The Expat Exodus: Why Americans Are Fleeing Costa Rica in 2025
Video Overview & Insights
🔄 Update (July 29, 2025):
You speak the truth sir. I lived here for 3 yrs and ur about 98% accurate. Well done! From roads to banking its taxing on the the time of those who live here. Not to mention once they know ur a foreginer everything triples in prices. And I am from El Salvador originally lived in us most of my life.
Since publishing, we've received valuable feedback from our viewers — thank you!
Here are a few important clarifications:
Gun point? it happen all the time, but the media hide the story all the time.
- ✅ The investment residency threshold in Costa Rica is now $150,000**, not $200,000.
- ✅ The annual property tax rate is 0.25% not 2.5%.
Your information is WRONG. You even admitted it was wrong in the comments. So why is this video still up? Oh because you want to profit off of propoganda and misinformation. Typical American. 🖕 Do not disparage my country. This is why we want you arrogant people OUT.
- ✅ Costa Rica only taxes local income, not foreign income (e.g., U.S. Social Security).
We’ll reflect these in future videos. We appreciate the community for helping keep this information sharp and accurate.
I am surprised that USA citizens are surprised by Costa Rica's tax issue. You all do know that the USA taxes its citizens on their worldwide income - even if they live in a different country. Even if they have NEVER worked in the USA. So why are you surprised that another country does the same thing?
👇 Full original description continues below 👇
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LOL. Ridiculous half truths. If what you are saying is true there wouldn't be 100K expat Americans living here. And I haven't touched on the number of Canadians here. Crazy...
Why are Americans fleeing Costa Rica in 2025?
What was once the ultimate retirement and digital nomad dream has turned into a nightmare for thousands of U.S. expats. From a collapsing healthcare system to rising crime, tax traps, and impossible visa rules — this video exposes the *real* reasons behind the mass American exodus from Costa Rica.
50%, of this is not true , I know C,R, since 1993, i don't need what your talking about, I'm living a Transqilaty Organic Peaceful PURA VIDA LIFE, staying in Nandayure Carmona Guanacaste ❤️ growing my Vegetables herb's, i don't need auto mercado Walmart expensive restaurants, we have our own house in Nandayure and Tibas, I don't need caja what I do sometimes I fly from Alajuela airport at 12:35am flight to Fort Lauderdale South Florida airport wait till the spirit flight at 11:35, flight back to Alajuela airport, less then 24,hrs I'm back with just my backpack with my Liga soccer t-shirt on to get a fast pass out of the airport because 99,9% airport workers are all Liga soccer team fans even custom immigration, I get out of the airport take the Alajuela bus going to downtown San Jose, eat olla de carme innthe mercado, then take the Tibas bus home for 3,weeks then take the Nandayure bus home, the problems is that gringos are stupid lisen to that don't know nothing, I always go to farmers market soda restaurants good food go to Pali acting like a ticos, this video is not true, the good thing is my wife is a Tica for 35+yrs , I know C,R, inside and inside out you can be living a great life , when I n3d a doctor I just fly back to Florida to visit my grandkids son's and see my doctor's, in C,R, i eat healthier peaceful life , the immigration police don't barther you in 2005i over stayed 63,days more when it was 90,days in the Alajuela airport they told me why I stayed 66,more days I told them because I live C,R, my wife is a Tica and I spent over $4,980, dollars more in those 65,days that that money stayed in C,R, he told me have a nice Trip Mr, Diaz and Viva la Liga I had a Liga soccer t-shirt on, if you play your cards right, you can be living in C,R, good just stay away from those expensive restaurants gringo price take you for a ride that's the problem, you can find a good ticos family that rent you a nice place stay away from those expensive Abnb you don't need to rent a car get a nice ticos that can take you anywhere, if you have to go far take the bus , stop getting GRINO PRICE
🎯 Whether you're planning to retire abroad, work remotely, or buy property in Costa Rica, you need to watch this before making any decisions.
🔍 What you’ll learn:
100% true!
• The hidden costs of living in Costa Rica
• Why healthcare is no longer reliable
Never buy a house in Costa Rica, specially Guanacaste, Samara, Santa Teresita, Jaco,and all the West side of Costa Rica, homes or over price and extremely hard to sell, and bank will not give no mortgage for your house, specially if you live in Guanacaste area!
