Cost of living in Puerto Rica… “how much is it possible to save? ”
One thing I have always stressed concerning Costa Rica has always been the expense of living. It doesn’t always suggest a lot if you can’t combine that with all of the other good things nonetheless it has been suggested that I examine an income of $3000 monthly and its commensurate expenditures in the USA with the same amount inside Costa Rica. My friend claims that he thinks that this only will increase my business simply by 25%… well, I differ with that part of the equation yet here goes: (also please keep in mind that I am actually out of touch with costs in the States )
For reasons simplicity, it is assumed that the funds and expenditures are for two main people living in a home of roughly 1500 sq . feet… often the couple being of social security age and the actual… the home is paid for, there isn’t any debt and the state connected with residence is a median:
1. Utilities: $350
2 . Insurance policies… car and homeowners: $250
3. Food: $400-500
5. Medical insurance: $300
5. Health-related costs… doctor and remedies: $500
6. Homeowner taxation: $200
7. State and also federal taxes: $100
7. Clothing: $200
9. Enjoyment: $200
10. Gasoline and also car expenses: $400
10. Misc.: $500
Guess I will have stopped… already over $3000 per month. Obviously, these were Stateside costs.
This is Costa Rica:
1 . Tools: $100 (this is more than normal but assuming that gringos will not cut back on many things. Also contains internet)
2 . Insurance: many do not have any insurance yet am factoring in $50
a few. Food: $250… this is large but includes virtually endless fruits, vegetables, fish and also chicken
4. Medical insurance: $150
5. Medical costs: medical doctor and medicine $250… including the equivalent doctor visits and medicine
6. Homeowner taxes: $25
7. State and federal government taxes: probably zero
7. Clothing: $100
9. Activity: same costs but will head out twice as far… $200… a superb meal here will run you $6-7 apiece.
10. Energy and car expense: just about the same but you will probably definitely not drive as far… motion bills are less but natural gas is slightly higher. Cars and trucks are more expensive but much less to help care for. $400 and this total will give you enough funds to learn almost weekly.
11. Misc. $250
Total is within $1800 and there are numerous strategies to cut back.
Here is also a number of expenditures that are definitely not compulsory but probably will be utilized by nearly all gringos:
-Maid service… clean up house once weekly for 4-6 hours: $15
-Lawn service/Gardner: $18-20 per day… most frequent tools are machetes, bud whacker and -possibly garden more.
-Rebuilt starter regarding car: $5-10 for labour and cost only for elements (estimated at $25)
-Delivery service from downtown Grecia to the house (13-14 minutes away): $5
-Taxi service regarding same: $6
-Bus regarding same: $. 50
-Bus from here to Manual Antonio, pacific side (3 an hour. plus drive… $8)
-Dentist charge for fixing damaged tooth (good as fresh.. ) $15… cavity… 20 dollar
-Dog grooming: $12
-DVD rental: same movies, very same quality $2-3 per a couple of nights.
-Coffee, whole pulses, you brew… one kilo (2. 2 pounds) $4. 50
-One pair, boys trifocals (yes, lineless) having the exam, top quality frames… $225. Superb service and level of quality.
-Many items are the same fee as in the States because they are imported. A six-pack connected with Dr . Pepper, for example, may well be about the same cost. On the other hand, high-class beef from -Argentina as well as local (remember, I claimed GOOD quality or equivalent) is mostly about half of the cost IF you know the best places to shop.
-Vehicles cost more, generally because of the customs duty in addition to taxes. Figure the same car or truck as in the States or perhaps Canada will cost a minimum of fifty per cent more.
-Gas is approximately very similar to $5 per gallon.
You might have your own furniture designed for any fraction of what a prefinished piece would cost “back home”. If you have pictures of your style you like, bring them together with you. The country here is not huge on inventories and essentially everything is custom-made.
Favourite things to do that don’t expense much…
Sunday drives (or any other day… hey, you happen to be retired) spend all day driving by means of five microclimates and topographies that vary from (as examples) volcanoes, waterfalls, huge encolure and valleys, cooler huge batch weather, cloud forests, in addition to agricultural land… total yardage drove less than 100 miles after mile… cost with lunch for two main: less than $35
Gardening.. technologically you could spend a fair income (still probably less than <20% of what you would spend within the state(s) though) although most living here make do with clippings and “borrowings” from friends and maybe a little “midnight gardening”. You can almost watch often the plants, flowers and timber grow daily and the variances from one season to the next usually are astounding. We have two timber that (and remember you should, we are in the mountains! ) that have grown literally 8-12 feet in nine weeks… one is a hardwood, one other is unknown.
Drive for the ocean… from here to the seashore only 1 ½ hour from the mountains on one of the most picturesque drives in the country. See crocodile species, macaws, parrots, monkeys… dead an afternoon. Stop at one or two of the roadside stands and grab fresh fruit for a song.
Once you explore you will discover places that may become your favourites and you will continue back… some of ours are usually: the topiary at Zarcero (check out guidebooks or perhaps one line for details )… Laguna Hule, which is a body of water almost in the middle of nowhere just simply outside of Bajos del Corrida which is a cloud forest only a few minutes’ drive from Sarchi. It is a great drive and a great place to spend an hour or two through coffee or snacks and appreciate the surroundings… the lake is definitely viewed from above and motorboats of any kind are not helped there.
Almost like Arosa, Switzerland… the ferry from Puntarenas to either Playa Naranjo or Pacquera and in concerning offers literally dozens of smaller than average white sand beaches which are typically secluded… find a boat to rent, go snorkelling or sportfishing… the area is stunning and quite a few desert. ( you can push your car onto the ferry and then drive once you get to the peninsula). You will swiftly make your own favourites and literally no way that all of them can be exhausted.
The farmers’ markets (the outdoor ones) usually held on Comes to an end or Saturday are always packed as fresh fruits and greens from all over the area are usually displayed. Sometimes fish, java, meats and other treats can be found as well.
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