www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Can a decent apartment in or near the Gulch be had for around 200 dollars a month in San Jose? Also, is it fairly easy to set up an apartment for rent in San Jose for a couple months a year (June/July)?

In addition to my trips, I'd like to see what it is like living in Costa Rica before I make the commitment.

Any info, as usual, is appreciated!!

Pura Vida,

F'Cat

200 a month?

Try the Circus cardboard Inn...


Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

So what is a bargain rate then? 300 a month? Or am I still way too low?

_________________
"Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation ... The other eight are unimportant."

HENRY MILLER, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

Depends what you mean by "decent"... chicas live in apartments that cheap and you could probably find one but if you want to be in a relatively safe area with comforts like furniture, internet and hot water maybe at least 500(?)

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Rather then rely on the word of those who do not live in Costa Rica, no less in or near the gulch, why not PM Bilko or BangBang57 who do?

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have already "pm'd" Bangbang. I'll the other. Thanks for the advice!!

F'Cat

_________________
"Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation ... The other eight are unimportant."

HENRY MILLER, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

I think VIsta Linda is about $350 a month. There a 15 minute bus ride from the gultch. Here's a link.
http://www.vistalindaapartments.com/main.html

_________________
"Guess what?! I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!"
Christopher Walken

$450 per month for a one bedroom apartment(per the web site). That not really that cheap. Only several hundred a month less than many in my state and I live in a nice area. I thought Costa Rica was supposed to be cheap.

Ah Ha! Now you're catching on....ain't nothing in Costa Rica "cheap" except maybe trouble.

You have got to penetrate the infrastructure of the local community to get "good" or "local" housing deals and those deals may not be up to your standards....particularly given, as you state, "....I live in a nice area....". Once famed Escazu has "nice" places....for a bunch of money.....and even as far away as San Ramon a "good deal" up to, anyway, MY standards is not an easy thing to come by.

Irish Drifter and some of the others on the board may have access to data which will lead to "quality" housing.....but it ain't ever going to be "cheap"....no siree bobcattail....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

If you want a place for just 2 months that limits your choices. Most places are unfurnished and require a lease and a deposit.

Williams apts in San Pedro has openings. The furnished 1 bedroom is 275$ plus utilities. No lease and refundable deposit. I would not call this place nice but it is OK.

CR is one of the most expensive countries south of the border.

I would say a decent apt close to the gulch would cost about 400 to 500$

That is why vistalinda at 450$ is always popular, hard to beat.

Brother Freedomcat--I'm truly not busting your stones here but what led you to believe that Costa Rica especially the SJ Metro area would be cheap? If P4P was legal in the US, it would be a lot less expensive. Was the inexpensive paid sex in the Gulch what led you astray? Remember, please that CR has 70K-100K Gringos living in it which inevitably leads to price inflation and the Greater SJ area has the bulk of Gringo single males and the bulk of middle-income Ticos, both of which lead to higher market prices.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Brother JazzboCR,

I really wasn't sure what to expect with the prices. I met a couple gents from the SL that live in CR. I can't remember the exact locations, but one lived an hour and a half from SJ and was paying 345 for everything, including high speed internet, 2 BR, etc etc. The other stated he was paying 250 just outside SJ.

I also checked out a post from 2007 describing decent apartments for rent near the DR with security, furnished, etc for 250 dollars.

I knew you could get a good place for the 400-500 dollar range, but I am trying to keep costs low and would go for a flat not too "ghetto" or decrepit but basic for 200-300. Of course safety and location are paramount factors to consider. Obviously close to the Gulch would be ideal.

I never realized so many Gringos lived in greater San Jose!! Just curious, where do you get those sort of specific stats from?

Pura Vida,

The F'Cat

_________________
"Sex is one of the nine reasons for reincarnation ... The other eight are unimportant."

HENRY MILLER, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch

The 70K-100K are for all over CR especially of course the Gringo Coast (Guanacaste Province). That's why Liberia Airport was expanded so greatly--to service them so they wouldn't have to go near SJ. The figures came from the 2-day Seminar provided by ARCR to prospective Gringo immigrants. Highly recommended if you plan to re-settle here. A very professionally run organization that tries inasmuch as it can to influence CR govt. policy, and otherwise hip you up and make it easier to settle here. BTW, their figures show that 50% of immigrants only last 2 years here before calling it quits and moving back to wherever they came from. Something to think about.
www.arcr.net

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I would be interested where that 70-100K figure came from. The U.S. Embassy estimates that there are about 50K U.S. citizens in Costa Rica on any given day. That figure includes residents, tourists, business people, etc. While there are other North Americans you might be including in your number I seriously doubt that there are a sufficient number of them to make 70-100K a realistic number.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

costa rica has over 100k north americans at any given moment according to CR government figures.

counting permanent or perpetual tourists and visitors, there are a lot of north americans in CR.

http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/trav ... -drop/1738

I would not put great stock in any info coming from the state department.

they are still looking for the large invisible iranian embassy compound in nicaragua.

anyway, phoenix rising has some good leads to.

might try pm'ing him.

and if your spanish is ok, try looking in the paper La Nacion

http://wvw.economicos.com/homeBienesAlquiler.aspx

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