www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This topic has probably been covered, if not explicitly, then in various iterations. But I do not recall seeing it recently. BK(I am never going home again)Tuna started a thread listing the number one reason he lives in Costa Rica. He was also asked the negative points about Costa Rica. He named a few, but because he is an optimist at heart, he listed very few. That got me to thinking about the various small differences between the good ol’ USA and Costa Rica. Some of them are significant, and some trivial. For example, the poor quality of toilet paper in CR is a small thing and seems trivial, but then again, I found myself bring a roll of Charmin on the last trip.

We all know the big differences, such as the availability of beautiful inexpensive Latina poosy, to name only one. What are the small differences though?

Here are a few of my immediate observations and I would enjoy seeing your input:


Negative:

Toilet paper: That Costa Rican stuff must be meant for the bad plumbing, because it dissolves before it ever reaches my ass (though that is a long trip)

Half and half: necessary for morning coffee and white Russians. And yes El Ciego, I know that I can get as much “leche” as I want at Zona Blue.

Can’t get a decent burger (subset of “can’t find a decent steak”): Although Shawn4DelRey and I had a decent burger at the New York Bar, by and large I find the Costa Rican burgers inedible. The meat is not fresh, the meat to bun ratio is generally improper, the cheese doesn’t seem to melt properly, and the tomatoes are sliced a half inch thick. I like all kinds of burgers, from In’n’Out, to sliders to the gourmet restaurant burgers. Seems the good ones have in common fresh beef and fresh buns.

Pedestrian Crossing and right of way: I was surprised just how indifferent drivers are to pedestrians. I was crossing the street on a green light, and a taxi just about clipped me at the knee. He was traveling at the same direction as me, but turned left when he almost hit me. I could not have anticipated him. I am now very cautious. I accept this situation as a result of the lack of a US style tort system. (corresponding positive: fewer lawyers).

Prices: For many items I see in the stores, the prices are so high that I do not see how the Ticos manage. I was amazed at the price for beer, sodas, and sundries at the Max o menos. Housing and many other essentials are higher than one would expect for the average income.

Poor phone service: this is something I really take for granted here at home. It seems that half the calls I make in Costa Rica vanish into the ether.

Late maid service: I have stayed in several different hotels in various parts of Costa Rica. For all of them, it seems that maid service before noon is not a priority and sometimes does not happen until after 4:00.

Costa Rican’s don’t wear shorts in the city: When I go on vacation to a warm locale, I enjoy wearing shorts. However, in order to “blend in,” I refrain from doing so. Shorts and sandals are much more comfortable on some of the hot days in San Jose. Having said that, I realize that my not wearing shorts might constitute a “positive” for anyone looking at me.

Costa Rican coinage: These are some big ass coins and you can collect several pounds of worthless money in your pockets in a relatively short time.

Positives:

That great duty free store in the airport. Cheap booze!

Ticos are patient and indulgent of Americans: Perhaps this is an outgrowth of not having an army, but the Ticos I have met are amazingly patient and friendly towards norteamericanos. Do you think I am right on this one?

Free breakfasts served at most hotels: It seems that most hotels with a kitchen serve a free hot breakfast. High five!

Delicious fresh pineapple served at breakfast. This stuff is every bit as good as the fresh pineapple in Hawaii that I love so much.

Ciaociao

You can get a decent "American Style" burger in the resturant of the Courtyard by Marriott in Escazu.
Phone service is good and has improved since I got my Vonage line to the states. PS: Local phone service costs about 6 bucks a month. What does it cost in the states?
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

You started this thread with a reference to BK Tuna's thread about why he is NEVER going back to the States.Then you procede to list all the negatives that are mostly associated to "vacationing"here in CR. Many of thoses inconveniences disappear when you live here. (such as many US brands of toilet paper are available in the markets) I also don't understand your comments about the cost of living here. I really don't see how I could approach my standard of living in the States that I have here,even for twice the money. (food is much cheaper...fresh fruit like cantaloupes as big as your head for 30 cents a piece) You are correct that crossing the street in SJ can be an adventure. Most guys don't understand this but,the Ticos get insurance CREDITS for every Gringo they pick off. It has something to do with INS the Insurance monopoly,the different Policias,and the Tourism Board.

