I have lived here for two years now with my wife and daughter in a sustainable community called Osa Mountain Village and we absolutely love it. I would not want to go back to the USA now.
unfortunately, most people think that someone else can pick a spot for them but I think you covered just about all the factors and advise they need to consider. Good job
You have some helpful videos, I notice the permaculture farms and vegan places are all over the map. We're wanting to live off grid and grow food and raise our kids around a like minded community of health conscious people. I don't really care how many locals live there we just love to eat plants and want to live somewhere we can grow what we need. I would like to benefit people when we live there but immersing ourselves in Costa Rican culture is not something we are chasing.
I would recommend only 2 places to live in CR (San Jose). Take my advice or leave it and you're on your own. I would buy in Escazu or San Antonio. They have gated communities, clean, modern, and Gringo friendly. If you buy anywhere else, plan on having lots of friends to check in on you or your property if you leave. You may find everything missing when you come back.
Good Information Michael. I prefer higher elevation rather than the beach for living. At Osa Mountain Village we are at 2,000 feet and the weather is always perfect.
Mike, thanks for the video, i discovered your blogs/vids this past week. I have a dual citizenship and have never lived there, so vacationing and visiting relatives every couple of years is ok, but I've never taken the time to know the culture and live there I wanna plan it this year.Thanks for the insightful vids.
the word i would use is quaint. I loved that there was a parque central almost every where you went. in Alajuela, there was a great big mango tree in the park. i loved it there. When i lived there in 78, within a 2 week period, i fell in Volcan Irazu and got hit by a bus at Volcan Poas. then a bus nearly ran over me by Banco Central in San Jose, LOL. So now i consider myself pre-disastered so my next visit should go without a hitch! (and i hope it is soon
I love your videos, and you've got a very useful website. I can't imagine how much time you've put into them. Thanks so much for all the great information.
Brilliant video! As much as I would like to live in CR I probably never will unfortunately but I still find this very interesting. You should charge for your advice or start some sort of business helping people move because you are clearly out there to help and not exploit people. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the videos, we watched almost all of them before our trip last week and they were really helpful. We had a great time in La Fortuna before we went over to the dark side at an all inclusive in Guanacaste. :)
Well we just got back after a 2 week Costa Rica exploration. This trip was to Puerto Viejo. Great little surfer dude village. Perfect if you want to get away from it all. Talked to lotsa expats....great experience. I gotta say all your info is spot on....thanks!
We will be moving to Costa Rica with my husband for a couple of years (job) and we may stay. I love your videos they are really helpful. Thanks for doing this.
+LaToya Stamper I can't help you with this. We are moving there because my husbands company relocated him. Company's lawyer was dealing with our visas.
@@DENZBES it depends of the kind of place you preffer. For living and working maybe the central Valley (the capital San Jose). At the mountains around you have good wheather (it's fresh-cool) from 70 to 45F, heredia and coronado beautiful places. The coast is warmer (80-95 F) and we have hundred of beaches. I love Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste beaches, and also south caribbean (Puerto viejo is a magical place). The best Rain forest is Monteverde. We have a lot of micro wheathers. And there is a lot of "gringos" here (north americans) many of them residents...
@iCostaRica24 Mainly, I think it's cool how it's a PERFECT anagram of Costa Rica. Incidentally, I'm toying with the idea of moving to CR, which is why I'm watching all these videos. Thank you for yours, they're very good. I hope you'll keep posting them. Pura Vida
If you are thinking to move here, you need to consider San Ramón ; because it's a nice place, with nice people, good hospitals, all the goods and services, really nice weather( not too hot and doesn´t rain too much), and is near from San José.
Rosario Bonham It's really nice to live in San Ramón because is cheaper than San José and other touristic places, in fact there are products that you can get up to 50% cheaper ( most of them are food and clothes), also real state is cheaper too. And the thing I like the most is the weather because it's not too hot, and not too cold ( average temperature is 77°F).
Rosario Bonham Actually I am costarican and I was born in San Ramón. I own a house and it wasn't too difficult to get it, i have lived in other cities here and some are very nice but a little expensive, other are cheap but doesn't have all the services. About the rain, now is the rainy season (from May to October)but it's not to rainy in San Ramón, it rains the most in the afternoon or in the night.
