![8 Reasons Why Americans LEAVE Costa Rica [Why I Left]](https://www.alojapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1689220809_maxresdefault.jpg "8 Reasons Why Americans LEAVE Costa Rica [Why I Left]")
The TRUTH about living in Costa Rica: Why do so many Americans leave Costa Rica after moving there? In this video, I explain what causes expats to change their minds about retiring abroad and why I left Costa Rica after 8 years. Some of the initial reasons that people want to move to Costa Rica include the moderate climate, laid back lifestyle, fresh and healthy food, friendly people, beaches, medical tourism, and the low cost of living. But is Costa Rica really a safe and friendly country or is it actually dangerous and expensive? Once they arrive, many people realize that living in Costa Rica wasn’t quite what they expected. Unfortunately, that results in people returning home quite soon after arriving.
After helping more than 500 foreigners move to Costa Rica and living there for eight years, this video explains the top reasons why people move back to the USA and why I left, too, so that you know more about what to expect BEFORE you get there. This is the real and sometimes dark truth about living in Costa Rica. What do you think are the biggest pros and cons of living in Costa Rica? Let us know in the comments.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:32 How many Americans live in Costa Rica?
00:53 Why people retire in Costa Rica then leave
1:03 #1 High Cost of Living
3:30 #2 Inability to Adjust to the Culture
5:45 #3 Unrealistic Expectations versus Reality
6:45 #4 Healthcare and Health Problems
7:10 #5 Missing Family and Homesickness
8:20 #6 Crime Rate – Is it Dangerous or Safe?
10:58 #7 Negativity from Other Expats
11:53 #8 Misc Things: Infrastructure, extreme weather, and “too much Pura Vida”
15:04 Why people stay in Costa Rica forever
15:38 Why I left Costa Rica to become a digital nomad
18:15 Why I don’t regret moving to Costa Rica
18:50 Conclusion
Related videos:
* Playlist: What It’s Like Living Abroad as an Expat: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsTStwiO7jmocNIFUJ3dou4MZ6bYidl-d
* The Best Things About Living Abroad: https://youtu.be/JmE3RuO3wOI
* What I Dislike About Living Abroad: https://youtu.be/ZwxGU1jhPKs
* Costa Rica for Digital Nomads: https://youtu.be/TU313G83EhA
* Nosara, Costa Rica Treehouse Tour: https://youtu.be/fYYJ-hXMFdY
* Tamarindo, Costa Rica House Tour: https://youtu.be/f42-gPWawKQ
* Costa Rica Travel Tips by my friend, Alex the Vagabond: https://youtu.be/Uhe1X6OpoSo
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👱🏻♀️ About: Kristin Wilson is a digital nomad, online entrepreneur, and expat relocation consultant who has lived, worked, or traveled in 60 countries over the last 15+ years. In the past decade, she has helped 1,000’s of people move abroad or travel full-time while working remotely.
Kristin is also a writer, public speaker, podcaster, and TV host who has been featured on The Today Show, HGTV’s House Hunters International, Huffpost, Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, Business Insider, ESPN, and more.
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NOTE: This video is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not individual consulting or advice. Please consult the relevant authorities such as your local government, airline, embassy, consulate, and/or tourism providers before booking international travel, moving abroad, or applying for a work permit or work and travel visa.
#costarica #livingincostarica #whyileft
46 Comments
Why I Left the US (new video): https://youtu.be/HJ4oh7IAaeE
Is there just one latin American country that is safe???
No matter where YOU go, there YOU are…
Crime! Everyone lives in a cage ie bars on a windows and doors, a cage around your car.
Resentment from locals
Medicare doesn’t cover you if you permanently live out of the country
Heat and humidity
Bad roads
Lack of air conditioning
Lack of medical care. Anyone there with money goes to El Privato Clinico (private health care) vs the free socialized medicine. I was in a government hospital in a large city and it SUCKED, no modern machines like MRI and unbelievable there was no air conditioning! I was in a large room with cots a few feet away from the next patient. Blood and dirt on the floor. No employees spoke English til the third day a neurologist came. He advised that I get back to a USA Hospital ASAP.
In CR, some people will hide in the jungle by the beach and when you go for a swim they will even steal your shoes and towel . Crime is rampant. The jungle runs right down close to the ocean. It’s not like American beaches. Yes it’s pretty but it’s a opportunity for criminals and also there’s venomous snakes and insects.
Poor infrastructure. Lack of air conditioning.
Scammers
Underage prostitution. It’s sad but these girls have no other way to survive. Scumbag pedophile tourists love to come here and cheaply buy the services of young girls
"Health problems?" Are they getting sick from things in the country, or are they not happy with health care for problems acquired as you get older? Be more specific, please.