Hey, that explains everything. I have seen several Tico cabbies floor it as I tried crossing the street. The intimidation factor given by that red bumper that would hit me right at the knee is something I can't seem to shake. And I'll swear some of them have that look in their eyes that says something like "vente credito! vente credito!!!"

-PA1984

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-PA*

If you buy imported american brands, the costs is as much if not more than the US. Local products are dirt cheap (fresh Pineapple for a buck)

The costs are cheaper than the US but when you compare costs to average salary here it is a horrendous ratio.

Once again, I will state that I like it here and am staying for the forseeable future.

Do not be fooled into thinking that Ticos like us all that much. We are meal tickets and they are passive aggressive by nature (obviously I am generalizing)

I am glad CiaoCiao asked about the negatives, anyone considering the move shoudl know the good and bad.

Anyone considering the move should come down and rent a furnished apt for at least six months before buying property here. My guess is many will choose to go back home or elsewhere. No idea what the ratio is though.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

I also am puzzled by the comments concerning the "high cost of living" in CR that appear with some frequency in various thread on the board.

Somethings such as appliances, electronics, gourmet United States food products, etc. are frighteningly expensive when compared to the United States. However they are not things one buys frequently. When you compare the price of things you use daily the cost of living is much less than the US.

Utilities are cheap, fresh fruit is cheap, taxis are cheap, you can get a delicious meal of meat, rice & beans, plantains, salad and natural beverage for less than $3.00 at sodas all over town, a cleaning lady is cheap, getting your clothes washed is cheap, getting your hair cut is cheap, the list of things that make up your monthly costs goes on and on and all are much cheaper than in the United States. Things you purchase less frequently also are cheaper than then the US, Doctor, Dentist, Car Insurance, no heat or AC required, etc.

All in all I do not think CR is expensive as compared to the US. It is more expensive than other Central American countries but I think it has much more to offer for that price difference.

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

And most importantly, GETTING LAID is cheap (relatively speaking)...

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

Can not verify the accuracy of this but have read on various CR discussion groups that 70% of expatriates return home or move to another country within the first two years. There is definitely a need to make an adjustment in your approach to life to live in a third world country.

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

You're right on the money about the TP in this country, but it doesn't end there, it's all paper products. For the surprising amount of trees around, the napkins and TP here are the worst quality I've ever seen....

Costa Rica has been on the rise for prices, much more dramatically in the past 2 years. I've been living here for 4+ years, and I've seen an increase in my monthly grocery bill by about double in the past 2 years.

1. I buy mainly US or high quality food products. I like Miracle Whip, Heinz, name brand snacks, soda, and condiments. I like lomito and boneless/skinless chicken, and I won't buy it at Pali ! Automercado, Mas x Menos, or Hipermas....

2. Santa Ana and Escazu have more than double the standard water and electricity rates from the rest of the country. They just turned down another request to raise them 30%. I have a 1400 sqft condo with 3 people, and it runs $40 p/mo water, $120 to $170 p/mo electricity. The higher figure is if I use air conditioning or not. I used to have gas appliances, then it was $40 p/mo electricity and $30 p/mo gas.

3. Rent for a "US Style" home is not cheap, $600 to $1500 p/mo. Purchasing a US Style home is about the same as Las Vegas, in a decent area. If you want to live like a beach-bum, enjoy. If you can get by in some rat infested drug haven, good luck. But if you're looking for US Standards for living conditions, prepare to pay for it.

Without a doubt, Costa Rica has many benefits, the 2 best being readily available females and sunshine(warmth). Other than those 2, I'd have to say the rest is a wash....

Personally, if I'm dead-set to have US standards, I'll stay in the US.