Hello Michael, I can't wait to travel to Costa Rica. Thanks for the video. I agree with you: one has to live and "immerse" in a culture and language in order to appreciate it and give an impartial opinion. I have a question for you: I would love to run a Bed and Breakfast, anywhere in the world. What are you thoughts about a B&B in Costa Rica? Thank you.
Just happened to stumble on your videos today, just fantastic man!! Been to Costa Rica twice& may move there.Stayed in San Isidro the Heredia, San Ramon Monteverde etc. Been told all about Perez Zeledon, never been there but seen the pictures seems very apealing . Would you say that's an ok. town..do you like it. I'm into wildlife & rainforest birds , but also not a hermit either. I've lived in Miami FL & St. Paul MN............I like neither intense heat nor cold.!! Thank you sir.
I get this same question, occasionally, from my clients... "Where should I live, in Costa Rica?" Well... There is no straight answer, for anyone. The answer depends upon the individual, and here's the Kicker... It's probably not a name that you would recognize. I'm not sending a client to live in La Fortuna or Jacó or San José, or any of those other trite places. He'll live in a place that is quiet, and private, and unique.
We are thinking of a few places ojochal and uvita and escazu which place has the coolest climate but not much rain / and good for a family of 4 Not looking for a huge place
Michael, my reference of the dark side was about us staying at an all inclusive in Guanacaste, not the province. You've said in some videos that all inclusives are not where people should stay. Guanacaste was wonderful, though very hot compared to La Fortuna. We stayed at the Riu Palace and they were fantastic as well, but we had a car and drove to Coco beach also. Take care and thanks again (we were on the lookout for you in La Fortuna).
How would you rate San Isidro De Heredia. Been to Costa Rica a couple of time but just never long eneugh, that town seems quite pleasant though. Thanks.
okay with the new highway connecting San Jose to Caldera ,Athena is not that far,but you have to take into consideration how close or how far do you want to be from civilization.In the case you or some relative are have a condition such as a heart condition take into consideration you want to be close to good healthcare like CIMA hospital then I would suggest Escazu if you cannot afford it Santa Ana,Cuidad Colon or Puriscal.If you want to be closer to downtownplaces like Rohmerser
Hi Michael, greetings. I enjoy your videos very much. How much do you pay per KW of electricity. In Puerto Rico last month I payed $0.35 per KW. Very expensive. How does that compare to CR?
Hi..maybe you can help me recommend places in Costa Rica to live. I plan to go in the summer of 2012. I have been to CR before and love it. I narrow it down to Four areas. Cartago,Guacimo,San Vito and San Ramon.I'm just trying to live low key and blend in well to the culture. I understand some spanish,but speak very little.What I make in the USA I can live well in CR. USA is getting too crazy for me and had enough of it. your help is apreciated. Thanks.
Is San Vito or Puerto Viejo a good place to live in CR. I have been to both back in 2009 and i found it to be awesome. good people and food, etc.. I plan to live a very quiet life and to make friends.
+Lu Tripp That's a lot of money. For under $100 (which includes all expenses) you can just stay in Nicaragua for a couple days. The only thing you would need to be okay with is bringing a legit looking flight info paper that you have changed the dates on, to prove, when entering back into CR that you are only visiting. I would not sweat showing the boarder guys the fake paper because they don't look at it for more than a second, and I know many people who do this including myself who have never had a problem.
Got a costa rican pal. According to what he heard, and this is a myth but makes sense, it all started when costa ricans would listen to americans many years ago say "this is too nice; oh look at that, it's too nice" So now "tuanis" is part of their lives and it's used for pretty much everything that is/means great...and/or cool, super, awesome, dope, etc Phonetically adapted to english it'd sound like "too - ə (schwa) - niece" or "tooəniece" or... yeah lol Hope this helps
You can have phone and Internet just about anywhere in CR, just get a Smart or I phone and get a prepaid plan from Claro. ...and no, you didn't mispronounce Arenas.
Beware of squatters and even the Maid. If you leave and your property is not attended, someone can actually SQUAT your property and take it from you. That's the squatters law and prevalent in Central America and South America. Hint: The CR government will not take your side. So buyer beware and even if you buy, your property may not be yours for long in CR.
