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In reply to the discussion: Our new life in Costa Rica [View all]LakeArenal
(28,729 posts)The rule is you needs verified income of $1000.
Buying a car is a nightmare. So much so that we shipped our old car. Long... story...
Cars here may be flood damaged vehicles from the U S. Car here are three times the cost here. Our blue book value is $5000.
It cost $11000 to ship here. The state values it at $15000. There are tariffs and taxes and to renew plates slides with value of car. Ours is $600 for the year. If you buy anything big here you need a lawyer.
If you ship personal property be sure to make your inventory complete. If it isnt clearly stated in the manifest, it may be stolen. Somewhere along the way every box is opened and rifled. Who knows who took my costume jewelry and my mothers Pyrex mixing bowls. But all I listed was bowls and dishes. And just jewelry. So they leave a few pieces and steal the rest.
Theres no crime here in the mountains. There are crimes of opportunity. If you leave your purse unattended it might get stolen. The real crime is businesses will rip you off if you arent careful. I bought a piece of furniture only to see it advertised on a flyer at a discounted price. Things like that.
You have to get residency to get the socialized medicine. Residency application requires a lawyer about $3000 for two and 15 months to three years to get. But lots of folks come here on medical vacations because services are often cheaper than deductibles in U S.
Meds are cheap and for most things dont need a prescription.
We advise to only half believe what you read in articles and books. Every single persons experience is their own.
Living here is way different than visiting here. If you come to live make sure you clear your current banks position on international living. My Wisconsin bank has been a nightmare of not being told anything when I went in to the bank to inform them of our move. They freeze our accounts, locked our debit cards. Not allowed to wire money to our Costa Rican landlord. Its been hell and mucho dinero in international calls to get some access to our money.
We opened a new American account in the south so its only a couple hour flight if we have to go in person to a bank. Expats are advised to keep an active American account as who knows when trump may get us thrown out of somewhere.
Its been so hard money and red tape wise that we say if its this hard to go back we arent ever leaving.