They should two birds one stone train stray dogs to be property guardians against Invaders
tHIS IS YOUR EXPERIENCE BECAUSE YOU AND MANY OTHER PERSONS WANT TO LIVE CHEAP FOREVER. NO PLACE IS CHEAP FOREVER. LIFE AND THE REALITY HAS CHANGED KRISTIN, HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND A CHEAP PLACE ON EARTH TO LIVE FOREVER DEAR KRISTIN.
Easy. When you quit writing checks, no more friends.
Everything you are saying applies to Hawai'i. Except no one moves here thinking it's going to be cheap. The crime has Sky rocketed. Locals are seldom held accountable. They target tourists and often does not make the news. A person can be murdered in broad daylight here. They will never share that news with the mainland, as you wouldn't want to disrupt tourism. I know from first-hand experience. I was assaulted and ended up in emergency surgery in the hospital for 4 days. The police never even filed a report. The endless theft gets old too.
Nothing that you cover relates to Costa Rica. The regrets of leaving the current place, family and friends and so on could relate to any place in the world.
I retired 15 years early.
That's the reason I live in paid off gated and secured condos for homes..
Have lifetime flight benefits and able to fly the world free for life. Lost count how many times I flew to Costa Rica even just for a weekend and I live in Oklahoma.
Just lock up,grab my bags and go without worrying about my homes in the U.S..
Already been to 60 countries before I retired in 2020 staying for 1-2 months at a time. Already spent all summer in Switzerland then Brazil and New Zealand for two months in 2023.
Plan to do 6-12 month stays in places like Cook Islands,New Zealand,and other places soon.
Easier for me to just rent long term or live with friends instead of committing to so much time and money.
To be honest having homes paid off with zero debt it's cheaper living in Oklahoma in a upper class neighborhood.
Only need $1400/mo. for total household living expenses.
If you live in costa rica with 2000 dollars per month you are a king.
If it's a country people will risk their lives walking through jungles and swimming across rivers to escape from, why would you think it's a good place to move to?
A friend of mine indicated to me that crime in Costa Rica is very high like you said. But, it goes way underreported because it is not good for business and the image that costa rican like to sell about Costa Rica. I also heard, that costa rican are not good at providing services to tourists like in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, or Aruba. But, the nature aspect of Costa Rica is very beautiful.
What people don’t understand is when you move to a different state city or country you’re just trading one set of problems for another. So with a place like Costa Rica one should use the common sense and realize that you’re not going to have the same amenities that you’re used to if you are in the North America for example. Heck you could move to a remote part of a country in Europe and face a lack of amenities doesn’t even have to be Costa Rica. But the fact that you’re moving to a different country and you don’t speak the language that’s a huge problem unless you learn it.
If you are over 25 yrs old: Alienation from Family and Friends is the main reason not to move there or any place more than an 8 hour drive away.
With it being so difficult and expensive to get desired major items it is very upsetting when you are constantly "donating" those items to the local economy.
The lower cost of living is the main draw to move to many places like Costa Rica. With that gone, so is the main reason to go there.
Good video.
Appreciate you sharing your experiences with everyone. I'm coming to visit Costa Rica with my two daughters to practice spanish at a school. If you have any advise on a 3-4 week economic schooling they can attend I would appreciate your advise. Thanks in advance.
I could see myself living in Cost Rica in the future…But I don't have the luxury of time…I'm in my 50s, so I would have to do it soon…I learned spanish in college, so i'd have refresh myself on the language…I'm a poet/writer…i think it would definately give me some experiences to write about 🙂
well thought out, IMO, thanks.
Today nobody can run away from the globalist corrupt bankers and greedy politicians its a cluster fuck world
We have cheaper land here in the county land in USA moving over there would be a setback, I send liltle money and retired at 52 with a pool house I’d rather pay higher taxes, yearly
Best to rent there for awhile. Food is expensive. It is essential to know the monetary exchange system and learn how to speak Spanish. If you don't understand the currency and the language, then you won't know if you are being shorted in the marketplace. You also have to know the banking system, so you can reliably get your money. Reportedly, the crime is getting worse in CR since Guatemala emptied its prisons and many inmates went to CR.
Thank you for sharing your insight. I hate personal inconveniences. I hate to be violated by strangers. I am in no mood to make adjustments to new cultures and places. I guess the US has spoiled me. I don't mind paying a little extra for personal safety and a better quality of life. I am done with the Third World lifestyle.
I have family who moved to CR over 30 years ago and although they experienced many challenges they have stayed and love their home. What strikes me from listening to your so-practical advice and common sense assessment of why people leave is that you haven't mentioned how important it is to learn the language and use it as part of your assimilation into the culture. I imagine that failing to learn the language is akin to self-isolation and invites people to see you as foreign and different, and perhaps, a target for their own self-improvement even if that means taking advantage of your ignorance. CR is a beautiful country and one of the things I notice when I'm there is how easily people look me in the eye and smile.
