The Best Places to Live in Costa Rica

Introduction: Welcome to Badass Digital Nomads, where we're pushing the boundaries of remote work and travel, all while staying grounded with a little bit of old school philosophy, self-development, and business advice from our guests. 

Kristin Wilson, Host:   00:00:22    Hey there, Kristin, from Traveling with Kristin here and welcome to episode 155 of Badass Digital Nomads, and today we're talking about the best places to live in Costa Rica. But I also have a special surprise for you and that is that my first-ever Living Abroad guide is now available for Costa Rica. So I'll be writing some Living Abroad guides on different countries that you guys choose. So this is one of the reasons why I asked last week about some of the things that I can help you with. Thank you so much. So many of you have filled out the form, which I will link to in the show notes. So in case you missed last week's episode, or in case you forgot about it, I dedicated an entire episode to just simply asking you what you'd like to hear more of in this podcast, what you like about it, what you don't like, questions you have, concerns, struggles that you are experiencing that I can help you with.  

Kristin:    00:01:30    I get a lot of questions from you guys about the specifics of living in different countries. And so I did a poll recently in the Facebook group to see if you are interested in me doing, uh, the First Living Abroad guide about either Costa Rica or Mexico. And I posted this a bit around on social media and it was almost a tie between the two countries. So I decided to make both guides, a living abroad in Costa Rica Guide and a Living Abroad in Mexico Guide. And these guides are covering more of the specifics about living in those countries. So instead of talking in generalities about moving to a different country, it's talking about the rent, the food, climate, housing, transportation, internet, how to get around, how to meet people, like all sorts of things that are related to just living in Costa Rica. And because this is brand-new thing, this is the beta version of the Guide.  

Kristin:    00:02:29    It's available for only $25 at the introductory rate, and then you can get automatic access to all of the future updates. So we're gonna do lots of fun things like talking about side trips, day trips around Costa Rica, doing more specific guides about cities and towns and beaches within Costa Rica. So we're gonna go really deep into each country and so that you get more of a local perspective and more detailed practical tips on what to see, what to do, where to go, and how to live your best life in that country. So the first version of it is available now and you can snag it at the link in the show notes. And a lot of people have already taken advantage of that because I actually released it over the weekend with my second YouTube video in six months. And this video was about the best places in Costa Rica, which you're going to learn about today.  

Kristin:    00:03:32    So in this list I picked, it's really more than 10, but I picked like a top 10 list of some places that you might want to consider to move to or to travel to long term and why. And Costa Rica is a pretty small country, so if you do decide to go there, um, I'll have more of those day trips in the living in Costa Rica guide or some of the side trips that you can take because there might be some places that you want to go see in Costa Rica, but you don't necessarily want to live there like La Fortuna where Arenal is the volcano. A lot of people do go to retire in La Fortuna, but for me it was more of a place that I would like to get away to. So if I wanted to take a little vacation, take a weekend and drive over to Arenal, go to the hot springs, it was just a nice little getaway for me, but it was a bit too small and too quiet of a town for me to live in full time.  

Kristin:    00:04:33    So that's where those day trips and guides are gonna come in really handy. Another thing that a lot of you guys have asked me about in the forms is more information on the cost of living in different countries. And so a couple weeks from now I'll dedicate a specific episode to breaking down the Cost of Living in Costa Rica. And if you guys like that, we can do that for other countries as well. Of course, I have a few cost of living videos on YouTube about Spain and Japan, Portugal, lots of different countries. So thanks to everyone who filled out the feedback form, make sure to fill that out today if you haven't already. And I will be choosing 10 people to hop on the phone with me for free and talk about anything that you wanna talk about. So that's very exciting. It was especially insightful to read about some of the things that you're struggling with.  

