Moving to Costa Rica? 6-Year Expat Reveals the Truth (Cost, Healthcare, Dating & Reality Check)

Описание: #livingincostarica #expat #relocation ' Every Day is Paradise in Costa Rica'.
www.TravelCostaRicaNOW.com

Thinking about moving to Costa Rica? 🌴 In this in-depth expat interview, we sit down with Brent to talk about what life in La Fortuna, Costa Rica is really like after six years abroad. From surviving the 2020 pandemic shutdown just months after arriving, to navigating healthcare, dating, banking, and cultural adjustments — this is the unfiltered truth about relocating to paradise.

Brent shares how getting “stuck” in La Fortuna during COVID turned into a permanent move, why learning Spanish is critical for expats, and how adapting to Costa Rican culture requires patience, flexibility, and letting go of control. If you’re considering retiring in Costa Rica, working remotely, or starting over in a new country, this conversation dives into the realities most YouTube videos don’t talk about.

We cover:

✔ Cost of living in Costa Rica vs Canada
✔ Renting vs buying property in Costa Rica
✔ Expat life in La Fortuna
✔ Healthcare options (public vs private hospitals)
✔ Banking challenges without residency
✔ Using SINPE, PayPal, and even Bitcoin in Costa Rica
✔ Dating in Costa Rica as a foreigner
✔ Cultural differences & expat expectations
✔ Why many expats leave within 1–3 years
✔ Retirement lifestyle, boredom & community building

Brent also talks openly about identity shifts after moving abroad, staying active with pickleball and walking groups, and why building both expat and local friendships matters. We discuss the realities of cross-cultural relationships, financial expectations, and the importance of protecting yourself legally and emotionally.

If you're dreaming of leaving cold winters behind (especially if you're coming from Canada or the U.S.), this interview highlights the trade-offs: incredible weather and natural beauty versus slower systems, developing infrastructure, and learning to embrace “Pura Vida” at a deeper level.

This video is perfect for:
• Future expats
• Digital nomads
• Retirees considering Costa Rica
• Anyone researching relocation tours
• People curious about the real cost of living in Costa Rica

At TravelCostaRicaNow.com, we help people explore whether Costa Rica is truly right for them through relocation tours and honest conversations like this one.

👉 Drop your questions in the comments about banking, residency, dating, or healthcare in Costa Rica.
👉 Share your own expat experience below.

Is Costa Rica your forever home — or just a chapter? Watch and decide. 🌎


00:00 – Living in Costa Rica: 6-Year Expat Introduction
01:32 – Moving to Costa Rica Right Before the 2020 Pandemic
03:55 – Getting “Stuck” in La Fortuna During Border Closures
04:20 – Adjusting to Life in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
04:25 – Learning Spanish as an Expat in Costa Rica
05:15 – Culture Shock in Costa Rica (What Surprises Most Expats)
06:05 – Why Efficiency Doesn’t Work the Same in Costa Rica
07:30 – Building Community: Expat Friends vs Local Friends
10:10 – Cost of Living in Costa Rica vs Canada (Real Numbers)
10:45 – Renting vs Buying Property in Costa Rica
11:19 – Real Estate Market in La Fortuna Costa Rica
11:55 – Dating in Costa Rica as a Foreigner (The Reality)
13:25 – Cultural Differences in Relationships
14:50 – Financial Expectations & “Gringo” Stereotypes
16:11 – Is Costa Rica a Sex Tourism Destination? (Honest Talk)
17:24 – Dating Life
18:34 – Mental Health, Identity & Reinventing Yourself Abroad
22:26 – Prostitution, Happy Endings, sex tourism
26:22 – Retirement Lifestyle in Costa Rica: Staying Active
29:19 – Avoiding Boredom & Alcohol Traps in Expat Life
30:20 – Why 70% of Expats Leave Costa Rica Within 3 Years
30:47 – Psychedelics, Microdosing & Personal Growth in Costa Rica
34:53 – Are Drugs Common in Costa Rica? Safety Discussion
37:35 Homeless, Migrants
40:12 – Getting around, Transportation, Transportation in Costa Rica (Motorcycle vs Bus Travel)
41:13 – How's the Canadian Dollar vs Costa Rica Colon? Currency Exchange: USD vs Canadian Dollar vs Colón
42:45 – Banking in Costa Rica, Bitcoin Jungle Using SINPE in Costa Rica (How Locals Pay) Without Residency, PayPal & International Debit Cards
50:50 – Healthcare in Costa Rica: Public vs Private Hospitals, Hospital Mexico vs Private Clinics Experience, Motorcycle Accident & Medical Costs Breakdown
58:10 – Final Advice for Anyone Moving to Costa Rica

Is Living in Costa Rica Worth It Long-Term?

A FUN way to donate to Travel Costa Rica NOW and show your LOVE and appreciation. And I do love a great big cup of coffee. Pura Vida https://buymeacoffee.com/tcrn