www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It was amazing how food prices in San Jose are at least equal to most cities in the USA. I ate at several Tico Sodas and once at the old Mercado. As an example, I was at one of those food stalls in the Old Mercado for breakfast. This is a Tico place if there ever was one, no gringos go here. A typical plate costs 2700 to 3000 colones ...$5.50-$6.00 USD. A hamburger at the monger hotels are $12 to $14, $8.00 to $10 for breakfast.

Costa Rica aint cheap my friends.

I just got back from Costa Rica-spent 5 days in San Jose and 5 days in Tamarindo--every meal my girl friend, her K*D and I ate was 100.00 US-this is with 2 beers each for the adults at beach side restaurants and we ate a meal at Buenos Aires in San Jose with her mother included 150.00 and a meal in Escazu for 100.00--also went to the pharmacy in Tamarindo and got 10 Claritin for 30 dollars--a fifty pack of claritin at Sams wholesale in the states is 24.95-- and a can of off insect repellant for 14 dollars--it is very expensive in CR--six pack of Bavaria light at the store in Tamarindo is 11.50--I am looking for another country to vacation in.

_________________
I AM a Cien boy + Propina!

Not to mention gasoline. And for the ticos and gringo retirees: electric going up, expensive clothes/shoes of generally poor quality, groceries, beer, basic other necessities. How lucky we are to be able to afford it at home or there. No clue how they manage to remain content as the studies have shown.

It's been my only vacation desination for so long, I don't know how it measures to other warm climate places.

I know what you mean. The only time I ever saw "third world prices" in Costa Rica was when I was miles away from San Jose. Glad I settled in Colombia. But certain neighborhoods in Medellin (eg Poblado) will be catching up to San Jose soon.

...........Equate allergy tabs are about $4 for cien at wal-mart....

_________________
Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

This is a great site to compare prices between places.

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp

In my experience, Medellin is much cheaper than San Jose for everything from chicas to food to housing.

man what a discussion this is. numbers don't lie - here some facts:

http://colombiareports.com/opinion/gues ... ombia.html

this site provides some insight and methods for conversion:

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/comparison.jsp

i've long thought paraguay would be my retirement local [within the next five years] and for a whole host of reasons: cost of living, banking, housing... and with each passing month/ year its looking more and more to be my ultimate destination.

Cell service still cheap. And labor of course. And cigarettes still the cheapest in CA and among the cheapest in Latin America at app $2per. And obviously way cheaper then N America. But, my smoker friends say that the Marlboro's don't taste the same as gringo Marlboro's. Here's a link comparing cig prices. http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynew ... 040902.htm

I hang out along way from Sj and the prices are catching up except for the local sodas, certain produce, fish at the groceries and most eateries if you are near the coast, and really cheap if you can develop a relationship with a few of the local artisanal fisherman--I have with a few that dock at Damas but you have to clean them and all that. But even their prices may go up based on this article in today's Tico Times cracking down on legal keeper sizes for procreation reasons on these poor one man opeations in a shitty little boat, yet let the shrimp trawlers kill and discard whatever is in their bottom scratching nets. But check out that beauty this tico netted. Anyone know what species that is--I don't recognize that one off hand.
http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Editio ... ry-08-2013

Many ex-pats in Medellin live in Poblado, so they will feel the pinch, and experience the most dramatic increases in COL, such as those examples provided in the article. These are Estrato 5 & 6 neighborhoods that have the heftiest taxes and utility bills. The fancy supermarkets and boutique stores in those neighborhoods aren't cheap either. There are a number of great neighborhoods throughout Medellin (and neighboring municipalities like Envigado and Sabaneta) where living costs are significantly less than Poblado and less dramatic. I've lived in a neighboring pueblo for a year and a half, and my living costs are about 50 - 60% of what they were in the US (a depressed area in South Jersey). Still a pretty good deal for me. The weak dollar has dropped 30 - 35% against the peso since 2002. That hurts. I hate it when long-time property owners brag about paying $30,000 US for their condo back in 2001. Yes, prices are going up in Colombia... and a lot faster in some areas than others. I would guess that housing costs in the greater Medellin area are the number 1 contributing factor to an increase in the cost of living over here.

Paraguay would be an interesting choice, but I would give serious consideration to Ecuador first. Most items in Ecuador are less expensive than Colombia (gas is $1.48 US per gallon), and the official currency is the US $... so no conversion losses (a big plus). In the minus column, the health system is nowhere near as comprehensive as in Colombia, and basic food handling techniques leave something to be desired. Anyway, you still have 5 years to decide where you want to live. Take your time, do your research, and more importantly, spend some time in the country in which you intend to live.

Blue Devil makes a great point about an often overlooked point but a must consideration of any potential destination especially for older guys which most ex-pats are. Of Ecuador he says that : "In the minus column, the health system is nowhere near as comprehensive as in Colombia". That would be a deal breaker for me.

Just curious, how does Colombia's compare to CR's?

