This is where I try to answer the most common questions asked about retirement in Playa Chiquita, Costa Rica.
Puerto Viejo is about 4 miles north of me. Limon is about 40 miles north. Travel time from my house to Limon, about one and a half hours.


What’s is the weather like?

Night: 70ish F to 80ish F
click link below to check out the current weather and temp for Puerto Viejo.

Puerto Viejo current weather

 


How is the food cost?

Chicken pretty reasonable you might call it organic, fruits and vegs not bad at all. Popular fruits that are exported to the US are just a few pennies less than in the US.  But most of the fruits and vegetables are reasonable. Expect to pay about $40 a week for two. This means you shop carefully, and you cook your own means. Of course, it depends on how much you eat. As of Mar 2022


How are the services for house cleaning, cooking, gardening etc.?

Reasonable. To have someone come in and clean your home once a week, cost about 10,000 colones a week (about $15.00). Work is about 2 – 4 hours. As of Mar 2022.

How much do you need to retire in Costa Rica?

According to what I have learned and now have my residency card, you must prove that you have an income of $1,000 a month. There are a number of documents you will need to submit to the immigration office to start the process. For us seniors a letter from Social Security (proof of retirement amount – benefit letter), Police report from your state, FBI background report, copy of your passport, birth certificate and fingerprints. Aposillted must be done on your documents by your Secretary of State office.
S.T.E.P. – Registration with U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica. Done online in minutes.
You will need official translations of all these documents. My suggestion to you is hire a service.

Laura B. Gutiérrez She is the one I used, and I was very pleased.

Costa Rica Residency/Citizenship Specialist

San José, Costa Rica

8386-4395 (Costa Rica number)

Email: laura@costaricaresidencycard.com

Website: www.costaricaresidencycard.com

OR

http://arcr.net/       For over 35 years, the ARCR has assisted those living or retiring in Costa Rica and those considering moving here. I did not use these guys, but a lot of my friends did and still do. My friend and I are now in the process of getting our Costa Rica driver’s license, and they are helping.

Purchase Land

Be very very careful. You need to find a good attorney to do a complete record check of the property that you wish to buy. My suggestion is DO NOT take the first attorney that someone gives you. Talk to a lot of people in the area where you wish to buy and make sure you have a lot of individuals that confirm that the attorney you wish to hire is good. It happens a lot here that expats come in and jump on some beautiful property and then find out that the title was not clear. Or it is reservation land and cannot be sold. But you already paid for it. Sorry you just lost your money. So, I repeat be very very careful.

 

Places to visit 

The above link (Yes, the heading) will take you to my page of places to visit in my area.

The red circle is the area where I live and have posted about.
Yes, it is on my “Places to visit” page.
This map is a close up of the area I write about.
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