Why Ex-pats Leave Costa Rica

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Why Ex-pats Leave Costa Rica

by Jeanne in Costa Rica

Some ex-pats living in Costa Rica decide to leave for several reasons.

Some reasons include financial reasons, a lack of a clear legal framework, and weak enforcement of existing laws can create challenges, crime, language and cultural barriers, and loneliness.

By understanding why people leave Costa Rica, you can better prepare yourself for the challenges and rewards of living in this beautiful country.

Reasons Why Ex-pats Leave Costa Rica

The following are some of the reasons ex-pats leave Costa Rica. You can use them to help determine your stress level for the cultural and systemic differences found in Costa Rica.


Inability to Make Money the Way They’re Used to

People who move from North America and still need or want to earn an income can get surprised once they’re in Costa Rica that they can’t get a job. If you want to come to Costa Rica and work the way you’ve always had, with a job, it won’t happen. You can’t work and get a paycheck without being a legal resident or citizen.

The Costa Rican government doesn’t want immigrants (ex-pats) taking jobs away from Costa Ricans. Makes sense. Researching before making the big move can help mitigate this surprise. There are other ways to make an income in Costa Rica, including freelancing. You can work online gigs, earn money, and pay taxes in your native land with no problem.

For many, including people close to or in retirement, freelancing is a new concept they haven’t considered.
If you want to move to Costa Rica and want or need to make an income, consider freelancing.


Culture Shock and Lack of Spanish Skills

This is a two-part reason. First, for some, living in a different country, opposite from what they’re used to, is too much to handle. This, combined with not knowing the language, can put people over the edge.

Everything in Costa Rica is different than you’ll be used to, from how to pay bills to banking, medical care, road conditions, climate differences, flora, and fauna, etc. The overall experience of being in Costa Rica and how the day-to-day weather feels on your skin differs.

Ex-pats who are more frustrated and annoyed by the differences rather than curious and accepting will have a hard time. Question: Are you curious about other cultures, open to change, and being uncomfortable while learning something new?

If you answer yes, you could enjoy life in the tropics. If you answer no, then you might not make it.

Driving in Costa Rica

Driving here is not for the faint of heart. Many roads are full of potholes; even in cities, people drive fast, and there are many motorcycles, and passing is common. When we first moved here, I wouldn’t drive for about three weeks.

So I stayed a passenger, watched how people went, and learned some directions, like knowing which direction to yield when coming to a one-lane bridge before I got behind the wheel.

For some, the lack of infrastructure and how it affects road conditions and how people drive is more than they want to deal with. It can be unnerving, so some ex-pats stay home rather than get on the road, which isn’t why they came to Costa Rica!

Schools

There is a fantasy about coming to Costa Rica and showing children the Pura Vida life, i.e., playing on the beach, having time outside, and a different culture. While this is all true, educating children can be hard to accomplish, depending on what kind of education you want.

The public schools here are in Spanish, and the education may not meet your standards depending on where you are. Many ex-pats choose to put their children in private schools where classes are taught in English and Spanish.

However, these schools aren’t inexpensive, and the cost may be prohibitive if multiple children are in a family. Private school tuition can run between $7,000 and $11,000 annually, and sometimes a waitlist exists.

If you’re considering moving to Costa Rica with children, prioritize finding schools. Understand what they offer, in what language, the cost, and whether there’s a waitlist. It is also good to get referrals from other parents.

Lack of Convenience

There is nothing convenient about living in Costa Rica—banking, buying a property, building a house, healthcare, and paying bills. People looking for the quick pace of turnaround and convenience of the country they left won’t find it in Costa Rica.

You will spend hours in line, it can take 4-5 hours to drive 120 miles, there are very few fast-food restaurants in rural areas, and shopping isn’t always readily available. For example, when we want to shop at Price Mart or Walmart, we drive an hour from where we live to Liberia to get what we need.

Some of the other reasons ex-pats leave Costa Rica:

• Roaming dogs
• Crime
• Bugs
• Lack of easy mail delivery
• Homesickness & missing family

A Final Thought

Ex-pats leave Costa Rica for many reasons, so research and ensure you understand everything.

This being said, if an ex-pat comes to Costa Rica prepared, with a sense of curiosity and appreciation for another country, and without unrealistic expectations, living in Costa Rica can be more of a plus for their well-being.

Pura Vida! 🌺

About The Author

Jeanne and her husband, James, live in Costa Rica.

They moved from the USA to enjoy a slower and more relaxed pace of life, and soon after had found their new home.

If you'd like to meet fellow expats who've made the move successfully, consider attending the 7-Day 'Moving To Costa Rica' Relocation Retreat.