I had a similar countdown to Costa Rica in the Spring of 2021.

That was my first time moving out of the country (and my first time to Costa Rica. I moved having never visited).

This move feels different but still incredibly exciting.

I explained why I’m moving back in a previous article (which you can read below), but I thought I’d share some of the tasks and things I’m doing differently this time.

I could be going back as of July 1st (I’m super happy that I got my place back. My neighbors are great; there are only 7 of us in the building, and some became good friends), but I’m staying in California until the first week in August, so I’m here for my Dad’s 80th birthday. 🥳

Bringing the “right” clothes

I brought way too many things down the first time that I didn’t need and/or were completely wrong for Costa Rica.

It’s not that there’s a “wrong” in Costa Rica… that’s a huge part of why I’m moving back—but when it comes to clothes, it’s all about fabric and comfort.

Period.

I lived in shorts, tank tops, sundresses, and flip-flops 99.9% of the time. I only wore tennis shoes and jeans when I traveled back to California for the holidays, so one pair each is plenty.

When I moved down, I had 7 checked ‘bags’ (one was my iMac in the shipped box it came in, so that was hefty).

I may have friends going to my place in July (since it’s sitting empty), so I’ve asked them each to bring a bag (especially since luggage costs have gone up).

I’ll have fewer clothes to bring down but more ‘stuff’ for my place.

Setting my space up

Because I lived in the same place last time, I know exactly how I want to decorate and what I need to bring (I sold everything when I left last time).

I also had a beautiful desk made for me with Guanacaste wood after a friend brought my electronic standing legs down from a standing desk I had in the States (I sold it to a friend).

I’ve already contacted the man who built the last desktop and said I need another one. I can probably get that started and have it ready for my arrival (I will be bringing the legs down again).

A few things that I’m bringing because the quality isn’t as great or it’s harder to find:

• Good sheets
• Duvets/comforters for both beds (these are lightweight/cool)
• Towels
• Decor
• Lamps

Because so much is imported, some things are more expensive than expected.

My place was completely furnished, but I made a ton of changes (e.g., I painted the entire place, changed the curtains, etc.).

I found a seamstress/decorator who did some things for me (cushions for the benches at the table, new curtains, new cushions for the chairs on the patio), and I may contact her again for the bench cushions (I also sold those to a neighbor).

Because I know what’s needed, I can bring down a lot at a much more affordable price (meaning, the additional checked bag with a bunch of stuff is still cheaper than getting it all down there).

And unless you go to San Jose (which is a good 3+ hours from me), you’re somewhat limited in where you can shop.

There are plenty of places to purchase decor, but again, a lot is imported, so it can get a little pricey.

One thing that surprised me was the cost of lamps. I was definitely surprised at how expensive they were. And even though my place came with bedside lamps, they were too big and way too ornate for my taste (think Sopranos, circa 1988 New Jersey 😂).

I’m looking for wall sconces that can easily fit into a suitcase.

In terms of curtains, my place has rolling shades on all the windows (minus the big windows in the photo below), but I’ll bring black-out curtains for both bedrooms since they face the street (and are a little see-through).

It’s also much lighter earlier in the morning all year long in Costa Rica, and, as nice as it is, sometimes I want to sleep later.

Here’s a quick photo of my place — you can see the sheer curtains I had made, the bench cushions at the table, and a little bit of my desk (not a stellar shot, but it gives you an idea. The main living area has vaulted ceilings and there are tall windows/doors to patios on all three sides):

I’ll definitely do updated photos (before and after) and a video tour when I get back.

As much as I’d love to get everything done immediately, I’ve had to remind myself that it will be a process (it was last time, so I’m deploying a little patience).

Additional Items

While the water was fine to drink, I eventually brought down a Brita water filter for the fridge, so that’s on my list.

So here’s a list of items I’m bringing:

• Brita water filter (and cartridges)
• Kitchen towels
• French press (had one, sold it)
• Possibly a toaster oven (with luggage fees, it’s probably cheaper or at last the equivalent to purchase in Costa Rica)
• Bathtub: Haha… I love taking baths, and most places don’t have tubs. However, the shower in the master bath is huge, so my aunt got me a portable tub! I just took the shower head off and put the tub underneath to fill it.
• Pool floats: The picture below is the view of the pool from my patio. I love floating and reading, so a couple of pool floats are a must.

