Niko wrote:
I was on a tour outside the city and the Tico guide and I were talking about stuff...comparing expenses, etc. It seems that my monthly health insurance premium is almost as much as his monthly salary...he said he made about $300 per month. Whether that's accurate or he was just fishing for tips, I dunno. Thought it was interesting, tho.
Niko
If he was a tourists taxi driver, then he was most likely fishing for tips. I don't blame them. Many taxi drivers work hard for very small wages.
For what its worth, here is what I know as I was trying to help a local get a job:
The average wage in CR is between 1,000 and 2,000 Colones per hour. Assuming a 2,000 hour work year, this is between $4,000 and $8,000 USD per year.
I'll give a few real life examples:
I know someone who works at a Mas X Menos. He makes 75,000 C every 2 weeks or $300 per month or $3,600 per year. This is on the low end of the pay scale. This also assumes he works 40 hours per week.
My maid makes about 5,000 C per day and works about 5 days a week. Assuming she works all year-round (which I know she doesn't) she makes around $2,500 per year.
My dentists makes about $12,000 per year.
I have a friend who works for a software company that makes $22 per day. He is at the management or executive level. This is just under $6,000 per year.
ON THE CONTRAST:
I know several very succesful HDR prostitutes. They work between 5 and 6 days week. They, practically, never go home without $100 (remember this is also tax free). On several nights, they will get TLNs at $300. Well..... let's run the numbers gents... Lets say she only gets 1 TLN per week and she works 5 days per week, not 6. This means she earns....
...drumb roll....
about $36,000 US per year.

This doesn't include their steady stream of variable side income, which is a result of gringos being suckered into sending them money for a fantasy make-believe relationship.
This triples the salary of a dentist.
Its not a lot of money by US standards, but in CR, it is a TON of money. Don't worry guys... with some exceptions... they BLOW most of it away on clothing, SUVs, high-grade cell phones and the like. None the less, their net bottom line is usually about the same as a taxi driver making about $6,000 per year.
Point in case:
I live in CR and rent cheap shitty cars from time-to-time. Okay, you can call me a cheap bastard. Thats cool and my feelings aren't hurt. Because, I'm actually comfortable, but don't like to dump money on non-essential shit in a foreign country, that I'm not certain I even belong in. (This is why you will find my driving a shitbox from time-to-time in CR and negotiating with chicas to the point where I'm now called chief "what" blanket)

.
Well, anyway, here is a short story to prove my point. I was making my way to the gas station in Escazu and was aggressively cut-off by a HDR prostitute in a brand-new Nissan Xterra, on her way to the pump. When she beat me to the pump, almost smashing my little rental shitbox to pieces, she had the courtesy to poke her head out of the window and flip me off. Her car was certainly first class, but didn't her attitude suck???
Being the soft-bellied gringo that I am.... I smiled back, blew her a kiss, flipped her off and then coaxed my shitbox to a different pump.
The bottom line: These gals all weave bullshit stories of woe and misery. Yet, some make more money then the highest cast in their society. Don't get me wrong. I'd never trade my life for theirs. SOME DO HAVE A HARD TIME. HOWEVER, MANY ARE WELL-OFF AND ARE LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.