www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Wow. I've been living here since 2006. I just called and a Big Mac Combo meal cost $5.82 including tax in Smyrna, GA. Why would it cost MORE in a third world country, where labor is $2.00 an hour plus CAJA ?

Why ? Because real estate here cost Double.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

For items that are pricey this is what I have done. First I go in alone to negotiate a price. A day or two later get a Tica/Tico to go in alone and get a price on the same item/service. You can even give them a small propina based on how low they negotiate the deal for you.

A couple of years back I was in Lima and wanted to buy this expensive hand made item of clothing as a souvenir for my mother. I got the price by myself and then sent a chica who I knew well, back in the next day. Her price was roughly 1/4 what I had been quoted. The chica went and got me as I was waiting outside the store.

When I went to pay for the item the clerk tried to charge me the gringo price with the chica standing right there! The chica tore into the clerk and they started arguing in rapid Spanish. After a minute or two of this I told the chica ,lets go as It wasn't worth the effort. As we were walking out the clerk caved in and I got the item for what the chica was quoted.

The chica later explained to me that the clerk essentially accused her of being a traitor for helping a Gringo take advantage of her own people. By the way, you need to find a local that is somewhat trustworthy for this to work. For me that would not include any taxi drivers.

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

Before my wife (then gf) came to the US, I would come down to CR to see her. If I wanted to buy her something, I would wait outside the store and I'd give her the money and she's buy a pair of jeans for $20. If I was with her, it would be closer to $40.

Everybody Im in CR and a wendys happy meal is 2300 colones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mcdonalds combo meal is $7.75 at Miami airport. So Costa Rica is actually cheaper.!!!!

How much for mcdonalds combo???

Big Mac combo at the Multi Plaza in Escazu yesterday cost c2600, about $5.16 cents: the sign read, "Promotion". This seems better.

My two pieces of fried chicken, breast and wing, cost c1950.

The Play Electronics store has a 36" ceramic 5 burner cooktop for C249,000. The sign read 50% off. My ex dropped a bottle from the top cabinet and cracked mine. This was a great buy for Costa Rica.

Listerine Cool Mint 1.5L
cost
$5.20 at Sams Club in the USA (including tax)
$12.28 or c6195 at Pricesmart.
More than Double !

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Prices in Escazu/Multiplaza Mall aren't an accurate barometer cause we all know that area is very expensive.

I shop at the weekly feria for my vegetables/fruits and get fresh products at decent prices. I've been shopping for a flat screen TV recently and noticed prices have dropped dramatically. Maxi Pali (Bodega) had a 32" Panasonic for c199.000 ($400).

It's all about where you shop and how much time you are willing to invest in getting better prices. I don't expect to shop Auto Mercardo and get a deal.

When I factor in that I paid $88 in property taxes last year and my water and power bill combined average $30 a month, CR CAN BE a cheaper alternative.

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

Just curious if Gold and Diamond Jewelry is less expensive in CR?
Thanks

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" When I was born, I was given a choice - a big pecker or a good memory.....I don't remember what I chose."

I was using the Mcdonald's price at the mall as an example of the lowest price I have seen a Big Mac meal in a while. Have you seen one lower anywhere ? No.
Yes, you are welcome to spend your weekends at the 'farmer's market' to get fruits and veggies at a reasonable price. I didn't do that in the states and I'm not going to do it here unless I'm hunting a different kind of fruit.
Yes, the price of TV's has come down, Everywhere. Here is a 32 inch from Amazon for $219 delivered in the States. http://www.amazon.com/Coby-TFTV3229-32- ... d_add_1_dp
I personally wouldn't watch a 32" tv. Life is short. I was going to buy the 70inch Sharp at Pricesmart for $3800 ($2600 in the States) but it is last years model and not internet ready.

I mentioned Pali in all my comparisons not Auto Mercado. I pay the property tax, In Addition to the Luxury Tax and its quite a bit more than $88 dollars a year.
Comparing Apples to Apples or eggs to eggs:

One dozen eggs:
Pali in Pavas $2.79
Publix in Ga $1.79

One gallon milk:
Pali in Pavas $3.88
Publix in Ga $3.16

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

"I pay the property tax, In Addition to the Luxury Tax and its quite a bit more than $88 dollars a year.
Comparing Apples to Apples or eggs to eggs:

One dozen eggs:
Pali in Pavas $2.79
Publix in Ga $1.79
--------------------------------------

You are so wealthy (Luxury Tax), why are you worrying about the price of eggs? hehe

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

1. Watching the pennies helps the dollars add up so I can afford a nice lifestyle.

2. Its not all about me. I haven't eaten a Big Mac Combo in 10 years, but I pay attention to what they cost because I'm concerned about my retired friends and my girlfriends/K*ds.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Brother ICSA is not alone in this, though this price is watched by respected economists for other reasons--it's a measure of what's called purchasing-power parity. This explains it much better than I could:
http://www.economist.com/node/21542808

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"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

Property taxes, even if you fall into the category that has to pay the "luxury tax", are much lower then you will find in most major U.S. cities.

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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

Please don't misunderstand my post.

I love living here. Are girls nice and sweet and 100% better than the USA? Absolutely! Can you live here on a budget ? Absolutely!

You can have a Nica maid/house keeper full time for $40 to $100 dollars a week that will get your veggies at the market on the weekend, cook, clean, sew, garden and get whatever else you need done done.

You can rent a small apartment for $150 to $500 dollars a month. You can rent a 2 or 3 bedroom modern furnished apartment in Palacio Condos beside the Barcelo Palacio for $900 a month.

You can also live like a King on a budget in the USA. 3 guys can rent a hell of a home with a pool, buy everything at moving sales, and buy food in bulk and freeze it.


But, Here in CR, If you are want to duplicate your life in the states, big house with a yard, big appliances, A/C, maybe a pool, It will cost you the same as any other modern city where the temperature ranges between 17 and 30 °C (63 and 86 °F) .

And I don't mind paying the price. I once had plans to live in San Diego because I heard it had the best climate in the USA and I heard it's expensive there too.

I just take offense when people say, "Oh, it's dirt cheap to live in Costa Rica".

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.