Yes that isn all true. I am Cuban and many of the same words have totally diffferent meanings. I could say, voy a coger un breake...what I should say is voy a tomar un breake.as in Many Latin American countries coger has a totally different meaning...to me it mans " to get"
It does make sense...very well could be. Many words are just adaptation or corruptions of other words. For example, the word alligator is a corruption of the Spaniard prase " El Lagarto" ( the lizard).
De los paises de habla hispana que me gustaria vivir cuando me retire,costarrica es mi preferido,mi esposo y yo estamos pensando comprar una propiedad alla,pero la gente nos dice que hay mucha violencia,robos y asaltos y no sabemos hasta k punto esto es cierto.
Hi, I assume the "Castro Street" T-shirt is referring to the ultra-gay Castro district centered on Castro Street in San Francisco. The word "Castro" carries subtle connotations of "castration" so I have new term for gays which I think you'll like. Instead of being a MANiac, you are a CASTROiac. If you look carefully you'll see that "Castroiac" is a perfect anagram of Costa Rica! All the best, Pura Vida (yeah I know, it's BS)
look what my friend which is from costa rica and lives in costa rica,,look at and her friends just commented on face book,,,,,,,,,,Dios miO.. NO puedO saliir de Cieneguita estO esta fatal.. Es bandalismO Like · · Share · 2 hours ago via mobile · 7 people like this. Sheila Ellis yooooo casiii nooo entroooo a loooos coocooos!!! :( 2 hours ago · Like · 1 Mimi Fagan Es Increible... Me llegO el Olor a gas Emmanuel Abarca Morales yo estoy aquí en san Juan y escucho todo :-(
Es pura mentira. En San Jose hay mucha delincuencia, PERO en los barrios peligrosos... Es como decir que NY es peligroso solo porque hay barrios peligrosos. No todo San Jose es igual. Fuera de San Jose se podria decir que en Jaco es donde mas delincuencia hay. Pero ejemplo dejas el bolso te metes al mar y cuando regresas no esta XD. Pero los demas lugares son pura vida!
I have lived here for two years now with my wife and daughter in a sustainable community called Osa Mountain Village and we absolutely love it. I would not want to go back to the USA now.
great video and love your vibe too, i was thinking Alajuela for me
unfortunately, most people think that someone else can pick a spot for them but I think you covered just about all the factors and advise they need to consider. Good job
You have some helpful videos, I notice the permaculture farms and vegan places are all over the map. We're wanting to live off grid and grow food and raise our kids around a like minded community of health conscious people. I don't really care how many locals live there we just love to eat plants and want to live somewhere we can grow what we need. I would like to benefit people when we live there but immersing ourselves in Costa Rican culture is not something we are chasing.
You're talking my language. What did you come up with?
I would recommend only 2 places to live in CR (San Jose). Take my advice or leave it and you're on your own. I would buy in Escazu or San Antonio. They have gated communities, clean, modern, and Gringo friendly. If you buy anywhere else, plan on having lots of friends to check in on you or your property if you leave. You may find everything missing when you come back.
Good Information Michael. I prefer higher elevation rather than the beach for living. At Osa Mountain Village we are at 2,000 feet and the weather is always perfect.
you guys need to do a video on the southern pacific! anything you can do would be great....Good Job!
Love you Mike....you are so well spoken, with tons of valuable information!
Mike, thanks for the video, i discovered your blogs/vids this past week. I have a dual citizenship and have never lived there, so vacationing and visiting relatives every couple of years is ok, but I've never taken the time to know the culture and live there I wanna plan it this year.Thanks for the insightful vids.
+JClar72 You are very welcome... and thank you for the nice words, much appreciated.
I've seen a few of your videos now and they seem really informative and down to earth. Appreciate it!
the word i would use is quaint. I loved that there was a parque central almost every where you went. in Alajuela, there was a great big mango tree in the park. i loved it there. When i lived there in 78, within a 2 week period, i fell in Volcan Irazu and got hit by a bus at Volcan Poas. then a bus nearly ran over me by Banco Central in San Jose, LOL. So now i consider myself pre-disastered so my next visit should go without a hitch! (and i hope it is soon
I love your videos, and you've got a very useful website. I can't imagine how much time you've put into them. Thanks so much for all the great information.