Really explained well without any bias. I think you are growing and any advancement in life requires open mindedness , adaptability and self reflection you are discussing today. There are no perfect places but perfect opportunities for growth.
if you are a soul surfer who doesnt mind sleepin on the floor and eating anythin, then move to places like costa rica, but mostly is the hipster from places like greenpoint williansburg brooklyn who thinks they gonna open a coffee shop for 2 dollars and mingles with the locals as if in a Dysney movie
I appreciate the varied perspectives from both the video and the comments. As a prospective retiree, a major consideration is the cost of living (without employment income). If CR is as expensive or higher, that would potentially be a deal breaker for CR as a retirement destination. We already live frugally in Texas while putting our 2 sons through college. We live in a community where we can walk the dog at night with no concerns for crime. In fact, neighbors can still leave doors unlocked. Property taxes are high and escalating; as is food, fuel, etc. We are fluent in Spanish and fully appreciate other cultures, especially one offering a more relaxed lifestyle. We prefer to walk and bike over driving, and shop local markets, but overall safety…worrying about being off the beaten path, home invasion, street crime, etc. begins to represent a less than relaxed living. I wholly agree in living/renting somewhere beyond the "honeymoon" phase to determine if a country or locale is a good match. Even waking up in a beach community everyday would appear to present lifestyle challenges or compromise beyond adapting to local culture. I certainly welcome any comments/feedback that would suggest trying CR (Mexico, Colombia, Belize, Portugal) as a retirement option?
I think that if you learn the language would improve the experience significantly.
We have decided for now to split our living in retirement between Tamarindo and Denver. We own properties in each place. Eyes wide open, to live in CR like we do in Denver costs about the same amount of money. I'm sure over time we will spend more time in one location than the other and we might end up selling one of the places but I doubt it. We love both, but Tamarindo more. Family is probably the primary region we wouldn't just live in CR exclusively. Also, the speaker above lived(s) in San Jose. That's a different world than a beach town where violent crime almost never occurs, 6 hours away. I'm taking Spanish classes to be able to fit in better when we do retire, and we thoroughly understand that things run on Tico time and that's part of the beauty of the country. I have made a lot of Tico friends by being kind and considerate and by attempting to converse in Spanish. It's fun; they correct me in Spanish when I mess up and I teach them the English equivalent on words and phrases. So unlike going to France where they sneer at you when you try to speak French. Ticos are awesome.
Thats the problem with gringos, they move to another place and have no respect to the way the native have chosen to live their lives and then they want the place to change for them. Same problem that we have in Puerto Rico!!! YANKEE GO HOME!!!1
As Costa Rican I’d like to say Thank You, because, as a Central Valley citizen, I never thought realize these situations might happen in our country. My apologies as “tico” if you were scammed, ripped off or even mugged. Not all the “ticos” are that way and from my point of view, we like to make foreigners feel welcomed. I learned two languages and I did it for two reasons: 1- To learn about cultures 2- To be in contact of different people around the world.
Thank you for your video, Kristin.
excellent video,,, you're so right about the DIPPPPP……
It can take 2 and a half hours or more to travel 25 miles on Hollywood area freeways.😢
Sorry, but I don’t trust any American who complains about another country. I think my fellow Americans are too sensitive.
Americans are migrating to Europe in search of space and safety, not realising that this is the best way to make any place in Europe unsafe, and that we will all end up with zero space for anyone. Is it really so difficult to grasp?
grngos trying to live like its the US . USA citizens are theworst in the world ..especially milleneals who want the world to kiss their ass every where they go.
I was thinking about it but I am too old to adjust. I am really old. I was born and raised in France and moved to the US where I incorporated with ease. The main attraction for me would be the cost of living and if it is about the same…..forget it. I stay where I am, without bothering to get really fluent in Spanish. Also being away in a foreign country, may make it more complicated to visit family ( kids ). Bah…..I will just stay where I am. It is not that bad. I originally thought Mexico but the crime rate is really bad ; too many cartels…….Thanks for the great eval ! Good job !.
"Americans" ..? ppl from Costa Rica are also americans you id.. just you know XD
The top 6 US liberal cities boost the US to a top crime country. Take away these 6 cities or put conservative leadership in charge that will prosecute criminals , the US would be one of the safest countries on earth.
Thanks i will not move to Costa Rica.
I am thinking Florida.
americans just want to americanize everything everywhere they go 😂😂
todo es mentira y subjetivo. No conoces Costa Rica
Americans are disconnected to reality and love the idea of things Vs understanding WHY it’s cheaper! Labor and infrastructure(service and efficiency)play a role in WHY things are cheaper …. This is why I get annoyed when they go to developing countries and brag about it being Cheap yet people are exploited and earning below market value.