When moving to a developing country, you need to be a little flexible.

Many good points made here both pro and con as reasons for living, or not living in Costa Rica. I might add another personal reason that I have for not living there....the inability to speak the language. I have always contended that Costa Rica is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. After 30 days in CR, I'm ready to go back to the states, but after 5 months in the states, I'm ready to go back to CR.

ID's mention that 70% of ex-pats return home or move to another country within the first 2 years, would seem to me to be quite accurate. Indeed, a personal observation that I have made is that by and large, many Americans I've encountered who live in Costa Rica do not come across as being content.

As mentioned by another poster...I think it would be a good idea for anyone contemplating a move to CR, to rent a place for a six month trial, as opposed to buying......just to see how it goes.

As always....YMMV
Zebra

I can see how someone who demands everything the way it was back home would find costs high and life frustrating. My view is that if you want things just like they are in the USA, well, why leave the USA? pu*sy?

I've posted my list of negatives previously. I also said I have no intention of ever living in the USA again. I have met more than one guy down here who basically wasn't going to be happy no matter where he went. I hear guys touting Nicaragua as the new promised land. Well, it is said to be cheaper, and the women are supposedly less 'spoiled' or something. My view is that if you can't get by in Costa Rica, I doubt you'll be able to get Miracle Whip cheaper in Nicaragua. I also think if you can't find acceptable company in Costa Rica, I suspect the problem lies within who's looking rather than the female population here.

Life here is not for everyone, absolutely. If you move here thinking it'll be just like the USA but with perfect weather and cheap nookie you will be disappointed.

Moving here you will learn as much about yourself as you will about Costa Rica. You may find that you CAN live by nookie alone. Or not. I leave you witn a quote from J. P. Donleavy:

When you don't have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it's sex. When you have both, it's health. If everything is simply jake, then you're frightened of death.

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

Love this quote as well as your whole post. Even with a Wal-mart in every town, it's going to be a long time before anyone mistakes anywhere in Costa Rica for surburban Indianapolis, and thank God for that.

There certainly is a happy medium to be found between a "rat-infested drug haven" and a $1,500 per month U.S.-style home. And "a delicious meal of meat, rice & beans, plantains, salad and natural beverage for less than $3.00 at sodas all over town" sure sounds damn nice to me. As well as a warm chica (or two, or three) to snuggle up with on different nights of the week - at my pleasure.

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CiaoCiao,
It’s always good to see some “thought provoking” threads, and this one has really made me ponder MY situation. I’m sure if you talked to enough people, that the list of “differences” between CR & the USA would be a mile long, but here’s my dos colones. Sorry for the length of this post, but it really got me thinking.

First, let’s ask some simple questions: First of all….Why do we GO to CR? Why do we RETURN to CR? Why have some members decided to relocate, and completely MOVE their lives to CR? I’ll bet you’d get plenty of diversified answers to these questions. And I know that the more time you spend in CR, the more differences you’ll find between the two countries. But I believe that the answers would all be different, due to
(and depending on) the person’s REAL reason for being in CR in the first place.

Naturally, for us non-residents of CR, our reasons for being in CR, as well as our agenda while we’re in country, are much different than the people who reside in CR. And because most of us are there “short term”, the differences that we notice (between CR & the USA) will be entirely different than those differences that the “residents” see every day.

This brings up another point. I’m sure that many members dream about living in CR full time. We already know that a handful of our members live there full time. Plus, we see comments all the time, from members
who can foresee themselves living there in the future, some who have already started to put their plan(s) in motion. But ultimately, (this is for residents) why did you originally move to CR full time? And (this is for future CR resident dreamers) what are your reasons for wanting to move to CR full time?

Do you simply want to get away from the rat race in the good ole USA? Is it for legal reasons? Do you just want a change of scenery? Are you searching for a better “quality of life”? Do you want a never-ending stream of chica’s in your bed? Are you looking for a less expensive lifestyle? Are you looking to live in a different climate? Or is it something else?

