ¢371.027 paid by the central government and ¢461.500 paid by the government institutions and agencies.

The Al Día calculates that if the family lives outside of San José, like Alajuela for instance, and require use a vehicle, the monthly cost increases to ¢575.848, not taking into account the recent round of increases in fuel that go into effect later this week, as well as the recent increases in food items such as milk, rice and beans.

For the director of the Oficina de Apoyo al Consumidor (Consumer Support), Cynthia Zapata, says that people should avoid getting into debt as much as possible. "One has to be strict and do all possible to keep control of the budget. The current condition shows that people are not saving", said Zapata.

Financial expert, Miguel Díaz, advises that families should budget their expenses. "It is very difficult to send a Ch*ld to school, where they see a schoolmate with an iPod, and of course want one also, but one has to say no to avoid financial imbalances", said Díaz.

The following is a sample monthly budget for a family of four as prepared by the Al Día:
Basic Food Basket ¢107.220
Electricity ¢11.928
Water ¢5.576
Cellular Telephone ¢11.000
Home Telephone ¢7.500
Mortgage ¢240.000
Bus Fares (for 2) ¢17.500
Two Visits to a Restaurant ¢20.000
Domestic Help - 4 days ¢12.864

If living outside San José (Alajueal for example) add ¢14.200

If a vehicle is owned add:
Gasoline ¢43.348
Car Payment * ¢84.712
City Bus Fare ( 1 person) ¢8.500

If Ch*ldren in daycare add:
Monthly cost ¢75.000
Domestic help ¢96.531
Extra Cellular Phone Cost ¢11.000

If family enjoys cable television add:
Monthly cost ¢12.500

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Greengo, your posts have been pretty different but that's your right. However, when you start making fun of an ethnic group, I'll be speaking up. I'm of Chinese descent and I take great offense at this tasteless attempt at humor. While I'm sure it was in jest, in the interests of peace and harmony, I respectfully ask that you cease with the direction you're going with the accented English and any other future ethnic references.

In this context, I believe the term "chino" refers to a "laced" cigarette and has nothing to do with any ethnic group, but I could be wrong.

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"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

I was referencing the "klill slum flucker" remark which is a play on Asians who cannot speak English well because it is their second language. They tend not to be able to pronounce certain English words without an "L" inflection because their native language does. Much like some of us who cannot roll our tongues ('m one of them) and, thus, cannot pronounce certain Spanish or German words properly.

Greengo, I'll be arriving in San Jose on Friday. I'll be happy to discuss it with you in person. Since I was trying to be respectful with my request, I was asking nicely. But since you your response is to call me an asshole, I'll be more than happy to back my words with some action. Name the place.

Name a place.

Obviously you're just a talker who needs to use a walker.

Can't be man enough to talk straight can you? You hide behind some empty words and attempt to weasel your way around the situation. Come see me face to face. Is that too tough for you to acknowledge?

Nothing but hot air. I rest my case.

Well, since you won't answer to a challenge, how about I offer to buy you a beer and we can laugh about this?