Kristin:    00:05:29    There were people who are preparing for retirement, people who had questions about traveling with their dog, people who are struggling with limiting beliefs, people who are struggling with overwhelm, with the number of options and possibilities for what to do next with their lives, where to travel. And then some questions about practical things like residency, finding schools, finding jobs, questions on budgeting, time management packing, deciding where to move or whether to stay in your home countries. And also a lot of questions about online business, finding remote jobs, healthcare, learning languages. All really great questions and so keep it coming everyone. Another thing I was thinking about this weekend is that I just went to one of my best friends from high school, her wedding, and I was thinking that's such a trade-off with the traveling lifestyle. I can't even think of how many weddings and sort sorts of parties and birthdays and things that I've missed while living abroad.  

Kristin:    00:06:42    And so it has been nice to be able to participate in some of those festivities since I've been here. But you know, the wanderlust is always there. So I think it is in some sense about balance. You know, it's not about missing everything that your friends and family are doing and you know things that are important to them and also important for you to be there, but it's also not postponing inevitably your future and your dreams because of the needs of other people. I was actually talking with a friend at the wedding who has traveled the world and currently lives in California, but also lives abroad sometimes with her husband. And she confessed to me that it was one of our mutual friends who encouraged her to move abroad, and she was very hesitant to do that because she thought that her family needed her too much and relied on her too much.  

Kristin:    00:07:49    But she came to realize that, you know, she couldn't just give up her life and her dreams basically sacrifice her future for her family. And so she's found this happy medium where she was able to go abroad for a few years. Now she's back in the US and you know, everything was fine. Like her family members figured things out. She still gets to see them sometimes, but it's under different context and different circumstances from before. And she was telling me how she really had to leave the country and go on this journey for everything to come full circle. And now she's married with a family and she said she can't imagine what her life would've been like if she hadn't have taken that step. And of course, she didn't know what was going to happen, but she said that that decision to move to Japan to teach English really changed her life.  

Kristin:    00:08:50    Anyway, lots more to come. I might actually have her on the podcast to talk more about that experience, but let's kick things off today with the best places to live in Costa Rica.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica:

I lived in Costa Rica for eight years, and in this video I'm going to share with you my top 10 best places to live in Costa Rica, located in the Sunbelt of Costa Rica. Atenas is a small town nestled between Costa Rica, Central Valley and the Pacific coast. Atenas is known for having one of the best climates in the world and due to its location, it also gets an extra hour of sunshine every day compared to the rest of the country. Atenas is a good place for you if you want to be close to the city and the beach, which are each about an hour away, but still be away from a lot of the traffic and tourism in a more local area where you can find a low cost of living and focus on learning Spanish and immersing yourself in the local culture.  

Kristin:    00:09:53    There are an estimated one or 2000 foreigners living in Atenas who say that they chose the town for its location, good weather and friendly community to the west of downtown San Jose lies the suburb of Escazu, also known as the Beverly Hills of Costa Rica. Escazu has become a popular place for foreigners and Costa Rica's elite to live. It's where you'll find the most upscale shops, restaurants, malls, and luxury condos with some of the best views in the Central Valley. The farther up the mountain you go, the cooler and cloudier the climate gets. But just five minutes down the road, the neighboring town of Santa Ana offers just as many amenities as Escazu with a bit more warmth and sunshine. The benefit of living on the west side of San Jose is so that you're a quick hop onto the highway that goes straight to the beach.  

Kristin:    00:10:52    Well, it's pretty straight farther to the west from Santa Ana. You'll find the town of Ciudad Colón, which isn't talked about very often when you hear lists of the best places to live in Costa Rica. But I really like it because it's much quieter than Escazu and Santa Ana. It has less traffic and it's great for living a local lifestyle that's surrounded by a lot of the nature that Costa Rica is known for. All the while you're still only a 20 or 30 minute drive from San Jose, you can also find much more affordable real estate here compared to Escazu and Santa Ana. Playas Jacó and Hermosa are two of the most famous beach towns in Costa Rica, and for good reason, this area is only about an hour and a half away from the San Jose airport where you'll be welcomed with long stretches of beaches perfect for surfing or enjoying the sunset with a tropical cocktail.  

