Paul’s Monthly Tip to Live for Less in Costa Rica: Don’t Buy a Car

By Paul & Gloria in Blog Revised 12/4/16 This is the flip side of one of my other money-saving tips, “Take the Bus.” Naturally, if you don’t have a car, you will in fact take the bus, cab or walk more frequently. Elaine St. James, in her book, Simplify Your Life, classifies “get rid of your car” as “Hard-Core Simplicity” […]

U.S. Department of State Update on Costa Rica

By Gloria in Fast Facts, Resources Following is the July 19, 2011 update on Costa Rica from the U.S. Department of State:   COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Costa Rica is a middle-income, developing country with a strong democratic tradition. Tourist facilities are extensive and generally adequate.  While English is a second language for many Costa Ricans, knowledge of Spanish is necessary for […]

Our January 2020 Costa Rica Cost of Living

By Gloria in Blog January was a transition month for us. After living in Oaxaca, Mexico for six months, we started out the new year with a trip to Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, before returning to Costa Rica on January 8th. Obviously, that increased our expenses for the month.  Our total spending was $2,617.17. Here’s the breakdown of our vacation […]

Retire for Less in Costa Rica – March 11, 2020

By Paul & Gloria in Blog, Featured Welcome to our Retire For Less In Costa Rica Newsletter Paul and Gloria In This Issue:  What’s Up with the Yeatmans? Our January 2020 Costa Rica Cost of Living Inflation in Costa Rica (updated 3/10/2020) This Retirement Life Interview Some Reasons Why We Invested Our Savings in Coopenae (updated with current data) […]

Retire for Less in Costa Rica – July 14, 2018

By Paul & Gloria in Blog, Featured Welcome to our Retire For Less In Costa Rica Newsletter Paul and Gloria In This Issue:  Our June 2018 Costa Rica Cost of Living PURA VIDA – Challenging the Ethnocentric Mind (A Documentary Short Film) Featured Property  in San Ramon: Small Casita with Additional Building Site-REDUCED to $85,000 Cooking in Costa Rica: An […]

Could a Hurricane Hit Costa Rica?

By Paul & Gloria in Blog CLICK TO ENLARGE June 1st was the official start of hurricane season, though it’s possible for them to occur prior to June (see graphic, courtesy of the U.S. National Hurricane Center). While we have sometimes experienced the effects of hurricanes since we’ve lived in Costa Rica, so far, we haven’t received a direct hit. Is […]

Our Annual Cost of Living in Costa Rica Issue for 2015

By Paul & Gloria in Blog, Featured Welcome to our Retire For Less In Costa Rica Newsletter Paul and Gloria In This Issue:  Our 2015 Annual Cost of Living in Costa Rica Summary Inflation in Costa Rica So What Would It Cost YOU to Live in Costa Rica? The Best Way to Live for Less in Costa Rica (or […]

Retire for Less in Costa Rica – September 11, 2016

By Paul & Gloria in Blog, Featured Welcome to our Retire For Less In Costa Rica Newsletter Paul and Gloria In This Issue:  Our August 2016 Costa Rica Cost of Living Our Costa Rica Food Budget Breakdown (Updated 9/6/16) Invest Your Savings in Coopenae (Updated 9/10/16) Featured Property-Lake Arenal: Comfortable 3BR Furnished Lakeview Home—Hot Deal! $150,000 (Reduced from $199K) […]

Retire for Less in Costa Rica – October 21, 2017

By Paul & Gloria in Blog, Featured Welcome to our Retire For Less In Costa Rica Newsletter Paul and Gloria In This Issue:  Our Costa Rica Cost of Living, by Rob Evans In the Mailbag – End of Life Issues, Living Close to Nature, a Tour Memory, and Making the Move to Costa Rica Living the Expat Life Cooking […]

Our April 2018 Costa Rica Cost of Living

By Paul & Gloria in Blog April was a busy month for us. We did several relocation tours for clients, mostly in the western Central Valley towns of San Ramon, Grecia, and Atenas, and one of our healthcare tours. Plus, my (Gloria’s) sister came for a visit from Maryland. The month was interesting and fun, and it went by quickly as […]