That's why I'm packing a cooler filled with frozen, vacuum packed beef and bacon next trip down...they are super expensive there, and not very good.

The food prices in general have risen over the past few years, even for locals, but the gringo joint food prices are insane.

I really did not want to hijack Esteban's thread, but in the interest of "retirement living", I will share a few thoughts on that topic. I am no expert on CR healthcare, but I know that Costa Rica has a government-subsidized healthcare system (just like Colombia). In Colombia, you have the option of using the public, EPS or private medical services. I'm not sure CR has a co-op system like Colombian EPS. The EPS is a healthcare system, underwritten by a major insurance carrier, that receives a portion of government funding for healthcare. The EPS covers soup to nuts, and also has access to private practices, out-patient treatment centers, clinics and hospitals. For $37/ month, it covers emergency treatment, hospitalization, pharmacy, office visits, diagnostics, outpatient treatment and basic dental. It is comparable to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield I have in the US, just it costs a lot less. The co-pays are $1.25 US for everything... including a month supply of ALL medications. As I said, the EPS offers a great deal of flexibility, with a moderate amount of red tape. I'm not sure if the CR caja system offers this level of service.

The other thing I've noticed is that the Colombian healthcare system seems to have more depth than in CR. What I mean by this, is that there appears to be more state of the art medical facilities in Colombia (than in CR), and more widespread throughout the country. In CR, it seems like there are only two state of the art facilities (Clinica Biblica & CIMA) for the entire country. I am not aware of any others, so if i missed any, please chime in.

Just curious

I really did not want to hijack Esteban's thread, but in the interest of "retirement living", I will share a few thoughts on that topic. I am no expert on CR healthcare, but I know that Costa Rica has a government-subsidized healthcare system (just like Colombia). In Colombia, you have the option of using the public, EPS or private medical services. I'm not sure CR has a co-op system like Colombian EPS. The EPS is a healthcare system, underwritten by a major insurance carrier, that receives a portion of government funding for healthcare. The EPS covers soup to nuts, and also has access to private practices, out-patient treatment centers, clinics and hospitals. For $37/ month, it covers emergency treatment, hospitalization, pharmacy, office visits, diagnostics, outpatient treatment and basic dental. It is comparable to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield I have in the US, just it costs a lot less. The co-pays are $1.25 US for everything... including a month supply of ALL medications. As I said, the EPS offers a great deal of flexibility, with a moderate amount of red tape. I'm not sure if the CR caja system offers this level of service.

The other thing I've noticed is that the Colombian healthcare system seems to have more depth than in CR. What I mean by this, is that there appears to be more state of the art medical facilities in Colombia (than in CR), and more widespread throughout the country. In CR, it seems like there are only two state of the art facilities (Clinica Biblica & CIMA) for the entire country. I am not aware of any others, so if i missed any, please chime in.[/quote]


Life expectancy at birth in the USA is 79, Columbia 74 and CR 80.

I am in mexico as I type this, Coronas are $1.00 at the local dive where I frequent I have a favorita that is going to meet up with me later tonight....She is from Rosita Coah. I was at Hunters Ranch last nite and the girls lack in personallity....Beers are $5.00. Shots or Copas are $8.00 which the ladies make $4.00 off of...last night was pretty challenging the girls are getting desperate and just walk up to your table and ask for a drink....they dont even make small talk or introduce themselves....I brushed off several and ended pulling a (Jessica Alba look alike) pretty but a bad performer...she was'nt into the BJ and it was covered which doesnt really stimulate even the best brain cells....The price $80.00 for an hr and it was a let down...there was 30 or so girls and the price starts at $80.00....
This morning my wing and I ate at a local soda and the breakfast (egg and chorizo with beans and flour tortillas) $4.50 real generous portions....His was Carne Asada and was $5.00....You just cant beat Mexican food down here the worst eatery down here is the best in my hometown back in the states....Tonite we are going to "Los Agaves" its a local hang out. Tecate is $1.50...the women arent hookers so its going to be challenging .....My back up plan is a place called "Jessies Place" and there is usually 2 or 3 good performers for $50.00....food here seems to be affordable ....the women at Hunters are okay but nothing really striking out at you....
Motel is $35.00 a night and is clean ,hot running water no bugs, close and walking distance from the nightlife....there are a handful of gringos living down here....they are from Ohio and hang out at Jessies Place ....there are about 4 of them and they say compared to Ohio they find it really affordable down here... Ive asked about utilities and they seem to run cheap down $25.00 for light, $20.00 for water and you have to get a propane tank for gas ....
I just got back from CR a week ago and my dreams of retiring down there have evaporated...I have receipts from Mas o Menos for $5.00 bag of chips,$ 5.00 for Qrt of milk.... I dont want to list everything here but I walked out feeling like I walked out of the DR ( phucked).....
Looks like I will be hunting in Mexico for now and will not be returning to SJO anytime soon....