Brilliant video! As much as I would like to live in CR I probably never will unfortunately but I still find this very interesting.
You should charge for your advice or start some sort of business helping people move because you are clearly out there to help and not exploit people.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the videos, we watched almost all of them before our trip last week and they were really helpful. We had a great time in La Fortuna before we went over to the dark side at an all inclusive in Guanacaste. :)
Well we just got back after a 2 week Costa Rica exploration. This trip was to Puerto Viejo. Great little surfer dude village. Perfect if you want to get away from it all.
Talked to lotsa expats....great experience.
I gotta say all your info is spot on....thanks!
We will be moving to Costa Rica with my husband for a couple of years (job) and we may stay. I love your videos they are really helpful. Thanks for doing this.
+LaToya Stamper I can't help you with this. We are moving there because my husbands company relocated him. Company's lawyer was dealing with our visas.
I am a Native Costa Rica citizen....and I enjoy your videos! :)
And what your favorite place for living in Costa Rica?
@@DENZBES it depends of the kind of place you preffer. For living and working maybe the central Valley (the capital San Jose). At the mountains around you have good wheather (it's fresh-cool) from 70 to 45F, heredia and coronado beautiful places. The coast is warmer (80-95 F) and we have hundred of beaches. I love Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste beaches, and also south caribbean (Puerto viejo is a magical place). The best Rain forest is Monteverde. We have a lot of micro wheathers. And there is a lot of "gringos" here (north americans) many of them residents...
@iCostaRica24
Mainly, I think it's cool how it's a PERFECT anagram of Costa Rica. Incidentally, I'm toying with the idea of moving to CR, which is why I'm watching all these videos. Thank you for yours, they're very good. I hope you'll keep posting them.
Pura Vida
Haha. Awesome video! Saludos thanks for the oldie
Your videos are very insightful and helpful to me. Thanks for making them.
If you are thinking to move here, you need to consider San Ramón ; because it's a nice place, with nice people, good hospitals, all the goods and services, really nice weather( not too hot and doesn´t rain too much), and is near from San José.
Jello Héctor, tell me more about San Ramón, what do you like of San Ramón? How expensive is it to Live over there? Os it Training a lot?
Rosario Bonham It's really nice to live in San Ramón because is cheaper than San José and other touristic places, in fact there are products that you can get up to 50% cheaper ( most of them are food and clothes), also real state is cheaper too.
And the thing I like the most is the weather because it's not too hot, and not too cold ( average temperature is 77°F).
Thank you for sharing the info, how long have you been living in Costa Rica, do you own or are renting?
Is it raining now?how about the hotels, how .much, I would have to pay, and security too, thank you.
Rosario Bonham Actually I am costarican and I was born in San Ramón. I own a house and it wasn't too difficult to get it, i have lived in other cities here and some are very nice but a little expensive, other are cheap but doesn't have all the services.
About the rain, now is the rainy season (from May to October)but it's not to rainy in San Ramón, it rains the most in the afternoon or in the night.
Thank you so much for all your advise and information.
Hello Michael,
I can't wait to travel to Costa Rica. Thanks for the video. I agree with you: one has to live and "immerse" in a culture and language in order to appreciate it and give an impartial opinion.
I have a question for you: I would love to run a Bed and Breakfast, anywhere in the world. What are you thoughts about a B&B in Costa Rica?
Thank you.
Just happened to stumble on your videos today, just fantastic man!! Been to Costa Rica twice& may move there.Stayed in San Isidro the Heredia, San Ramon Monteverde etc. Been told all about Perez Zeledon, never been there but seen the pictures seems very apealing . Would you say that's an ok. town..do you like it. I'm into wildlife & rainforest birds , but also not a hermit either.
I've lived in Miami FL & St. Paul MN............I like neither intense heat nor cold.!! Thank you sir.
Perez seledon is the best place to live in CR
Nicegoodspeed1 a 2BR apartment should cost like 400 dollars in San Jose... You'll live good with 800 dollars
Love your videos. I appreciate all the good advice and to remember to pack my sense of adventure!
I get this same question, occasionally, from my clients... "Where should I live, in Costa Rica?"
