Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Lunch on the sand—$2
There are a lot of mom & pop businesses in Costa Rica. It’s one of the things I love about living here and I especially notice their hard work on the beaches.
A man walks past us yelling, “Pipa frio…pipa frio aqui.” We wave him over and he unloads his large Igloo cooler off his shoulder. He opens it up and takes out two cold coconuts. With one strike of his machete, he chops off the top and sticks a straw in. They cost one dollar each.
Rob and I dine on the refreshing milk and scrape the curd off the sides with our straw. It’s the most refreshing treat you can have while sitting in the hot sun. It’s sweet and the curd has a consistency of coconut cream pie. Gilligan’s Island comes to mind as I’m finishing it.
Soon an old woman walks up selling little bags of cashews for a dollar. We each buy one and enjoy the rest of our day watching children build sand castles and couples hold hands in the water.
Sometimes it can be challenging living here, especially when I go to the store longing for Half and Half to find it costs $5 a carton. But then I have a day like this and I feel good that I contributed to the local economy.
Hey…I wonder if coconut milk tastes good in coffee?
Pipa Frio at Manuel Antonio was $2 or 1,000 colones. But 1,000 feet in front of the National Park (Manuel Antonio) is a place where you could have a terrific breakfast including 3 servings of fruit, pancake(of maybe it was a crepe) , eggs, rice and and beans and all the coffee you want any day for $4 , real fruit smoothies for $2 if you would like too, if you tip them a couple of bucks they are thrilled. The deals are there, you need to find them.
You are exactly right Charlie. It takes a little extra time, but the cheaper meals are all around. Many times you just need to walk over a couple feet, or even ask some of the ticos where a good deal is. Tourists areas can be notoriously expensive, so it’s worth looking around for that $2 smoothie.
Love the post, and the amazing thing is the quality of the food for such a bargain; and yes it is a bargain! Perhaps the 50/50 is expensive, but there are a lot of more basic alternatives that you can use and save a lot of money.
As for cascade… it is still worth the $12.
OH, and btw, I get a 3$ lunch in New York City, justa bout any neighborhood has a 3 Bros. pizza (or similar) with 1$ slices and 1$ cans of soda, so a high in carb and sugar lunch can cost the same in a metropolis… but then again, a bargain can be found anywhere, and a premium can as well.
I will pay anything for that Cascade. I feel it is the secret to a happy marriage.
You are right Michael, a bargain can be found anywhere, even in NYC. Even here, you can sit at a restaurant on the beach and pay a little more, or go across the street to a SODA and have a meal for about 30% less.
I enjoy many of your stories but I really think you mislead people with your pricing on everything. Yes, a coconut water is $1, so two would be $2, that is not lunch for $2. Add the cashews and that is another $2-3 right there. I know because I live here and buy the cashews regularly. I also saw your post on $3 Mojitos. Really? Because I have been all over Costa Rica and a $3 large cocktail is a rare thing indeed. Try laying on Manuel Antonio beach and being approached by waiters selling $8 cocktails. That is more like it, and even if you go where the locals go, $3 drinks are hard to find. People should know that CR is hardly cheap. It does a disservice to paint it as such. I know people who went here on vacation because they heard it was cheap and ended up really disappointed.
I disagree Manga. In that same post I wrote about Half and Half being $5. In past posts I write about car repairs going south and ending up costing twice than their estimate, phone lines needing repaired for a ridiculous amount of money, a $12 box of Cascade, so I don’t think I mislead anyone. I wrote about a “special” at a restaurant of six coconut shrimp costing $20, a price that was shocking, and made me want to get back from the waiter the cute pineapple it was presented on.
I ate a pipa frio on the beach for $1 and a little bag of cashews for $1. As a result, my lunch cost me $2. A pipa frio is very filling and the bag of nuts topped it off perfectly. If I wanted to lie about this story, I would have added that I was mistaken for Heidi Klum by the coconut seller. I surely wouldn’t waste my lie on a price of a mojito at happy hour.
I don’t know how much drinks cost in Manuel Antonio, or how much a pipa frio is in Punta Uva. I only write about the things that I have purchased, good, bad, or indifferent. And within these moments, I remember why I love it here so much.
And as for the people who were terribly disappointed with their trip to Costa Rica, I would tell them how lucky they are that they had the opportunity to travel and explore a different country. So many people do not have the means to do such and would gladly trade spaces with them. An $8 cocktail should never ruin the memories of a lovely trip.
You know, some of my favorite meals have been at little Mom and Pop sodas or hole in the wall restaurants. The casadas are my favorites, and what a complete and satisfying meal for about 6 bucks, a Coca Cola included.
So, you’ve got the right idea, supporting the local economy and enjoying really good, fresh food for just a song! Enough to make my heart sing!
All my best,
Fred
Your’re right Fred. So many choices, and so many great mom and pop restaurants to choose from.
My husband and I are considering moving to Costa Rica, we’re super excited about it but the one concern that we obviously have is making an income! Is it easier to start a business down there because of the touristy areas or do you know other ways people make some money? Also, are there any local pet shops that carry healthy dog food, we a few dogs.. that’s’ another thing we were concerned about.
There are pet shops that carry more expensive food, but they are few and far between. I think you would have to ask around for that. As for businesses, the best thing to do is come visit and ask around, talk to business owners and see what they have to say. Tourist areas are always the best places to make money, but it is seasonal. But if you have a good idea, then perhaps it will work.
What’s great is everyone is in a good mood. Whether it be ATV tours, kayak tours, snorkeling adventures, they all want to do something fun.
Your book gave me more laughs than I’ve had in years. Guess I should consider retiring and relocating to CR!
Thanks Kitty! I’m having a lot of fun down here!
Coconut milk ROCKS with coffee! I have it every morning, but not fresh like your. Of course one day it will be 🙂
I’m going to try it. Surely healthier than milk, and not as expensive.
I have this quite often too, a great substitute for 50/50.
Have you ever tried mixing anything with it? Looks like it would be happy with rum!
What a great afternoon you two had. Thinking of going to Tamarindo Vista Villas all inclusive week with Spanish lessons later this year. Just a short walk to finding a “pipa frio” I hope!
Hmm….rum does sound good. Maybe I’ll have to try that sometime!
When I saw your post, I had to smile. Enjoyed same coconut treat on Playa Guinones in Nosara last month. I took a picture of my coconut with straw and it is now my profile picture on FaceBook.
btw…loved your book!!
Thanks Gary, once you have one, you can’t ever forget it.