• The 25% tax trap targeting your Social Security
• Infrastructure, security, and residency issues no one warns you about
More anti healthcare propaganda. No one going in for chest pain is told to wait 18 months 🙄 the 18 months is triaged based on urgency
• What expats wish they knew *before* moving
📌 Chapters:
So much inaccurate info.
00:00 Intro
01:30 #10 Healthcare Collapse
This is the worst information possible. Especially the tax part.
03:00 #9 Infrastructure Nightmare
04:30 #8 Cost of Living Reality Check
You cannot move to a new country and new culture and expect it to have the same amenities as your former home.
06:00 #7 Bureaucracy Maze
07:30 #6 Security Concerns
My motorcycle was stolen. I went to OIJ and to the local police. They never came out and told me to forget it.
09:00 #5 Environmental Degradation
10:30 #4 Social Integration Challenges
Cost of living, quality of services, traffic (even in rural areas), constant rain. After 20 years I am leaving for Ecuador
12:00 #3 Tax Trap
13:30 #2 Banking Failures
I'm Tico (Costa Rican) living in the Boston area. And even though i visit CR i would absolutely NEVER move back. It's not the money saving paradise it used to be.
15:00 #1 Visa & Residency Nightmare
17:00 Final Thoughts & Next Video
lots of flaws in this video...
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💬 Comment below: Would you still move to Costa Rica in 2025 after seeing this?
I live here and most of this is BS. I have fiber optic internet and it's faster than the US
Thinking about moving in 2025? In this video, we break down some of the best U.S. cities and states for affordable living, safety, great schools, and job opportunities.
Whether you're relocating for work, retirement, or better quality of life, this guide covers cost of living, real estate trends, taxes, and the best places to live in America for 2025.
Gracias!!!!
#relocation #realestate #costofliving #retirement #safecities #bestplacestolive
😪😪
More User Perspectives
I have lived in Costa Rica since 1998 and have been a resident for more than 20 years. Some of what he says is true but much of it is pure BS. Or at least exaggerated hyperbole! Do your own research.
@jamesmolloy6328Banking here was incredibly easy for me. Also no problem with credit cards. Eat food from the ferria(farmers market). And there are diners that cost very little. Two of us had lunch for less than $10.00.
@kathyphipps1024How work counting over their?
@snoopy7ghosts744He is a liar 😂
@snoopy7ghosts744Yeah no milk in Florida is almost $6 and gas here in Florida is around normally $3.20 supermarket a week of food over $300
@snoopy7ghosts744Its interesting to see, but also not surprising!
I heard about similar things happening in Mexico due to people coming in and driving up the prices pushing people out of thier communities!
You would think with all that tax money they could fix some holes in the roads tho 😂😂
I'm so glad I left Costa Rica!
@kellypalmer1569Bye bye
@vertexlila9384Costa Rica has become so Americanized because of the Americans that have moved there have done this to the country.
@TXplayneJaynecolonoscopy -- I am getting one -- just priced them -- November 2025, $350 to $700 depending on where. All expert private hospitals.
@stephenlove7787Hello, do you have any information on Mauritius, Africa? I am in the research phase. Thank you
@Faithpretty7pWhen you brought up climate change and warmer temperatures that's when I turned you off
@Teliot100YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG ON AT LEAST 3 THINGS ---TAXES,HEALTHCARE,INTERNET
@johnmitchell2393Costa Rica doesn't need a bunch of Internet towers and modern cities that will destroy its purpose, and that's being a blue zone and natural wild life.
Take your self to Miami or wherever gringos want to live on a resort lifestyle for cheap. Costa Rica is meant to be visited and then YOU LEAVE. SUCH PARASITIC PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD 😮💨
What a bullshit saying that medical procedures in the US are cheaper than in Costa Rica.
@BlueSky_333WE ALL AMERICANS, BUT WE ARE PURA VIDA CENTRAL ..........................................HIPROVCIT
@ezaratequesadaI've lived in Costa Rica for 19 years and disagree with several things said in the video.