Personally, I learn more and more about CR with every trip I make. I see more (and learn more) about the differences between our two cultures. I learn more about the Tico’s, and their lifestyles. I learn more of the “inner-workings” of the people. I learn more about business and finance in CR. I learn more about the country, and the geography. But, along with this, I also learn more about myself, and what type of life that I’d like for my future.

I currently own three condo’s, and 2 businesses in CR. I have a Tico abogado (attorney). I have three Offshore Corporations, registered in CR. I have a Tico business partner. I have a local CR property management company, who handles my real estate holdings and rentals. I have an office in the lobby of a beachside hotel in Guanacaste. I have accounts at two different local banks in CR. I have a CR Driver’s license. And I have many friends in CR. But, even with all this, I still could NOT live there full time. As other posters have already said…It’s not for everybody. And based on what I’ve learned, seen and experienced, living in CR (full time) is not for me. But it's great to see members living there full time, and loving it, with no regrets.

For the past 3 years, I’ve been running many different scenario’s in my head, regarding what it would be like if I relocated my life to CR, full time. Financially, I would have no problem. But, mentally / emotionally ? I couldn’t do it. Even with my legal and financial ties to Costa Rica, I could never live there full time. I feel like I would be sacrificing too much. I feel that I would be giving up too much. Granted, life in the good ole USA ain’t what it used to be, but there are still too many “positives” for me to leave it all behind. Eventually, I might think different, but for now, I don’t think I could do it.

It would be tough to leave family behind, but I know that they’re only a plane ride away. I am not anywhere near fluent in Español, but I’m sure it wouldn’t take long, if I were to immerse myself in the culture. There are so many “pro’s & cons” to both situations, living in the USA and living in CR. But for me, I’ve come to a conclusion that I hope will pacify both sides of the equation.

In approximately 3 – 4 years, I plan to start taking “extended” vacations to CR (or wherever). I still intend to keep a home in the USA, but I will probably spend one month at a time in CR, every 3 or 4 months. For me, this would be better than leaving everything behind, and moving to CR full time. I will be able to maintain a nice residual income from various business interests and investments in the USA and CR. And I can still enjoy my life while I’m in CR. After a month in CR, I return to the USA, back to the “real world”. I take care of my domestic, legal and financial stuff for the next 90 days in the USA, as I plan for my next 30 day stay in CR (or Colombia or Panama or Thailand, etc).

To me, this seems like a win-win situation, where I get to enjoy the best of both worlds. By the time I start getting fed up with all the bullsh*t in the USA, it’ll be time to head to CR for another month of R & R. And by the time I start to miss my life back in the USA, it’ll be time to get on a plane and head home to the USA for another 90 days.

Anyway, that’s my plan. And (I think) by doing things this way, it’ll make it easier to handle the differences, both positive as well as negative, between CR and the USA. Then again, I could be wrong!

Again, CiaoCiao, thanks for starting this thread, and I’m sorry if I went too far off course. Carry on……..

Mucho Gusto

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

MG,

I remember us talking a bit about all of this on one of the last two trips, and I can certainly see where you are coming from. I think a large part of anyone's desire to make the kind of major relocation/lifestyle change we're talking about here depends as much upon how "entrenched" you are in your current situation - as well as your overall satisfaction level with life in the U.S. - as the perceived merits of living in CR. Sure, if you own a home, are married with Ch*ldren, have close family ties, have a job you enjoy, etc., you're going to be much less likely to want to pull all that up by the roots and make this sort of change.

In my case, none of that applies. And my overall satisfaction level with life in the U.S. - especially after six-plus years of Bush & company - is at an all-time low. So for me, if I can find a way to make it work financially (which looks promising), it's a no-brainer.

Will I find true happiness in CR? Who knows - but I can almost guarantee from my experiences during 16 trips over the past two years that I'll be happier . And life is short - why deny yourself the opportunity to try it and find out?

GR

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