Kristin:    00:11:57    Jacó is for you if you want a beach lifestyle while still being in the hustle and bustle of a busy town. You'll be within walking distance to restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping. So it's very convenient, although it can have a lot of tourists and be a little bit loud at times. Playa Hermosa is more your style if you want a quieter neighborhood where you need a car to get around, and if you're looking for bigger waves. So if you are drawn to this region of Costa Rica, also consider the town of Herradura just to the north of Jacó where the Marriott Los Suenos Resort is located. If you're looking for a relaxing, slower pace of life with more affordable real estate prices, check out Playas Esterillos and Bejuco, which are midway between Jacó and Quepos. This area is for you if you really want to get away from the crowds and maybe have a few Toucans or Howler monkeys for your neighbors.  

Kristin:    00:13:02    That being said, you're still close to civilization. Drive 30 or 40 minutes north and you'll arrive in Jacó. 30 or 40 minutes south and you can visit Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park, which is next on our list. Quepos and Manuel Antonio are located about two and a half hours from San Jose International Airport. Quepos is known for its world-class fishing and the Marina Pez Vela. While Manuel Antonio is more famous for its white sand, beaches and National Park. Quepos is a bustling town with more of a local vibe. While Manuel Antonio looks like a postcard, it's a beautiful and tropical place to live with these curvy winding roads and panoramic ocean views. Manuel Antonio has a pretty high price tag, a one bedroom apartment. If you can find it starts at above $200,000, but you won't have a problem finding multi-million dollar villas head even farther south along the coastal highway, and you'll reach the fun and funky surf town of Dominical.  

Kristin:    00:14:15    Dominical has a completely unique vibe compared to the rest of Costa Rica. It reminds me of a mix between Hawaii, Nosara and Tulum, Mexico just with black sand. If you love surfing, fishing, yoga, or just want to live near the beach surrounded by jungles and waterfalls Dominical could be for you in do you really begin to sense that you are in the middle of nature because you're just to the north of the most ecologically diverse point on the planet, the Osa Peninsula in Corcovado National Park. If you like this area, you also might want to check out San Isidro de El General, a friendly mountain town located about an hour inland from Dominical with a much cooler climate as it's located at one of the highest altitudes in Costa Rica. One of my favorite places to live in Costa Rica is the Nacoya Peninsula where you'll find Mal Pais Santa Teresa and Montezuma.  

Kristin:    00:15:17    A downside to living in this area is that it's gotten so popular over the years that it's also more crowded and more expensive than some other parts of the country. It's also a little bit harder to get to than other places. You'll need to either fly in, take the ferry from Puntarenas, or drive around the long way through the Nacoya Peninsula. However, once you arrive in this region, you'll be rewarded with some of the most stunning beaches and sunsets in the country, as well as some of the most luxurious villas and resorts. One of the most popular places for foreigners to live in Costa Rica is the Nosara Projekto Americano, or The American Project, which encompasses the beaches of Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada, Nosara is a bit different from other beach towns in Costa Rica, and that the beach rent is a protected nature reserve. Life in this area is very laid back.  

Kristin:    00:16:18    The town has a population of about 5,000 people, although it does double or triple during the high season, which runs from November to April. I lived in this area for three years and it's just beautiful. Even though Nosara is off the beaten path with dirt, roads and rivers, the price of real estate is still steep there with high demand due to the beautiful views, the beaches and the wellness centers there. This area is also in one of the world's Blue Zones, which is known for having the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. So if you're looking for longevity, give the Nacoya Peninsula a try. Now let's head farther north to the Tamarindo area of the Guanacaste province. Located just 30 minutes from the Liberia International Airport. Tamarindo is one of the most developed beach towns in Guanacaste with great surfing, fishing, boating, and sunsets. Because of the many amenities and attractions in the area, it can also get a bit crowded and dusty in the high season though. So if you'd like to get off the beaten path a little bit, check out the smaller towns of Playa Grande to the north and Langosta to the south, and even further south, you'll come along the beaches of Avellanas with Hacienda Pinilla, and south of there, Playa Negra. If you're planning on moving to Costa Rica soon, check out my living in Costa Rica guide pinned in the comment below.

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