For example, the tax information given. Taxes for U.S. Expats in Costa Rica
Costa Rica runs on a territorial tax system, which means only money you earn inside Costa Rica is taxable there. If your income comes from outside (like U.S. pensions, Social Security, investments, or remote work for a U.S. company), Costa Rica does not tax it.
That being said, as a U.S. citizen you must always file a tax return with the IRS, no matter where you live. The good news is that the U.S. offers ways to avoid double taxation—like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit—so you often won’t end up paying twice on the same income.
Taxes for Canadian Expats in Costa Rica
The rules are a little different for Canadians. Costa Rica will only tax your Costa Rican–sourced income. But Canada taxes based on residency, not citizenship. So if you’re still considered a Canadian tax resident, Canada will expect you to report your worldwide income, even money earned in Costa Rica. Since there’s no tax treaty between the two countries, Canadians have to plan carefully to avoid paying more than necessary. Many Canadians choose to cut official tax ties with Canada once they relocate permanently.
In a Nutshell
Costa Rica only taxes money you make in Costa Rica.
U.S. citizens still file with the IRS every year, but have exclusions and credits to reduce or eliminate double tax.
Canadians may need to sever tax residency with Canada to avoid being taxed twice, since there’s no treaty in place.
Costa Rica Por Siempre
IT's the same on Facebook. One time, I had a photo of a howler monkey. . the guy said that I was lying because it was a howler monkey from Colombia. .
Costa Rica Por Siempre
I told him that he was visiting for his son's birthday. And he got mad at me!
Costa Rica Por Siempre
Costa Rica Por Siempre
Sometimes, people send in AI photos for their stories because they don't want THEIR private
Sadly , it is not a Paradise anymore, you are right , I think the two main problems are the high cost of living and crime , not to mention overpopulation.
@MS-bb3bjQué buena noticia....que se larguen todos y nos dejen en paz.
@edgutierrezcrI am from CR and this video is true, that´s why we are a poor and third world country
@leochiscoCosat rica is beautiful to visit,but better to live in San Salvador in El Salvador;and visit Costa Rica ,Guatemala, Roatan and Belize .
@The1ByTheSeaI thought my last 35 years were spent in Costa Rica, but where I've been, full time, is nothing like the place you describe. Additionally, I regularly chat with others having come here from all points on the globe. Their experience has never ever sounded anything like what your sensationalism suggests.
@garygilbert976Absolute bull...as an Xpat ( now tico ) with 38 yrs. here...
In fact the flow is just the oposite...the amount of folks
from abroad is growing ...and will continue.
Don't know who this clown is...but he is obviously full of it.
Same think happening in my home country with health care , a stent procedure not available for my relative but it is in the private hospital for $3000/$6000 USD , we are in that battle right now with her. Who has $3K or $6K with limited income, still Latin American countries are beautiful places but are getting ruined by greed . Good content !!!
@MarioPereira-nt7eyThis video was either not researched at all, or it’s intentionally deceiving people. Costa Rica does not charge tax on worldwide income, that’s a big one to get wrong and makes this video not credible because that was easy to get right.
@sabines.8161While many points are true, they are generalizations. As a 10-year resident, many of your facts are incorrect. I don't pay taxes on my Social Security income. Residency renewal is every 2 years, and the cost is about $200. I just completed my renewal at Bank of Costa Rica, and it took 15 minutes to complete the paperwork. American credit cards work fine everywhere I have been. I never carry cash. One of the reasons I moved here was the hospitality of the people. It's all about the attitude. Ticos don't take to demands well. We don't do it this way in the States, or throw a tantrum with a cashier, like some might do in the States. Whether you are a visitor, temporary resident, or permanent resident, you are a visitor in their country and should respect and adapt to their culture.
@billpeace9972The best paradise is the one that remains hidden from people from stronger economies.
@Zakaros1000Guess there are pros and cons everywhere however now is the time to move .... Costa Rica still provides a Pura Vida
@FincaBocalasRanasI live in Costa Rica and it is very nice.
@mkoscharaHEALTHCARE IS TERRIBLE in Costa Rica ! My brother is a Tico, and has been waiting 3 YEARS for a HERNIA OPERATION !
The "CAJA" health system is required for expats, but is pathetically LACKING in almost every way. ALSO, Ticos are all complaining about the high cost of living, which has soared in the last 5 years.