Well... There is no straight answer, for anyone. The answer depends upon the individual, and here's the Kicker...
It's probably not a name that you would recognize. I'm not sending a client to live in La Fortuna or Jacó or San José, or any of those other trite places. He'll live in a place that is quiet, and private, and unique.
How relevant is this information now
still relevant.
I fell in love with Alajuela, even though i lived in la sabana sur.my last two trips i stayed in Alajuela and absolutely love it
LIGA LIGA
We are thinking of a few places ojochal and uvita and escazu which place has the coolest climate but not much rain / and good for a family of 4 Not looking for a huge place
Perez zeledon has a good weather is a city of 150k people near to uvita and manuel antonio
Michael, my reference of the dark side was about us staying at an all inclusive in Guanacaste, not the province. You've said in some videos that all inclusives are not where people should stay. Guanacaste was wonderful, though very hot compared to La Fortuna. We stayed at the Riu Palace and they were fantastic as well, but we had a car and drove to Coco beach also. Take care and thanks again (we were on the lookout for you in La Fortuna).
Another very informative video! Your honesty is always refreshing.
Changed currency to USD:
Primeros 200 KWh $0.18/kWh
Cada kilovatio adicional $0.33/kWh
Mike, what beach town do you recommend, considering health care and Internet as major factors?
Tamarindo, jaco or quepos - manuel antonio
I think tha if you are coming to CR you should think about San Isidro De El General in Pérez Zeledón. Such as a great place :)
playa guiones all day haha I stay there for 200 a month and is the most peaceful place i've been too
There is some good common sense in this video. Thanks Mike
+John Stern You are very welcome. thanx for taking the time to say.
Great video Mike! Keep up the good work. The internet is full of people trying to sell paradise, we need a doe of common sense.
I'll probably end up there I think. Hows your pronounciation of Pura Vida.....corresponded before. :)
Thanks again.
Is there a happy medium as far as the weather?
yeah..for sure. Atenas..Grecia area...more
How would you rate San Isidro De Heredia. Been to Costa Rica a couple of time but just never long eneugh, that town seems quite pleasant though. Thanks.
okay with the new highway connecting San Jose to Caldera ,Athena is not that far,but you have to take into consideration how close or how far do you want to be from civilization.In the case you or some relative are have a condition such as a heart condition take into consideration you want to be close to good healthcare like CIMA hospital then I would suggest Escazu if you cannot afford it Santa Ana,Cuidad Colon or Puriscal.If you want to be closer to downtownplaces like Rohmerser
Hi Michael, greetings. I enjoy your videos very much. How much do you pay per KW of electricity. In Puerto Rico last month I payed $0.35 per KW. Very expensive. How does that compare to CR?
I think I'm in love with you two.
He is a handsome man, but I think sometimes.. where all his family must be?? Well, this is not our business... I would say... I would like yo know...
Hi..maybe you can help me recommend places in Costa Rica to live. I plan to go in the summer of 2012. I have been to CR before and love it. I narrow it down to Four areas. Cartago,Guacimo,San Vito and San Ramon.I'm just trying to live low key and blend in well to the culture. I understand some spanish,but speak very little.What I make in the USA I can live well in CR. USA is getting too crazy for me and had enough of it. your help is apreciated. Thanks.
Thanks for your time and videos. Do you have a suggestion for renting? An honest agency?
email us,,, we can give you some pointers.
*****
ok thanks
heavenbound45
ok so I did watch it!! LOL
Is San Vito or Puerto Viejo a good place to live in CR. I have been to both back in 2009 and i found it to be awesome. good people and food, etc.. I plan to live a very quiet life and to make friends.
Thank you
Primeros 200 KWh ¢ 92/kWh
Cada kilovatio adicional ¢ 165/kWh
how much money should you take ?
+Lu Tripp That's a lot of money. For under $100 (which includes all expenses) you can just stay in Nicaragua for a couple days. The only thing you would need to be okay with is bringing a legit looking flight info paper that you have changed the dates on, to prove, when entering back into CR that you are only visiting. I would not sweat showing the boarder guys the fake paper because they don't look at it for more than a second, and I know many people who do this including myself who have never had a problem.
idiot
Good job
Saludos from tejas
I used to hear " que tuanis"...I think it mean something to the effect of .." cool".
