Cars are very expensive, and any imported foods, toiletries, and electronics are significantly more expensive than back home. Sure, rent and food can cost a lot less in Costa Rica, but not if you expect to move with your same exact lifestyle.
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Safety ? Costa Rica is considered one of the safest countries in Central America. With a low crime rate, Costa Rica has become an ideal destination for expats. Nevertheless, be careful of petty theft. Earthquakes ? Costa Rica many times has experienced 12 earthquakes per day and more than 10,000 per year.
According to a recent survey of expats from around the world, those living in Costa Rica are the happiest. The survey results reveal that 94% of expats living in Costa Rica rate their overall quality of life as excellent or very good – significantly higher than the global average of 81%.
Costa Rica does have free public healthcare, but only for Costa Rican citizens who are most financially in need. This means that residents with a job and expats will have to pay for use of the public healthcare system (expats must provide proof of sufficient financial means in order to live in Costa Rica).
In general, the cost of living in Costa Rica compared to the UK is much lower, but the reality of life in this country requires a closer look. While some supermarkets have similar pricing to what you would find in the UK, the cost of eating out is noticeably cheaper, as is the cost of various amenities and utilities.
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish. Expats shouldn't have trouble finding English speakers though – especially in towns that are popular with tourists. Though many Costa Ricans speak some degree of English, it's still a good idea to learn basic Spanish before moving to Costa Rica.
Comparisons with the United States and Sweden show that the Costa Rican advantage comes mostly from reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, coupled with a low prevalence of obesity, as the only available explanatory risk factor.
Tourism in Costa Rica causes problems with in the habitats of animals and plants living there. Because of tourism half of Costa Rica's monkey population is gone. And rain forests are growing smaller.