www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Chronic,

Whatever you do, do not rent from anything on Craigs List. Unless it is Tico owned which is unlikely. I would just forget about CL completely. I have seen Gringos and gringas advertising apartments on CL that were 2 or 3x the price you would find locally. Hopefully, your company will help you find a place. If not, it is best to use the "ground game." You don't say your Spanish level so maybe befriend a chica to help you. I think it's best to rent from a Tico or a gringo who lives in the States. CR Times, AM costa Rica and other papers are good starting points. CL is a rip off in 90% of instances. Heredia is a nice place. Their mall is more modern than most US cities. The chicas are top notch. There is a boulevard, I forget the name, that is usually hopping with non pro chicas.

Enjoy.

Oh, one more thing, do not pay too big of a deposit. And be sure, be very sure, you are dealing with the owner. There are scams, especially on CL, where someone(sadly, normally a gringo/gringas) will try to rent you an apartment that is not theirs'. Cuidado!

Bueno Suerte!

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Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

If I were that age again and had that opportunity (knowing what I know now) I would go for it. It might be a little rough until you get to know your way around, but in time that salary should be plenty for a young thrifty guy, if you don't have a weakness for the wrong things. Biggest and most useless expense for anyone on a budget here is a car. If you're working in Heredia, get a place in Heredia. You don't have to spend any $600 a month to find a nice place. Half of that should do it. Then learn what buses to take and when to take taxis. You will save tons. A lot of the advice you will get here is from affluent gringos who are accustomed to a certain lifestyle and can't imagine life otherwise. If you are adaptable, that salary should be plenty. And did anyone mention the women here?

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

I agree with Bilko. I couldn't do it only because I know I couldn't keep myself out of the MP's and I'm not much in to cooking for myself. I still think it would be hard to find a nice place for $300 or less. I know it can be had in Cartago but that's a different animal. And I wouldn't be able to live without silly things like a cellphone, cable and internet access. High speed internet access. Many people also opt for an alarm. If not an alarm, the "local" security cop usually gets a monthly stipend from the residencial residents. And we all know that life "is what it is" and unexpected expense always come up. Will you ever need any new shoes? Clothes? I mean, if you are like me, those things can have a long shelf life but they don't last forever. The one thing not mentioned is the cruelest expense of all......INFLATION. If you are not steadily making more, inflation will drown you. Again, just my 2 colones. I reiterate, if you can make it on $20K gross per year, good for you. I just know I couldn't do it. Realistically most gringos would probaby have a hard time with it. And if you take a marginal tax rate of about 15% then you are down to $17K a year. That's about $1400/month. Doable but, dump the bad habits and/or pick up a room mate.

dapanz1

Talk to BangBang57. He is living what you are proposing.

_________________
"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

It's true there is nothing to do in Cartago and yes, it is a bit on the cool side. One more downside, it rains almost everyday in the afternoon. And it appears the Beaner and I agree, you can't really find a decent place for less than say $500.

dapanz1

Mi novia used to live in Cartago. She used to commute to SJ by bus daily. I believe that the bus stops running at midnight (or at least runs less frequently). Cartago is much more tranquillo than SJ. It still has a mall, cinemas, McDonalds and other necessities. I don't know if I would enjoy the commute to SJ though.

She now lives in Guadalupe. She is moving from her $200/mo shoebox 1br casa to a much better $250/mo casa in a better part of Guadalupe next week. Guadalupe wouldn't be my first choice of areas to live but thousands of ticos live there and do just fine. There is good bus service to downtown and the bus parada is less than a block west of the downtown Holiday Inn; a fairly convenient location for downtown. There is also decent direct bus service from central Guadalupe to other areas outside of SJ.

I wouldn't rule out Guadalupe as long as you pick you neighborhood carefully. It has plenty of shopping, services and medical care in the area. It could be a viable budget option.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Cartago has a mall now? When was that built. Do you mean the Terra Mall, built about six years ago, in Tres Rios?

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Yes, you could probably survive on $20K per year but here is something else to consider: Are you going to live in CR for the rest of your life? If not you will need to save for your return to the USA. The sticker shock on housing, food and transportation could be overwhelming.

Also saving something for your retirement like a 401(K) or Roth IRA would be another consideration.

In this day and age you can't just "live for today", although many do.

Well, sort of a mall. It's the shopping center near the McDonalds. Terra Mall is still in Tres Rios.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

It is a small mall. The largest store in the mall is a farmacia. A very small food court, a few shoe/clothes stores. It is NOT Terra Mall. Terra Mall is off the Autopista. As for the buses, I'm not sure they run as late as midnight. I was actully thinking more like 9pm to tell you the truth. I am not sure though.

dapanz1

JeJeJe!
Is that an invitation Greengo?
I know that there are a bunch of us who would really like to meet the, um, oddball, genious, psyco behind the cryptic posts!

Post the directions and I'll bring treats for the puppies!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Where is Cariari? Cost of living?

Beaner-I like the Moravia suggestion....I have met many hotties who live there

PURA VIDA!

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Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

I had a novia in Cartago about seven years ago...I've been in that shopping center (near McDonalds) many times. It is near the hospital (Max Peralta) as you enter Cartago from San Jose. Many times I enjoyed eating at the Burger King and watching the chicas across the street next to the park. Dapanz1 knows what I'm talking about

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I have posted many times about my income ($1500 per month), and my lifestyle here, and many members can varify how I live. I have a 2 bedroom "American" condo (meaning it has a hot water tank and hot water in the kitchen and bath. It is fully furnished including TV, Microwave, and cloths washer and dryer. It is in a very safe condo building with a guard 12 hours a day, inclosed parking, etc. and is located in San Pedro; a 10 minute bus ride to down town SJ. I pay $450 per month including the condo fee. There are 2 other gringos living in the same building paying more or less the same. With electric, phone, cable, and internet (Hi speed) I spend about $600 per month.

I spend about $150-200 per month on groceries and household supplies (I do a lot of cooking because I enjoy it). But as other have said many imported items are more expensive here than in the states. I buy most food idems in places like the farmers market, Central market and a couple of other local markets. In actuality with the cost of many food items here, the high cost of electricity, and the low cost of meals in many of the local "sodas" (casadas for c1700-c2000 including the drank), it is really just as cheep to eat out in sodas.

This leaves me with about $175 per week for "entertainment". I spend very little on things like cloths because i had "mucho" that I brought with me. As anyone that knows me can tell you, I session in MPs 4-5 times per week, have several SL/DR chicas that i have known for a long time that come to my house for very little money--one SL regular that never comes off "cien" spent 4 hours here a couple weeks ago for c20000 (i also fixed dinner, have a bar with anything she might want to drank, she watched her telenovias, and she took 2 "hot" showers)!!!! I also know a couple of "non pros".

As most who know me will tell you, NO I do not have a "rich" lifestyle, I do not have the equivalant of a $3000 a month appartment in the states, I do not have (nor need) a car, nor do I eat out in expensive resturants more than maybe 1 or 2 times a month. BUT, I live a life many guys say they wish the had. Muy tranquilo, no pressure, no bills, no one telling me what I can and can not do- NO GRINGA!!!!!!!!!!!! And ALL the sex with very sexi, young chicas this old man can handle

SO YES, IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Actually, BangBang, you probably have one of the "richest" lifestyles of any of the members here. You are living on your terms and that's priceless!

Good on you.
Wit