Cell is better than rural Georgia, US.
another useful phrase.....tuanes pie.... heard that more than a few times
great video
Got a costa rican pal. According to what he heard, and this is a myth but makes sense, it all started when costa ricans would listen to americans many years ago say "this is too nice; oh look at that, it's too nice"
So now "tuanis" is part of their lives and it's used for pretty much everything that is/means great...and/or cool, super, awesome, dope, etc
Phonetically adapted to english it'd sound like "too - ə (schwa) - niece" or "tooəniece" or... yeah lol
Hope this helps
bro one day i'll be there
thanks
You can have phone and Internet just about anywhere in CR, just get a Smart or I phone and get a prepaid plan from Claro.
...and no, you didn't mispronounce Arenas.
Kolbi is better
Beware of squatters and even the Maid. If you leave and your property is not attended, someone can actually SQUAT your property and take it from you. That's the squatters law and prevalent in Central America and South America. Hint: The CR government will not take your side. So buyer beware and even if you buy, your property may not be yours for long in CR.
Yes that isn all true. I am Cuban and many of the same words have totally diffferent meanings.
I could say, voy a coger un breake...what I should say is voy a tomar un breake.as in Many Latin American countries coger has a totally different meaning...to me it mans " to get"
u should live in San Ramon!
It does make sense...very well could be. Many words are just adaptation or corruptions of other words. For example, the word alligator is a corruption of the Spaniard prase " El Lagarto" ( the lizard).
So you don't like Atenas ?
i love Atenas.
De los paises de habla hispana que me gustaria vivir cuando me retire,costarrica es mi preferido,mi esposo y yo estamos pensando comprar una propiedad alla,pero la gente nos dice que hay mucha violencia,robos y asaltos y no sabemos hasta k punto esto es cierto.
Hi, I assume the "Castro Street" T-shirt is referring to the ultra-gay Castro district centered on Castro Street in San Francisco.
The word "Castro" carries subtle connotations of "castration" so I have new term for gays which I think you'll like.
Instead of being a MANiac, you are a CASTROiac.
If you look carefully you'll see that "Castroiac" is a perfect anagram of Costa Rica!
All the best,
Pura Vida
(yeah I know, it's BS)
GREAT
look what my friend which is from costa rica and lives in costa rica,,look at and her friends just commented on face book,,,,,,,,,,Dios miO.. NO puedO saliir de Cieneguita estO esta fatal.. Es bandalismO
Like · · Share · 2 hours ago via mobile ·
7 people like this.
Sheila Ellis yooooo casiii nooo entroooo a loooos coocooos!!! :(
2 hours ago · Like · 1
Mimi Fagan Es Increible... Me llegO el Olor a gas
Emmanuel Abarca Morales yo estoy aquí en san Juan y escucho todo :-(
Why are you in Costa Rica? The videos I've seen of you just talk bad about Costa Rica.
Alligator? Really? Cool
lol. awesome
armpits get a rash? you shouldn't stay here if you are too delicate.
BTW you said Atenas well.
Tuanis mae ! :)
A cachete jaja
Nah, come on now. That can't be.....
Es pura mentira. En San Jose hay mucha delincuencia, PERO en los barrios peligrosos... Es como decir que NY es peligroso solo porque hay barrios peligrosos. No todo San Jose es igual. Fuera de San Jose se podria decir que en Jaco es donde mas delincuencia hay. Pero ejemplo dejas el bolso te metes al mar y cuando regresas no esta XD. Pero los demas lugares son pura vida!
get out of the echo chamber_______SOUND QUALIty is POOR !!!!!!
This men talk about Costa Rica very fatality be
EVERY WHAT is you intención?
after watching a few CR videos i aint going to that fucking place.
I''m sure I can safely say, Costa Rica doesn't fucking want you either.
nobody wants any cunt m8 eveyrone wants space.
Hio Ontario
Yeah, everyone wants space between 'you' and 'them'.
+Hio Ontario Yes- move somewhere near-by like Detroit, with your vocabulary display- you will fit in there perfectly.
LOL. Dude needs some manana.
get to the point !---stop trying to --sell us---- on solutions----- just state them
do not come here
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA
Thanks