Costa Rica on the Cheap

When I moved to Costa Rica, I expected my living expenses to decrease, but I had no idea I would be able to live comfortably for under $1,000 per month. In fact, when my husband and I first got married, we lived well, albeit frugally, on about $850 per month. Though we counted colones, we were able to afford a nice three-bedroom home in a great location, with cable TV and high speed Internet, cell phones, and a few evenings of dining out each month. Try doing that in most world cities!

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FAQs

Housing, services and medical care in Costa Rica are much cheaper than in North America; an individual can live comfortably here on $1500 per month, but a lot depends on personal preferences. It’s feasible to live frugally in a one-bedroom apartment with no car for $750 per month, but it is equally possible to live large on more than $3000 monthly. 

Last updated: Oct 22, 2023