The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living

21st August 2023
Home > News > The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living

2nd Edition

If you’re thinking about making an escape from the rat-race, whether for political or mental and physical health reasons, or all of the above, The Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living – 2nd Edition was written just for you!

It’s the 28th of March, year 2020. The whole world has been attacked by a virus known as SARS-CoV-2. We’ve all (meaning humans everywhere) been instructed, and in some cases demanded, to stay home and not venture out, other than for essentials (FYI: having beers with the buds has not been deemed essential). So, I figured, what the hell, time for a 2nd Edition of the Definitive Guide to Costa Rica Expat Living!

I’m writing this 2nd edition, certainly as a way to alleviate my own boredom in this quarantined state of affairs, but also because a lot has changed since I wrote the first edition, which was self-published on Amazon in September of 2016. Most of it good, some of it frustrating, and all of it useful for you to be informed about.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy this new edition. It is structured much like its predecessor, but I’ve gone through each chapter and changed what needed to be changed and added what I felt should be added. I also added a new whole section on Costa Rica’s southern zone. I know I’m biased, but I really feel it has pretty much the best of what Costa Rica has to offer. And that is, gorgeous green mountains, beautiful beaches, and the friendliest people on the planet.

I’ve also added informative links and other info that I believe will help make your Costa Rica expat transition a smooth one. Let’s face it, nothing’s easy about moving from one’s home country to some strange and exotic land, where even the concept of time takes on a whole new meaning (we call it “tico-time”), not to mention those pesky language issues…

This book was written to help you make that transition. I hope you find it a useful and enjoyable read.

Customer Review…

I read this book because I am considering buying a home in the Pacific area of Costa Rica and have been trying to get a feel for what it’s like there – the local culture, the expat communities, the real estate market, etc. This book has been a terrific resource. The author provides a wealth of useful information, and also sets out a framework to help you organize and analyze your own values and priorities so you can determine which area(s) are right for you. I found the book very well organized, easy to follow and extremely informative.

I have read many books on this topic, and I have noticed that some of them seem to have been haphazardly thrown together, while others seem more like a reference book- too many details and not much fun to read. In contrast, this book felt like a comfortable conversation with a fellow American expat who really knows his stuff and is giving you the honest lowdown.

I loved reading this on my Kindle app because he provides links throughout the book to all the sources he references, so you have a TON of information literally at your fingertips!   Anyone considering investing in, or moving to, Costa Rica should read this book. It is intelligent, entertaining and immensely informative. I read it in a weekend and was actually a little sad when it ended!

Lena Agree

Share this article
  • icon
  • icon

Related News

05/12/2025 Buying Property in Costa Rica Through a Corporation — and Still Want Investor Residency?

If you’ve spent any time looking at property down here in Costa Rica, you’ve probably noticed that awhole lot of folks buy real estate through a corporation — an SA or SRL. It’s practically a national pastime. And honestly, it's often a smart idea for liability, inheritance, and ease of transfer. But sooner or later, buyers start asking me the same que...

14/08/2025 Gringo Living in Latin America - What's It Really Like?

Even though I've been living in Latin America for going on 25 years now, I'm still very much a "gringo."I get reminded of that quite often, especially by my wife!I first arrived to Costa Rica in 2001. Before then I'd hardly ever even been out of the U.S.Costa Rica was different in those days. Actually it was more authentic Latin American than it has evolved into over the ensuin...

06/04/2026 Buying Property in Costa Rica? Here’s How the Process Actually Works

I get asked this all the time: “How does buying property in Costa Rica compare to the U.S. or Canada?” Short answer:There are similarities… but there are also some very important differences. After more than two decades living here and helping clients through the process, I like to break it down into 4 simple steps. Step 1 – The Offer (LOI) In Co...

02/06/2024 5 Signs the Costa Rica Real Estate Market is Poised for a Rebound

Let’s face it, so far 2024 has been a bust for the Costa Rica real estate market…Writing as a full-time Costa Rica realtor, when you go through one of these luckless downturns, it’s easy to start thinking, what the F am I doing wrong?And believe me, that thought has been entering my mind too damn much lately. And we all know that such negative thinking rarely...