Recently, the San Francisco Chronicle published an article about the top three foreign retirement destinations for Americans.

Not surprisingly, he reported that many Americans, Canadians and others have decided to retire to Costa Rica.

Here are some reasons why:

1. Peaceful democracy close to home

Just a few hours from the United States, Costa Rica is the oldest democracy in Latin America and, by its Constitution, has no army. And, although most of its people speak Spanish, it is a country that really likes Americans!

2. Cost of living

The cost of living in San José, Costa Rica’s largest city, is about 50% cheaper than New York City, with the biggest savings seen on food, housing, property taxes, and entertainment.

Now, restaurants that cater to tourists are not necessarily cheap, but for those who live in the Land of Pura Vida permanently, staple foods, including most vegetables and fruits, are less expensive, especially for those who They buy fresh produce at the weekly farmers. ‘markets throughout the country.

Normal living costs can drop significantly if you venture outside of Costa Rica’s capital city and into some of the smaller beach communities, like those in Guanacaste, or into the mountains.

Of course, some things are more expensive: cars, gasoline, items imported from the U.S. But often people can find good housing—three- or four-bedroom units—much less expensive than anywhere else. the US The climate is so temperate in most parts of the country that air conditioning and heating are not required and property taxes are typically less than $400 a year, not $400+ a month.

3. Health care

In many parts of the country, particularly around San José and the northern Pacific coast of Guanacaste, medical and dental care is on par with that in the United States or other Western countries, but at a fraction of the cost.

For permanent residents (generally foreign nationals who have Social Security or pension benefits of at least $1,000/month), health care is almost free (retirees pay a small percentage of their benefits into the health care system) at public hospitals .

And, for those who prefer private hospitals, Costa Rica has several world-renowned hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment in and around San José and along the northern Pacific coast as well. While the quality of care is essentially equivalent to some of the best hospitals in the United States, the costs are considerably less.

Goal…

But, Costa Rica is not for everyone. Some say that half of the people who retire there return home in a year or so. Some are simply homesick for their friends and family. Others never adjust to living in a new country.

Whatever the reason, the bottom line is this: don’t jump in and buy a house until you live in Costa Rica for six months or a year. It’s easy to buy a house, and sometimes very difficult to sell quickly (plan for two years).

Our recommendation: keep a few options open while you experience a lifestyle change.

One final point.

People who know what they’re getting into usually stick around: there are tens of thousands of very happy expats who have fallen in love with the Land of Pura Vida.