Costa Rica Cost of Living Update: Flat tire repair $1.50
Repairs on cars are very cheap in Costa Rica. They would rather replace, repaint, and refurbish than purchase a brand new vehicle. Often the repair shops are right in your neighborhood in someone’s garage. With little overhead, they pass on the savings to you.
And while you wait their dog will inspect your undercarriage. (That’s after siesta time is over)
I realize this is old, but do you know how much a decent, middle of the road paint job would cost in Costa Rica?
Been considering moving there, but before that, I will be driving there to rent a house for a few months. I’m already planning on getting some dental work while I’m there, perhaps I should budget for a paint job, too?
Any advice is appreciated.
Best,
Adam
I have no idea about the paint job, but I know that plenty of people get their teeth done here for a few thousand dollars. I call it the Hollywood smile, a mouth full of veneers that make you look like a movie star. I’ve never seen so many people with such great teeth.
I find your website delightfully refreshing and beautifully informative. I currently live on the Gulf Coast of Florida, just east of Tampa. I am 66 years old, about to be single after 20 years of marriage (I still can’t believe it!). I have decided to start a new life in Central America on a moderate pension. I am seriously looking at Costa Rica, but I would like to start or be a part of a small business, but I haven’t decided what it will be yet. I am about 2 to 3 months away from loading up my car and moving there. The problem is, I don’t know how much to bring with me or not bring with me. I am definitely bringing my computers with me because I have been an Information Technology person since I got out of College in ’71.
For us new expats, what could you recommend?
P.S. – I LOVE your website !!
Hi…Thanks for visiting my site. I truly love to share reliable information for anyone who is thinking about packing up and shipping out.
It sounds like there is a huge change going on in your life. And I admire you for even thinking about the idea of moving here. I can tell there is something in your heart that is ready for a change…perhaps an adventure.
If you have $1000 to $1200 coming in a month, you can make it here. That amount even includes my rent of $450. I am a frugal person, example, if Oreos cost $5 here I will just buy the Costa Rica brand cookies. Or just eat a pineapple. If you are able to adapt like that, then it is very easy getting by.
We sold everything before moving here. Even our car, however, I know lots of expats who shipped their car here. It costs a lot in taxes, but, it cost a lot to buy a car here too. So I think that expense my come out even no matter what you do.
I would bring the bare essentials. Every house we have rented was furnished so we didn’t need much. Can you even remember the last time you were able to move and just load up one car of belongings? For me that was college, and I forgot how freeing it is. You can always go back to Florida on trips and bring more but living with less makes me feel like I am 24 years old again. No wonder I had so much fun then.
If I were to start a business, no doubt, it would have to be travel oriented. I knew a guy who’s hobby was kayaking and started to do kayak tours. Charged tourists $50 each and paddled them around, pointed out the monkeys and sloths, etc. He does what he loves everyday and makes a nice living.
I would start out doing nothing (it is everything I thought it would be) and then start to brainstorm once you are here. There is so much to see in Costa Rica, you could spend an entire year just hopping from one place to another and be equally amazed with each.
This is the place to recover. Something happens to people here that I wish I could bottle and drizzle across the United States. I think it is happiness.