Wendell C. Says:
At present time I am single, 68 and have an income around $1,000 a month. Can I live in Costa Rica on this small amount?
IL Contributor and Costa Rica Expat Bob Normand Says:
In a simple and direct answer: Yes. You should be able to pay rent on a small place and provide food for yourself, pay basic utilities and still have a little left over for spending money. But it also depends on how you live.
My income, which is a little more than twice what you mention (from Social Security and a small pension), covers the basics well within your number. The rest I spend on more frivolous things like eating out at least twice a week, traveling about Costa Rica and occasionally to other parts of Latin America.
After three months here I decided not to get a car, which saves me a lot of money, and allows me to spend money to do some of those other frivolous things.
To keep your costs low, it pays to shop and eat out like a local. The feria, or weekly open-air farmers’ market, is an institution in just about every Costa Rican town or village. This is where the locals come to stock up on fresh fruit, vegetables, and spices. You’ll also find farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, beef and chicken, eggs, dairy products, bread, coffee, and more. All at very affordable prices—think around $50 to fill your fridge for the week.
Medical care is high quality and low cost, with legal resident expats enjoying use of the government-run universal healthcare system known as Caja. For a low monthly fee based on income, you get doctor’s visits, prescriptions, surgeries…any care you need…for free. Private clinics and hospitals are also a fraction of the price if you pay cash—and insurance is available, too. (I wrote an article for IL about my personal experience with Costa Rica’s affordable healthcare, which you can read here.)
One major thing to consider if you wish to keep your cost of living low here is that many beach destinations that are popular with tourists will have a higher cost of living because prices for rentals, dinners out, and grocery stores tend to be more expensive.
In conclusion, if you stay away from the touristy areas and live as much like a local as possible, then you should be able to live here for around $1,000 a month—though you can spend much more if you choose to.