Here’s the Cost Breakdown

Before I get into the cost breakdown (estimated anyway), here are a handful of things to know if you’re considering or interested in a move to Costa Rica:

• You don’t need any special visa to move there. Technically, you’re there as a tourist (unless you want to buy property or start a business and become a resident); you just need to leave the country every six months.
• How long can you stay? They just changed this last year. When I was there before, I had to leave every 90 days, which meant a border run to Nicaragua (usually only twice a year, as I’d travel back to California a couple of times as well).
• The border run was easy. Two hours up, I went through customs on both ends, had a return flight out of the country (showing I’d be leaving again in 90 days, which I would then refund), and was back on the road. The new law of 180 days means I can probably skip the border runs as I’ll just fly back to California to see family instead.
• Bringing pets: I brought both of my dogs down last time (one has since passed 😢) and will bring my dog with me again. I flew Alaska as it was only $100 for them in cargo (in a kennel) out of LAX (I’m in Northern California, but LAX to Liberia is a direct flight, about six hours). You need to get a certificate from your vet (exam, updated shots, etc.), and it has to be within ten days of your departure date (I’ll probably get her a sibling when we’ve been down there a few months).

In terms of costs, I’ll break this down into my moving costs and my monthly expenses in Costa Rica.

Moving

Moving is pretty much just my flight, the dog, and anything I’m purchasing to bring down.

Depending on the day I go, I may fly first class (some tickets are only $524!), which gives me two free bags. So, essentially, it’s the same as a ticket for $254 plus two ‘extra bags’ (the first bag is $40).

My goal is no more than four extra bags ($600 total).

I’d love to be down there for the first week in August, but if I wait another week, I can get a first-class ticket for $524.

So, here are my estimates for moving:

• Flight + luggage: $800 — $1000
• Dog: Flight $100 + Vet exam and certificate $250 = $350
• Airport pickup: I have friends who can pick me up, but I will probably have a driver with a van pick me up because of all the luggage, the dog, etc.: $125
• Purchasing things to bring down: $600-$700 (I’ve already started getting things here and there).
• Total for the move: I’m rounding up, but probably safe to say $2k (oh, and will have my Dad drive me down to LA so the dog doesn’t have to do two flights).

My monthly expenses in Costa Rica

• Rent: $1720 (was $1600 when I was down there before, but I’m sure he would have raised my rent by now, and this is less than what he was charging the people who came after me).
• Electricity & Internet: I got these down to about $225 monthly. I had fiber optic internet ($70), and the more I acclimated to the weather, the less AC I needed. The bedrooms and the main living room all have individual AC units, so I only used the air in the room I was in.
• I don’t pay for water or garbage.
• Food: A friend told me that food costs have really gone up down there, too. I went out a lot more when I got down there or when I had guests, so we’ll see how this plays out this time (and I got lucky with a dear friend in the building who is an amazing cook and was always feeding me, haha). $300-$500? I literally have no clue right now. As a single person, I never felt like I spent a lot on food. I had a monthly trip to Pricesmart (think mini-Costco), and I was pretty good.
• Car & gas: I didn’t have a car the first three months I lived down there before and managed pretty well, so I probably won’t rush into a car this time either (and I have a lot of friends down there now and can always rent a car for a week if needed). Cars are a lot more expensive because they’re all imported. The nice thing is that you don’t lose much value when you sell them. A small SUV with 4-wheel drive is all I need. The elements are pretty hard on cars down there.
• Monthly gas: it all depends on what I’m doing. When I didn’t have guests, I’d stay pretty local, minus one trip to Liberia (Pricesmart, Walmart, and other stores). I could go almost a month on one tank of gas (which is in liters and colones, but it’s probably close to the cost of gas in California, which is currently around $5.60 a gallon).
• Insurance & registration: This is called “marchamo” and is paid once a year. There’s also another inspection that needs to be done annually when you purchase a car. The name changed just as I was leaving last time, but that was about $225. Between Marchamo and the inspection, it’s probably about $450 for the year.

In 2025, I may look into the ‘digital nomad visa,’ which would allow me to open a bank account in Costa Rica. Right now, I can’t. So, I’ll be opening a Charles Schwab account, which will at least reimburse me for ATM fees every month (I’m not sure about fees for the exchange rate).

I can use my debit and credit cards everywhere, but I need to get cash for rent (which means I have to make multiple trips to the ATM).

I’ll be living in Potrero, which is on the Pacific North side of Guanacaste. There are a lot of expats in this area, and it’s definitely a little touristy, but not all year long.

I can easily live on $3k a month in Costa Rica.

My living expenses for something comparable in California would probably be over $10k (being this close to a beach for a 2 bedroom, 2 bath place).

But this is much more about the ease and quality of life than it is about the cost.

There are cheaper areas in Costa Rica, but this is where my friends are and like I said at the beginning of the post, this feels like “going home.”

I’ll do an updated post as I get closer and after I’ve been back a few months.

If you’ve ever considered moving out of the country, I’d highly recommend it. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.

About the Author

Hi! 👋
I’m Kim. I’ve been creating online for 16+ years, am a mom of two adult kids, and am happily moving back to Costa Rica. I believe that “Everything is Content,” and we all have a story to tell.

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