A great conversation I am so glad you shared with us. Very enjoyable to hear another perspective. Well done as always. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!
Another great video! Whenever I see a video that mentions living costs in CR, I like to chime in and let people know what I pay monthly to kinda highlight a budget closer to the upper end of cost when you are not yet ready to sacrifice much to live simply or do the whole off the grid or homesteading type things. We live in Santa Ana which is right outside of Escazu. This area of CR is perfect or people like us who have never lived outside of the US and weren't quite ready to detach from all familiar conveniences. This is an easy place to transition and concentrate on working on your Spanish, figuring out how to drive without killing yourself and having a nice place to come back to after you have exhausted all of your patience at the bank. 😄 But you will pay for that privilege... Currently, there are three of us and a dog - Me, my mom and my daughter. My mom travels back and forth to the States every few months so certain expenses will fluctuate due to that, however I don't change my budget based on that, I just save whatever "surplus" there is. For those curious, our budget is roughly $4300 per month. Sounds like a lot because it is! LOL However, the good news is that $2950 of that is my rent and landscaping - 3000sf/4bd/3.5 bath home with pool, terrazzo...etc. Could we have found something cheaper? Yes, but we were on a time crunch and were tired of looking. Why is that good news? To me, it shows how much you can save by just finding the right home that fits a smaller budget. The rest of my budget ($1350) includes the usual suspects of weekly maid ($100/mth), electric ($35), water ($10), internet ($62) ...etc. This further proves that you don't have to live in the middle of nowhere for your basic expenses to be low. Food ($800) is by far my biggest expense and frankly we could spend less, but we don't. LOL In addition to that, I put aside money monthly for the Marchamo and car insurance so that I don't have to come up with it all at once. Even though we love this place and appreciate being so close to everything that we could possibly need and more (and in addition to having great neighbors and a wonderful landlord) we have no intention of staying at this place. Our goal has always been to buy a nice piece of property somewhere a little further out from a major city. My mom will be retiring soon and our needs and finances will change and therefore this current lifestyle will no longer suit us. We actually do intend to do some basic homesteading things like having a garden and raising chickens. We have experience preserving our own food and whatnot so once we don't have a rent expense and can lower our food budget, we'll be sitting pretty. CONCLUSION: You can indeed live cheaply in Costa Rica - it is not that hard to do.
Thank you so much for sharing about your finances. My wife and I are about three months away from moving to Costa Rica and my biggest worry, concern, and fear is that we will be moving down there without enough money to be able to stay. Sharing specific numbers is very helpful. Thank you for doing that.
@@PopsFromATX No problem. One thing that I forgot to emphasize is the fact that we have a car. We bought it cash in full. Renting a car is super expensive and I don't recommend it for long term. CR does have a good public transport system, however, that also includes lots of taxis and Uber in some parts of the country. Be sure to factor that in as well. As romantic and adventurous as it sounds to walk to the bakery every day and the market on the weekends, be sure to envision yourself also returning (likely traversing some sort of incline with no sidewalk) with purchases in your arms or in your bicycle basket. That might get old, especially in the rainy season.
Great video. Love it when it is a conversation type like this. My wife is a flight attendant and sometimes I wished she got more flights for my little spurts of alone time, I know how she feels. Have a great day all!! Cheers
Hi Michael, Hi Annika, Thanks for both videos! It's great to see more of the backstory and how things are going now. I didn't see a link in the description for the first video, but I was able to do an easy channel search to find it. I hope you both are well!
