www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Anybody have a breakdown of expenses for living in SJ?

Rent
Electric
Phone
Groceries
Chicas (wait, I know what they cost)
Maid or cleaning lady
Other

Thanks

Rent (in SJ suburb): $350/mo
Electric: $10/mo (Gas stove, suicide shower)
Phone: $10.00/mo (No land line. Cell phone for all local calls/texts & internet access.)
Groceries: $150/mo or more. Depending on what & where you buy this could easily double!
Chicas: Whatever you choose to pay.
Maid: N/A (I don't have one.)
Other:
Transportation: Bus & Taxi (no car) $50/mo avg. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Water: $10/mo
Other (non-chica) Entertainment: $100/mo (Movies, dining out, etc.)

YMMV

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

Just curious. How much is rent in the various neighborhoods from best to worst?

I mean.. In NY, I can pay $400/month if I wanted to live in East NY (very bad neighborhood)... It doesn't mean I want to live there!

Constant topic on Yahoo Costa Rica discussion groups.

Consensus seems to be that living in the central valley middle class neighborhoods, not owning a car, dining out once or twice a month the minimum monthly amount is $1500.00.

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

How much of that is actual rent?

if you live outside san jose metro in the smaller towns (Grecia/San Ramon etc) you can get a Tico place (2/1) for $400-500

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

All good advice, but so much depends on the lifestyle you choose - the closer you get to a "tico" lifestyle, the less you are going to pay - while living in downtown San Jose has its advantages, it can get old, with the noise, crowding, etc -

I think ID has a real close number (he lives there) but you could do it for less, just as if for example you lived in Escazu you would likely pay more - the closer you get to an "American" standard, the more you are likely to pay. And while expenses can be all over the place, and can be less than in the USA, most would agree that Costa Rica is no longer the "dirt cheap" place it perhaps was 15 or 20 years ago.

Best advice is to spend a month or 2, maybe stay at one of the Aparthotels (Sudamer, for example) and really travel and look around - the advice to rent and not buy for a long time (if ever) is also sound.

I had a budget of $2000 per month for a while living alone under all of those same conditions and I thought it was horrible really. Especially if you need to do visa runs every 90 days.

How you find your rental will effect the price of it as well. I have paid as little as $500 for a 3 bedroom house in Sabanilla to $450 for a studio apartment in the same area. I now have a small 3 bedroom condo in San Pedro which costs me around $660. Word of mouth and having some local friends can help out tremendously. I suggest you evaluate your real needs.. As some have mentioned you can find cheap rent if you live out in San Ramon de Alajuela, but in my opinion then you're going to need a car. Same goes for Escazu or Santa Ana, I would never live out there without a car, everything is spread out more. Electricity prices vary as well, for example San Pedro utilities cost me about double Sabanilla and my house is smaller, I have no dryer, ect. My maid I believe I am over paying a little but she's honest and does a good job, cost is 8000 colones for 4 hours or so of work, so ~2000/hour.

Not necessary to go that far out to find reasonable prices. There are good deals much closer in but you have to really search for them and be lucky enough to be looking at just the right time.

I know of apartments in a nice, safe, quite neighborhood just 5 or 6 km from the gulch that go for about $550.00 plus utilities. These are 2 bedroom, 1 bath, hot water through out (no suicide shower), fully furnished with U.S. appliances including washer/dryer, common area with gas bar-b-que and gringo owner on site.

Luck part comes in timing. He just had a few become available so he put an ad on CL and they were gone in quick order. The point is there are great deals available if you spend some time and effort looking.

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

Re: rent ... I rent in Los Yoses for $500 1br nice bath, combo kitchen Lr small balcony
Stove frig mico toster.. W/D on site WiFi ... basic cable water and power inclued

If I were to comit to 6 months then it would be $400 per month

So you can live close to Centro for not to much, but I as well did get lucky to find the spot

Great location, but that leeds to food, Auto Mercardo is the store you can walk to and for the most part, they have the highest prices on everything, but they got lots of Gringo stuff... I spend at least $20 every time I go, and that is almost every day

Disclamer, I only go for a month and need everything to cook a meal... so if you are in it for a few month the cost at the store may go down.. ie I got the $5 mustard already.
I think the Jumbo Mercardo has better prices and lots of gringo stuff as well, but that is over in Guadalupe not to far and Wally Mart is there as well...

