Creating a Realistic Monthly Budget For Living in Costa Rica

1. Creating a Realistic Monthly Budget For Living in Costa Rica http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/

2. Sun-splashed beaches. The distant hoot of howler monkeys. Year-round summer. Panoramic views of sailboats and islets and breeching whales. You can’t put a price on the Costa Rican lifestyle. Luckily, we can tell you the cost of necessities – your everyday expenses and the overall cost of living. Look online, and you’ll find a wide range of suggested budgets. Some sources promise you can live on $1,500 a month, while others assure you it can’t be done for less than $3,000. Or $4,000. Or $5,000. So what’s the truth? http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/

3. Here it is: Cost of living in Costa Rica depends entirely on you. On your choices, your preferences and your lifestyle. Let’s break it down: Housing Housing costs in Costa Rica are all over the map, so it’s important to compare apples to apples. To start, let’s define our apple: Luxurious single-family homes, with private swimming pools, in an oceanview community replete with amenities, including tennis courts, biking and hiking trails, a beach club, and other lifestyle upgrades. Search well, and you’ll find several such communities – and you’ll pay dearly for most of them (think: $350,000-$1.5+ million). At Bellazo, we work differently. Our homes are affordable, starting at $59,000 for lots and $199,000 for a spectacular, modern home. We also offer zero-interest financing for the first 18 months – the best financing on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast. Transportation In Costa Rica, vehicles are subject to high import tax, which means they’re more expensive than you’re probably used to. Gas also runs $1-$2 per gallon more than in the U.S. The good news: You can buy a great car without breaking the bank. We recommend a newer model SUV (year 2010+, preferably 4WD) with decent ground clearance, which will grant you the freedom to explore to your heart’s content. Even better, choose a popular make and model (easy to find parts and repair shops), and you’ll have it made. For reference purposes, a 2011 Hyundai Tucson 4WD can be purchased for under $15,000; a 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser/Prado 4WD will come in around $30,000. http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/

4. Utilities For the most part, your utilities in Costa Rica will balance out to about what they did back home. Some things, like water, cell phone and internet/cable, are less expensive – expect to spend $30, $10-$20, and $75, respectively – while others, like electricity, can be pricier. For example, round-the-clock air conditioning, as is common in many beach communities, can mean $250+ monthly electric bills. But that’s where lifestyle comes into the equation: we built Bellazo high on a bluff, where your home will enjoy sweeping Pacific views and cool sea breezes. It’s the best of every world: open windows, fresh air, cooling breezes and low electricity bills. Groceries You will be shocked at the price of food in Costa Rica – and you’ll love it! Fresh fruits and vegetables, just-plucked herbs, farm-fresh eggs, and grass-fed beef and free-range chicken are all available at the local markets, usually for much less than you’d pay for locally produced products back home. Can you imagine paying $0.50 for fresh, ice-cold coconut water, $2 for 7 pounds of juicy mangos, and $1 for a pineapple bigger than your head? We can. http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/

5. http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/

6. Household Help Here’s another shocking section of your monthly budget: services. Housekeeping, cooking, gardening, babysitting, maintenance and more, are all incredibly affordable. And by affordable, we mean $2-$4/hour. Education Families will be happy to hear that accredited private education is both exceptional and affordable in Nosara. Del Mar Academy, one of the most prestigious schools on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, offers bilingual education for $3,000-$9,000 per year. This can represent a substantial savings over top private schools in the U.S., which often cost upwards of $25,000 a year. Bottom line: Your monthly budget in Costa Rica depends on you. And remember, what you’re really buying is a peaceful lifestyle, filled to the brim with nature and fresh food and spectacular views. And that is priceles We’re the team behind Costa Rica Insiders — a group of American expats who have been living in Costa Rica since October 2014 with our families and kids. Even though we’ve been visiting for years, we were still in for a big culture shock. During the time that we have lived here, we have adjusted to the lifestyle and culture. We’ve grown to absolutely love this country and its people. But Costa Rica is not for everyone; we’ve seen expats who have moved here burn out quickly because they didn’t have a good idea of what they were getting themselves into. Too often, people have been lured in by international real estate publications that sell an idealized version of Costa Rica that ignores the reality of living in Costa Rica. http://www.costaricainsiders.com/costa-rica-cost-of-living-creating-a-realistic-monthly-budget/