Hiya Michael, I'm so glad you parted company with that other chap you teamed up with.!! I watched a few of his videos years ago that he used to do with his partner, and I didn't like him at all, so I stopped watching his videos. I've been watching your videos for years and always enjoyed them. I was horrified when you teamed up with him. So much so, I stopped watching your videos altogether. Now I've found out he's not with you anymore, I'm back watching you with joy. 😂 You make us smile and I enjoy your information and chats. Well done Michael Keep up the good work. 👍 Gina
Good morning, Loves 🌺 I really enjoyed this interview! Thank you for sharing! For me, it's the birds...Yes, space often only enhances relationships, time together, time apart... Live like a cat, very loving and independent at the same time 😻 I can't wait to visit the Osa Peninsula! California girl, San Diego ❤️ however, Loves Santa Cruz more❣️ Gotta keep moving through life, enjoying the moments. Thanks again, Michael
Annika, what a special story and glad you are still happy in CR 16 years later. So much for never marry a Tico/Tica :) You guys took us all over on this from Fortuna, Osa, and San Diego. (And agree, San Diego is our favorite US city to visit.)
i have watched a lot of their videos and never seen one specifically on this topic, however i know they have mentioned some of the laws in regards to this topic. in short, you need special permissions and documents and reason to have a gun.
@@albertwood6030 yes, but I'm curious about gun laws regarding temps vs residents vs expats vs etc... And you are right, never seen him talk about it......Maybe just something to keep on the down low?
@@rebvilla1 Who is the "you" that you speak of? Citizens? Temps? Exactly what type of guns? How many? Mag capacity? Ammo? What is the process? Timeline? Can weapons/ammo/accessories be purchased in C.R....... or shipped in/delivered?
Great! Interview this Channel is getting better and better!!
Thanks!!
A great conversation I am so glad you shared with us. Very enjoyable to hear another perspective. Well done as always. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!
Loved this conversation. Thank you both for sharing. Wishing you all a wonderful week
Have a great week too!
Another great video! Whenever I see a video that mentions living costs in CR, I like to chime in and let people know what I pay monthly to kinda highlight a budget closer to the upper end of cost when you are not yet ready to sacrifice much to live simply or do the whole off the grid or homesteading type things. We live in Santa Ana which is right outside of Escazu. This area of CR is perfect or people like us who have never lived outside of the US and weren't quite ready to detach from all familiar conveniences. This is an easy place to transition and concentrate on working on your Spanish, figuring out how to drive without killing yourself and having a nice place to come back to after you have exhausted all of your patience at the bank. 😄 But you will pay for that privilege...
Currently, there are three of us and a dog - Me, my mom and my daughter. My mom travels back and forth to the States every few months so certain expenses will fluctuate due to that, however I don't change my budget based on that, I just save whatever "surplus" there is. For those curious, our budget is roughly $4300 per month. Sounds like a lot because it is! LOL
However, the good news is that $2950 of that is my rent and landscaping - 3000sf/4bd/3.5 bath home with pool, terrazzo...etc. Could we have found something cheaper? Yes, but we were on a time crunch and were tired of looking. Why is that good news? To me, it shows how much you can save by just finding the right home that fits a smaller budget. The rest of my budget ($1350) includes the usual suspects of weekly maid ($100/mth), electric ($35), water ($10), internet ($62) ...etc. This further proves that you don't have to live in the middle of nowhere for your basic expenses to be low. Food ($800) is by far my biggest expense and frankly we could spend less, but we don't. LOL In addition to that, I put aside money monthly for the Marchamo and car insurance so that I don't have to come up with it all at once.
Even though we love this place and appreciate being so close to everything that we could possibly need and more (and in addition to having great neighbors and a wonderful landlord) we have no intention of staying at this place. Our goal has always been to buy a nice piece of property somewhere a little further out from a major city. My mom will be retiring soon and our needs and finances will change and therefore this current lifestyle will no longer suit us.
We actually do intend to do some basic homesteading things like having a garden and raising chickens. We have experience preserving our own food and whatnot so once we don't have a rent expense and can lower our food budget, we'll be sitting pretty.
CONCLUSION: You can indeed live cheaply in Costa Rica - it is not that hard to do.