A furnished apartment will need your input in most cases ,better pans,towels,sheets TV ,sound systems, and pehaps better internet and cable, all on your nickel

I can grab the bus 2 blocks away and get let out by the Rey for 50 cents or take a taxi for $4... one has options

Down to brass tacks... how much to spend on chicas

You must be VERY carefull to bring an unknow( to you) chica back to your house

I recomend a love hotel for that

I think that $2000 is a bottem line at this time to live en chepe and have a good time

Take this with a gain of salt I always leave flat broke

Hope this helps. Current info as of this month
You would need around 4,726.73$ in Miami, FL to maintain
the same standard of life that you can have with 2,800.00$ in San Jose
(assuming you rent in both cities).
This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.
Indexes Difference
Consumer Prices in Miami, FL are 33.88% higher than in San Jose
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Miami, FL are 68.81% higher than in San Jose
Rent Prices in Miami, FL are 187.38% higher than in San Jose
Restaurant Prices in Miami, FL are 51.62% higher than in San Jose
Groceries Prices in Miami, FL are 31.51% higher than in San Jose
Local Purchasing Power in Miami, FL is 157.24% higher than in San Jose
Currency: Default Currency Switch to imperial measurement units
San Jose Miami, FL Difference
Restaurants [Edit] [Edit]
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 6.00 $ 15.00 $ +150.00 %
Meal for 2, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 40.00 $ 45.00 $ +12.50 %
Combo Meal at McDonalds or Similar 7.00 $ 7.00 $ 0.00 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 2.50 $ 3.00 $ +20.00 %
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 3.75 $ 6.00 $ +60.00 %
Cappuccino (regular) 3.00 $ 4.00 $ +33.33 %
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 1.50 $ 1.50 $ 0.00 %
Water (0.33 liter bottle) 1.29 $ 1.50 $ +16.33 %

Markets [Edit] [Edit]
Milk (regular), 1 liter 1.34 $ 1.06 $ -21.11 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) 1.24 $ 3.00 $ +142.06 %
Rice (1kg) 2.70 $ 3.20 $ +18.69 %
Eggs (12) 3.00 $ 2.92 $ -2.50 %
Local Cheese (1kg) 7.88 $ 13.22 $ +67.75 %
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg) 10.00 $ 7.36 $ -26.42 %
Apples (1kg) 4.00 $ 3.70 $ -7.50 %
Oranges (1kg) 1.60 $ 4.41 $ +175.58 %
Tomato (1kg) 1.18 $ 4.96 $ +322.16 %
Potato (1kg) 1.00 $ 3.07 $ +207.34 %
Lettuce (1 head) 0.70 $ 2.00 $ +185.71 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 2.95 $ 1.15 $ -61.08 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 13.50 $ 15.00 $ +11.11 %
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 1.50 $ 2.00 $ +33.33 %
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) 2.00 $ 3.00 $ +50.00 %
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) 2.04 $ 6.50 $ +218.45 %

Transportation [Edit] [Edit]
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 0.50 $ 2.00 $ +300.00 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 30.00 $ 100.00 $ +233.33 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 1.10 $ 2.50 $ +127.27 %
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) 1.08 $ 1.06 $ -2.49 %
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 10.00 $ 26.90 $ +169.00 %
Gasoline (1 liter) 1.40 $ 1.00 $ -28.67 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 30,000.00 $ 19,000.00 $ -36.67 %

Utilities (Monthly) [Edit] [Edit]
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment 50.50 $ 160.00 $ +216.83 %
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) 0.07 $ 0.10 $ +42.86 %
Internet (6 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 50.00 $ 50.00 $ 0.00 %

Sports And Leisure [Edit] [Edit]
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 39.39 $ 40.00 $ +1.54 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 10.00 $ 23.50 $ +135.00 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 6.00 $ 10.00 $ +66.67 %

Clothing And Shoes [Edit] [Edit]
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 60.00 $ 38.89 $ -35.18 %
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 60.00 $ 40.00 $ -33.33 %
1 Pair of Nike Shoes 99.24 $ 85.00 $ -14.35 %
1 Pair of Men Leather Shoes 85.00 $ 88.52 $ +4.15 %

Rent Per Month [Edit] [Edit]
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 450.00 $ 1,325.00 $ +194.44 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 450.00 $ 875.00 $ +94.44 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 750.00 $ 3,000.00 $ +300.00 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 925.00 $ 2,200.00 $ +137.84 %

Buy Apartment Price [Edit] [Edit]
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,200.00 $ 3,000.00 $ +150.00 %
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 1,100.00 $ 2,000.00 $ +81.82 %

Salaries And Financing [Edit] [Edit]
Median Monthly Disposable Salary (After Tax) 700.00 $ 3,039.74 $ +334.25 %
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentanges (%), Yearly 12.00 5.00 -58.33 %

Last update March, 2013 March, 2013
Contributors (past 18 months) 55 73
Currency: USD

Thank you wise for the scientific analysis.
Figuring the cost of chicas in Miami vis a vis costa rica, the savings on that alone would cover everything in CR!
Ha!

Yes it does .

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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.

So here's a crazy idea: Say you meet a working girl and live with her and pay all the expenses. The upside is that you don't have to sign leases, etc. the downside would be having K*ds around as 90% have K*ds. I guess where I am going with this is she will know how to get around better than you, buses, where to shop, etc. I guess you would have to always shower with your wallet.

If it doesn't work out and you only have a suitcase or two, you leave right away without worrying about anything like electric hook-ups. She won't have to "work," to pay bills, so you could have ready supply. You could do it for a month until you get a feel for the place and learn from her about living in CR.

I would only consider with a regular and not somebody I just met.

This was just a quick thought so anybody with pros and cons jump in and contribute.

Just make sure you don't become a daddy.

What a horrible idea.