www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Yes,I understand all the posts here. I choose Escazu because it is the lifestyle I really enjoy,and fortunately can afford. With all due respect to Tman there are 2 main reasons that I don't want to live in Panama. One,as you said is that in my two visits to Panama City,the CHICA availablity and price structure doesn't compare to CR.The other,as mentioned here,is the incredible weather here in the Escazu area. Chicas and weather ARE the reasons I chose Central America in the first place. Some interesting points have been raised by Prolijo,as usual,that changes might be coming to CR as regards to taxes and other expenses. That is exactly the reason that I choose to rent here instead of buying a property which I can readily afford. My feelings towards buying a property in Panama are the same. There is potencially the same type of changes coming.Then you are stuck with a house in a hot climate WITHOUT CHICAS. Since I am on the subject of renting vs. buying, there are two reasons for buying in the States. One is potential appreciation,and the other is the tax write-offs. Her in CR no one pays taxes so the greatest advantge is gone.

But you don't have any real property tax here. So, your monthly payments can be a lot cheaper. And you can buy a $120K house that is comparable to a $450K house in the US. Pay cash, and never have a house payment again.

But I can see the arguments, both ways.

One thing I can't understand about Panama: If the women are more expensive there-- why do all the Columbianas, Dominicans, Nicas, etc... Come to CR, if they can make more money in Panama, and the cost of living is less?

I know there is a lot of talk about gringo vs. tico prices. Do you think this aplies, as much as is implied, to prices offered for condos in escazu from the real estate agents at the presidente. If there is really a price differential what do you think is the best way to get around this obstacle?

ROlex...the reason the Colombianas want to come to CR is because of the much higher population of gringos...and their potential to "marry" into wellness. I have told some of them the same thing in Panama..."stay here, you make more money for your time". But for many of them...it is also about the adventure of getting into difficult regions for them to enter and its closer to the USA.

I still say...you can find hot Colombianas in Panama a lot cheaper than CR. About $50 for all nighters if you know where to look and connect. There will be a website published soon revealing a lot of this info. Will keep you guys posted...

As for the lack of property taxes LVBob, thats exactly a main advantage to BUY in CR. Only in the states do people buy real estate so they can shave taxes. Here you dont have the taxes to begin with...so on that end theres no downside...YET. But, where most gringos get burned is paying too much and not getting the value here...mostly because they try to do it alone, their way, or through a high end marketing broker. Believe me, I see this everyday in my business...

Every monger I've talked to-- plus if you look in the trip reports on this site-- seems to suggest the pay for play is higher in Panama?

Anyway-- I'll PM you when I'm ready to head down to Panama.

I'm not sure I understand Tman's response to Rolex and myself. First he says that he has told Colombianas to stay in Panama because they will make more money for their time. Then in the next sentence he says that their are a lot of hot Colombianas to be had for $50 all night in Panama. Which is it? Next, I responded about the lack of deductions necessary for "Real estate taxes" and he responded about the lack of "property taxes". I believe the property tax situaltion is similar to CR where is is close to nothing and not a factor.

VB,
TMan's post was a little confusing. Here is how I interpreted it.

There are more Colombianas and other nationalities in CR because thats is currently where the gringo sex tourists go looking for them. But there are also more chicas competing for those gringos, hence the lower prices than in Panama. So for Colombianas in Panama, his advice would be just stay there. Its easier to get that cien/hora. Obviously, if all the chicas took his advice the competition would increase and the price would go down negating its validity.

The $50/hr comment seems to contradict that but I think he was suggesting that you have to really dig for that and know where to go. Ultimately it comes down to a mismatch of information. CR is known as a sex tourist destination thus to a large extent it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It becomes a destination for both chicas and gringos. More chicas equal increased variety and lower prices. More gringos raise those prices as we see happening at the popular places like the BM. The balance is always in flux. For those who can keep a step ahead of the curve or who know something the others don't, they can take advantage of those imbalances going to places where price/quality is better than more widely known places. This is true whether going to a local tico MP or panamanian one.

As for the RE Property tax issue. I read it completely differently. TMan was agreeing with you. He wasn't suggesting Panama was any better in that regard than CR. What he said was that was the "main advantage to BUY in CR"

Thanks for the clarifications Prolijo and pretty much right on. Sorry VB if I wasnt clear...its been a strenuous week .

My main point on the real estate was that many people buy in the US because of your mentioned tax write offs. In this region, both CR and Panama, property taxes are nil while the write offs are not an important factor. So people usually buy more purely on the investment upside and possible income here in Costa Rica...though I would still argue most gringos pay too much and dont shop right here. An additional point that gringos may want to consider as an upside to investing in CR or Panama is that most of them CAN write off trip expenses here while checking up or placing their investment. If you want to be "liberal" in your entertainment writeoffs...that could give a gringo 35% discount on their chica fees .

Yes, the mongering places in Panama are more costly...but contracting individual Colombianas on the side which there are more of in Panama is cheaper in my experience than Costa Rica.

Hope this all clarifies...

I've lived or have spent plenty of time in all three places. Some comments:

-Panama: It's very hot and humid. Panama has limited tourist infrastructure, but they are ramping up quickly, hoping to replicate CR's success. Beachfront property is still affordable but it will be going through the roof soon. I have seen several really nice beach developments sprout up recently and plenty of gringo retirees taking interest. Apartments in Panama City are relatively expensive, but there's some development in the Canal Zone which might present opportunities.
There is definitely a strong night scene in Panama, it''s just out of the limelight. For anyone visiting I can recommend Golden Time, a massage parlor loaded with Colombianas of all shapes, sizes and quality for about $60. I'll go on the record and say that the best pro I've ever had by a long shot was in that place (and it wasn't close, it was a bachelor party, I got first pick, my buddies were jealous). There's also some semi-pro escort services which are more expensive ($100-120), but the girls were excellent. The scene in Panama is more geared towards visiting businessmen and Chinese guys, thus the higher price IMO.
For business interest, I'm not too high on Panama. Labor codes are a major hassle and Panas in general have a bad reputation for laziness.

-Nicaragua: Lived there back in 2000 and loved it. Everything is very cheap, particularly real estate. It's similar to CR twenty years ago in some parts. The political instability is always a concern, but you don't hear as much about it in Nicaragua as on the outside. I actually felt safer in Managua than in San Jose, crimewise. People in general were very friendly and a good amount of English speakers. Native food was pretty good, though the dining scene is limited. The biggest drawback is that it's still very much third world; things take forever and you have to know how to get things done. Patience, patience, patience for everything. Not as many gringos or foreigners as in CR or Panama. Also there are less creature comforts: less good restaurants, less stores (with US forwarding not a big issue), 1.5 golf courses, though the cable TV is much better. And the mongering scene is very poor. Lots of business opportunities, though, and Nicas are hard working if not very efficient.

-Costa Rica: Escazu, and the other foreigner-friendly areas of CR, offers a nice combination of third world and first world comforts. Relative security to other Lat Am countries. Generally well-educated people, though not behind the wheel of a car. Still not too expensive to enjoy service of maids, though not as cheap as other places. Golf is still affordable, though I wish the courses on the beach were closer and not so damn expensive. Improving dining scene: we're getting better variety and I think we're starting to see some better value (not great value...better tahn before). Beachfront property is going through the roof and getting there is not easy. Escazu properties are pricey but it looks like there is a glut of condos right now which could lead to some good deals, particularly if you compare it to the crazy prices in the States. In general, I'm happy to live here.