Moving to Costa Rica from Toronto

LimitlessX wrote:

+ Do you think is it a good idea to live there as an entrepreneur.
+ Is it possible to find a roommate to share a place, so I can live on budget and learn from CR.
+ About visa, what should I do after 3 month...should I leave and come back or ....

Thank you again.

Great idea!  If you have the wherewithal to accomplish the move and living here, from what you've said, what do you have to lose?  Worse case scenario, you pack up and return back to Canada.  BUT, do not move a lot of belongings down if you have this type of plan.  Returning your possessions will not be cost effective.

Finding a roommate: I would suggest CraigslistCR if you only speak english or Ecuentra24 if you also speak español.  I just looked real quickly and there are many others looking for roomies.  Price in the Escazu area looked to be in the $300-$400 range (there are cheaper areas).  I suggest the Escazu area only because in my opinion it's a great area to get accustomed to life here - not as much culture shock.  Also, I understand that the internet service in that area is fast. 

From there you can explore the rest of the country and then make a decision to maybe move out into the mountainous areas as you describe that you might prefer.  Keep in mind, check on the internet service in any area that you plan to move to before making the move.  Not all areas here have internet available.  And if there is internet, "confirm" the speed available.

The 90 day visa is not a big deal.  There are many people here that are referred to as "perpetual tourists."  They are not residents and simply fly, drive or take the bus out of the country prior to the visa expiration date, get their passport stamped in either Panama or Nicaragua and turn around and come back.  A friend of mine has done it every three months for years.

I would also suggest doing more research on life here.  At the very least, browse through all the post on this site and you will gain a better perspective.

- Expat Dave

Sanbuenaventuraman wrote:

This is funny... you obviously haven't done any home work.  When you get to San Jose airport the Customs office might as to see your return flight ticket, which must be inside 90 days, it depends on what agent you get.  You can't stay more than 90 days, so you have no alternative but to become a perpetual tourist, unless you submit an application for a status upon your arrival.  I don't  think you have a clue what you are getting into, it might be best to just rent a house for a month and study the way of life down here.

Actually he is doing his homework.  He's here asking questions isn't he?  That is the point of this site, to gather information from those who have experienced what goes on and for us to help others avoid the pitfalls that we've already experienced.

- Expat Dave

MauroN wrote:

I have been doing freelancing for the past 9 years and have had no problem with the internet service. Sure, it fails some times but nothing that gets me pulling out the hair. I do not use internet from my smartphone too much, though. I work from home or from my office. One thing about internet is that the service is still offering 3, 6, 8 Mbps downloading speed as the average service and never gets there, the 3 Mbps gives 1 or 1.5, the 6 Mbps gets to 5 if lucky and so on. Uploading is worse. But I learned to live with it and has worked for me.

You live in or near Palmares, right? What company do you use and is there no data limit? i.e. Claro says it's the law now that no one can provide a package with UNLIMITED data and Claro limits it to 10gigs per month. I have an unlimited plan through Claro but it's pay as you go, not a package and it's only 2mbps and like you say, that 2mbps is often much less.

pebs wrote:

Such LIARS about wages to promote Panama PATHETIC liars Ticos now make very good wages and Most of us pay MORE than than min wage which is about $5:50 an hour in a much cheaper place to Live (CR)  than USA Canada etc where min wages HAVe to be higher because cost if living is higher >DUH! I know visitors from New York  Manhattan who pay in excess of $5000 rent per month REGULAR  workers Not Celebrities !

Pebs,

Please play nice.  I've noticed over time that people who are living here that are extremely unhappy simply are walking through life with a half empty glass.  Your words will not change their point of view.  Take a deep breath and ignore it.  👀

And, it's getting a bit   

- Expat Dave