The Pros And Cons Of Moving To Costa Rica: Safety, Health Care, Visas, And More!
Video Overview & Insights
Thinking about moving to Costa Rica? In this video, Live And Invest Overseas Editor Kat Kalashian walks you through the pros and cons of expat life in this longtime expat haven.
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For those seeking an active lifestyle immersed in nature, a large and welcoming expat community, excellent health care at a lower cost than in the U.S., and a laidback lifestyle, Costa Rica could be your dream overseas haven.
That said, no place is perfect and there are some other factors you should know about before making a move to Costa Rica including the rising cost of living—Kat gives you a monthly budget guide—as well as the potential language barrier for non-Spanish speakers, and some safety concerns. Plus, she gives you the inside track on taxes in the country including 3 tax advantages for U.S. expats.
I lived in Hawaii for 10 years. I’m somewhat used to bugs, etc. but I’m still freaked out by some. Panama is a no bc of that. I looked at your other video. What’s the bug situation in Costa Rica? I realize it’s the tropics.
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Chapters:
I don't know if you respond to comments here but I can't watch the whole video because I get the feeling that this video is made for people that would go to a place like costa rica and ask where the mcdonald's is at. no offense to you but it's the vibe i'm getting. But I still have questions that I would like to ask
00:00 Intro
1:43 The Pros of Retiring to Costa Rica
Costa Rica is reasonably cheap unless you want a car, air conditioning, or food other than bananas and a few other local fruits and rice and beans. You can't get: chili powder (you can get the more expensive chili mix), fennel seeds, lemons, fresh dill, sage, choice beef unless you get it at the most expensive place you can imagine, decent size not green potatoes, shallots, decent pasta, beef hot dogs, and many other things. They are simply never available. Cars and appliances cost double, both used and new, and gas is currently nearly $6 a gallon.
1:47 Costa Rica Has An Extensive And Diverse Expat Community
2:20 The Impressive Health Care in Costa Rica
I have been assaulted 4 times in Costa Rica. I fought back and won all 4 times, but I'm too old now, so I stay home after dark. My motorcycle was stolen recently, and the local police refused to investigate. They said it would servo no purpose. Selling my house and moving to S America.
2:44 Costa Rica's Stunning Natural Beauty
3:25 The Lifestyle in Costa Rica
If you are an "expat" who cannot speak Spanish and need to hang around only people like yourself (in a gated community), stay in the US and move to a low cost area. Don't burden the people of another country with your ignorace. I always tell friends from Latin America to learn a bit of English if they plan to visit the USA. I also find it strange that, on a travel/expat channel, she says that speaking Spanish is a "Con." A bit provincial.
3:38 The Cons of Retiring to Costa Rica
3:42 The Cost of Living in Costa Rica
It only takes 1% of crime to ruin a whole cake. Giving up on Latin America. It's getting worse everywhere like a pot on the boil. In Paraguay the expats are talking about the necessity of safe rooms, burying valuables, etc. All the safe places to live are so pricey there is no point.
4:14 The Language Barrier in Costa Rica
4:23 Safety in Costa Rica
I love Costa Rica 🇨🇷 Beautiful Country
5:03 How Living in Costa Rica Impacts Your Finances
6:16 Visa Requirements for Retiring in Costa Rica
$4,000 a week? a month? a year? She doesn't say specifically what that is.
7:05 Who Should Consider Retiring in Costa Rica?
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I have family there would it for me to move ther
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Costa Rican here! DON'T COME. You are harming our econocmy, our land and people's livelihoods. Gentrification is currently one of our biggest issues, we love tourists but absolutely despise "expats, you are not welcome to buy land. Investigate just how much nature and humans lives you will be part of destroying by coming here and find some other place where you will not be hurting anybody. Please 💔
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A good video however doesn't really touch the nitty greedy of Cos Rica specially if you're a United States born Citizen aka (gringo)
(1) Do not apply for Costa Rican citizenship ..... Costa Rican nationality is considered an inalienable right, meaning it cannot be renounced.
(2( Health System is a joke unless you pay for a private insurance otherwise you be waiting in line to be seeing by a doctor and that can take in most cases up to a year same goes for dental you need private insurance add that to living expenses
(3) Arrogance : American are known to be arrogant and you may feel welcome but to C.Ricans you are a $$$ walking cash cow gringo do not get fool with the Pura Vida
Pura Vida have very different meanings depending on subject they may be telling you to go F.Y.
(4)Spanish : Learning the language will help you a whole lot to safeguard yourself from every single level of the C. Rican society
(5)Avoid buying a house in the town's mentioned on this video is a real bad investments.Stay away from tourists traps living expenses are higher
(6)Crime : is out of control ... You need transportation from point A to point B specially at night time
(7) Illnesses: I do not advice people with health issues like Cancer or Diabetes to move to CR on permanent basis as I mentioned you need private insurance but they lack the technology needed to treat certain types of Cancer and Diabetes
(8) Lawyers: search for reviews and backgrounds and do not sign any document unless is in plain English and do not give power of attorney for properties or bank accounts
(9) Marriage : Divorcing a Costa Rican men or a woman is a very costly and painful task . The courts favor the women and that means they will take you to the cleaner's for every penny
(10) Homosexuals : Costa Rica have a very macho mentality follow by a very religious beliefs. Do not expect to be treated properly 89% if the population is homophobic worse is rural areas
More User Perspectives
If you’re thinking seriously about Costa Rica real estate investments, check out Costa Rica Sunset Homes , they offer beachfront and ocean-view properties that capture the dream of coastal living while positioning you for rental income or long-term value. Definitely worth a look!
