Costa Rica guides
Straight talk on buying, renting, and living in Costa Rica — what things cost, where people actually settle, and how the process really works.
What $1,500 Gets You in Costa Rica: A Rental Reality Check
Explore what a $1,500 monthly budget really buys you in different Costa Rican towns.
What a House Actually Costs in Escazú and Santa Ana Right Now (2026)
Asking prices, price-per-square-meter, HOA fees, closing costs, and what $300k, $600k, and $1M actually gets you in the two most expensive cantons in the GAM.
How to Buy Property in Costa Rica as a Foreigner: The Actual Step-by-Step
No brochure language, no glossed-over gotchas. A relocation consultant who bought his first property here in 2014 walks you through every step — offer, notary, escrow, due diligence, closing costs, and the beachfront trap nobody warns you about.
Guanacaste vs the Southern Zone: How Expats Actually Choose
Two completely different Costa Ricas. One dry, flat, and easy to reach. The other green, steep, and a two-hour dirt road from the nearest city. Here is how to figure out which one is for you.
Dollars vs Colones: How Property Pricing Actually Works in Costa Rica
Most listings show a dollar price. That does not mean the transaction is simple. Here is what twelve years of buying, selling, and watching foreign buyers get confused has taught me.
5 Costa Rica Beach Towns That Are Still Affordable in 2026 (And What They Don't Tell You)
Tamarindo hit a median of $520,000. Santa Teresa is averaging over $2 million. Here are five towns where you can still get in without selling a kidney — and the real tradeoffs for each.