Thank you so much for sharing about your finances. My wife and I are about three months away from moving to Costa Rica and my biggest worry, concern, and fear is that we will be moving down there without enough money to be able to stay. Sharing specific numbers is very helpful. Thank you for doing that.
@@PopsFromATX No problem. One thing that I forgot to emphasize is the fact that we have a car. We bought it cash in full. Renting a car is super expensive and I don't recommend it for long term. CR does have a good public transport system, however, that also includes lots of taxis and Uber in some parts of the country. Be sure to factor that in as well.
As romantic and adventurous as it sounds to walk to the bakery every day and the market on the weekends, be sure to envision yourself also returning (likely traversing some sort of incline with no sidewalk) with purchases in your arms or in your bicycle basket. That might get old, especially in the rainy season.
Another Great Video!!☕😄👍
Great interview. Saludos from tx. Thank you
Great video. Love it when it is a conversation type like this. My wife is a flight attendant and sometimes I wished she got more flights for my little spurts of alone time, I know how she feels. Have a great day all!! Cheers
Work hard and play hard! That is the story of my life! Great video!
Excellent interview. Beautiful smile! Thank you.
Thanks 😊
Mike your videos are good for me. I listen from beginning to end.
Thanks so much 😎
Hi Michael, Hi Annika, Thanks for both videos! It's great to see more of the backstory and how things are going now. I didn't see a link in the description for the first video, but I was able to do an easy channel search to find it. I hope you both are well!
Thanks you two! 🙏
Great interview con tu amiga
Thank You!
Thank-you!
Hiya Michael,
I'm so glad you parted company with that other chap you teamed up with.!!
I watched a few of his videos years ago that he used to do with his partner, and I didn't like him at all, so I stopped watching his videos.
I've been watching your videos for years and always enjoyed them. I was horrified when you teamed up with him. So much so, I stopped watching your videos altogether.
Now I've found out he's not with you anymore, I'm back watching you with joy. 😂 You make us smile and I enjoy your information and chats.
Well done Michael
Keep up the good work. 👍
Gina
Good morning, Loves 🌺 I really enjoyed this interview! Thank you for sharing! For me, it's the birds...Yes, space often only enhances relationships, time together, time apart...
Live like a cat, very loving and independent at the same time 😻
I can't wait to visit the Osa Peninsula! California girl, San Diego ❤️ however, Loves Santa Cruz more❣️ Gotta keep moving through life, enjoying the moments.
Thanks again, Michael
Next month will be my first time ever leaving the United States. Costa Rica is my first destination I hope I love it.
This is interesting information.
Hope it helped!
Nice job, Michael. This whole TH-cam thing might work out. Where is the link to the 8-year old video?
Annika, what a special story and glad you are still happy in CR 16 years later. So much for never marry a Tico/Tica :)
You guys took us all over on this from Fortuna, Osa, and San Diego. (And agree, San Diego is our favorite US city to visit.)
So glad you liked it 😊
What does she do for income?
I work as a travel agent for Travel Costa Rica Now and I own my own agency
@@earthgirl4 Cool! Thanks!
Can anyone tell me for a first time solo 63 year old American is it best to rent a car or use the taxis. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Have you ever talked about gun laws?
i have watched a lot of their videos and never seen one specifically on this topic, however i know they have mentioned some of the laws in regards to this topic.
in short, you need special permissions and documents and reason to have a gun.
@@albertwood6030 yes, but I'm curious about gun laws regarding temps vs residents vs expats vs etc...
And you are right, never seen him talk about it......Maybe just something to keep on the down low?
You are allowed to have find guns, as long you comply with the paper required
Sorry, you can have guns here.
@@rebvilla1 Who is the "you" that you speak of? Citizens? Temps? Exactly what type of guns? How many? Mag capacity? Ammo? What is the process? Timeline? Can weapons/ammo/accessories be purchased in C.R....... or shipped in/delivered?
Enjoyed your video until you used The Lord's Name in VAIN. That is a BIG NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!