@CharlotteEthan-k1nI love living in Costa Rica. I love most of the people, the climate, and the existence. However, I find the people who staff the US Embassy in Costa Rica, particularly the Costa Ricans who work in the US Citizen Social Security office there, are incompetent, lazy, and don't care about or like US Expa6ys and should be replaced with actual US employees. For over a month, I have been trying to contact them by phone, email, or any other means to obtain help with a letter regarding my benefits, which they mailed to me. They won't answer the phone, and the reception people keep transferring me to the same phone that hangs up. They say, and I quote, " We can't help you". What a stupid, moronic comment. I am a US Citizen, asking a US Embassy for help and these people keep sending me to a phone that hangs up right away, and THEY CAN'T HELP? Then quit your job and get someone in there who will. What a pathetic bunch of clowns working there who politely hate Americans.
@bojosephknowsTerrible audio
@olyamasha_lifeI’m searching where to move to and I was thinking Costa Rica thanks to your video the thought of bumping into a load of North Americans has put me off haha
@RokhsonaCosta rica does not want any white or gringos here at all in any wya spare or form and it is super oddvious here
@Blaxx506If you're white do not move to Costa Rica. It's a shithole they hate white people, they also have different prices for white people, they are lazy as fuck here and will rib and take advantage of you in every single way they can before you find out.
Stay out of Costa Rica 1000000000000 percent
I’ve lived here for 26 years and I am so glad I do. I love the medical and dental here that is superior and about 25% 0f the price. There are so many other advantages!
@lizamorning5356You are not expat, you are an immigrant
@aporrasmezaWe lived in CR during the period 2004-2009, probably the LAST time it was affordable and safe. In 2025, drug gang violence has swept the nation, especially in the large cities. Home prices have soared to USA levels, but construction quality remains sub-par. Ticos are now resentful of US expats, who they blame for causing the increase in their cost-of-living. Americans planning to move to CR should think twice. If they still plan to go, then RENT - DO NOT BUY. You may be going back soon to the USA !
@marytica123Costa Rica isn’t a safe country anymore! You will have to hear dogs barking night and day and if you live outside of a city you will most likely be murdered robbed by the police. Go to Panama
@CincinnatiRayWell done. Relevant information, some history kept things moving, no wasted words.
@TheAndyArrowChannelThe east coast is not hotter than the west coast
@yurimendez5987You say healthcare is better at times. I would venture to say that it's probably always better because the doctors in the United States have phoned it in when it comes to actually treating their patients they just throw some pills at them and call it done.
@TannehillinAll of this is ONLY Bla... Bla... Bla Costa Rica is VERY dirty REAL dirty very expensive and VERY VERY touristic
@manuelcastro449We retired in Costa Rica 4 years ago. We love our lives here. We left all our USA ways behind and embraced the Culture, people, history and language. It was a perfect match for us.
@2025sunshineAren't you an actor, Kat? I know I have seen you in something besides this video!
@dianaJones7165So glad I left Costa Rica.
'Costa Rica is overrun with thieves, potholes' and corruption.
Costa Rica call itself an "Eco Tourism Destination" BUT, they treat just 3% of their sewage.
The rest goes into the lakes streams and beaches.
SO glad I left Costa Rica after living there for 10 years.
Do not miss it at all.
What about second citizenship? Is that a possibility? What are the requirements?
@seeker2425Thank you very much for the info
Friend of mine wealthy engineer from Houston Texas move to Costa Rica and bought beautiful house unfortunately last week he was robbed and murdered in Costa Rica 😢
Be careful
For us it is paradise here (over 10 years now) however make sure the CR lifestyle region and climate suits you *there is plenty of choices here) Pura Vida👍👍👍
@FincaBocalasRanasCosta Rica is beautiful! if you are looking to move check out this property for sale - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV8x36isWSTGRfidOJ_V_zRhduhp6YVLx&si=0XVY7L_Gl6JCKg3s
@julianpaulorodriguesLost me at Jaguars
@dawnb532I think it's funny and pathetic how the US State Dept always talks about how unsafe other countries are when the USA is among the most dangerous countries in the world.....mass shootings, robberies, sex trafficking, and drug related crimes plague America badly.....but noone seems to talk about that. The double standard is pathetic.
@gustavolatobias2813I've heard of this thing called Medical, or in the case I would be interested in, Dental Tourism. You briefly touched on it around 2:20 .
How can an American find out explore the opportunities of Medical Tourism in Costa Rica? ( not that I am all that interested in flying in this ear of the Trump administration ).
I love Costa Rica - at least the time I visited there. The weather and the food was a dream for me. Loved it.
@justgivemethetruth