Here’s my 3-Month Anniversary in Costa Rica Proclamation:
If you can’t be happy in Costa Rica,
You can’t be happy, period!”
Yeah, I know, That’s a bold statement, since I haven’t been to all that many places in my life: Canada, Mexico, almost half of the United States (including living for various lengths of time in California, Washington State, Louisiana, Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida), and New Zealand.
But I have never been to a place like this.
Costa Rica checks all my boxes
It has everything I have ever dreamed of having.
Peace. (No military.)
No military since 1948 so the vast bulk of Costa Rican taxes (which remain astonishingly low, see more below) go to the enormous benefit of the civilian population.
Serenity.
Community.
Decency.
Ticos literally go out of their way to help me here. The vast majority will walk me to a location if I simply ask them where a bus stop or a store is. They don’t just point. They escort me!
Diversity.
Human Rights.
This immigracion sign says it all in just five words…
Kindness.
You can see it on their faces. Kind, gentle, wonderful, empathetic men and women of all ages.
Miss Madison and her abuelo
Jon Graham Mitchell (forefront)
Mauricio Marin (teacher)
Critters!!!
Nature.
More than 25%of Costa Rica’s territory is designated as protected nature preserves, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and biological reserves. This commitment to conservation protects the country’s rich biodiversity and has made it a world leader in ecotourism.
People eager to befriend you with open arms.
Jon, Dale, Francisco
Crystal Rose Garrison
Marianela
Geraldo
Noelia and Luz
Marilyn and Paul/Guido
Cat Carvajal, my wonderful landlady
Click on the link to find out about each of them!
(I live in the #7 Cool Highlands microclimate!)
Low cost/no cost transportation.
Mass transit buses, taxis and personal drivers are all readily available.
There is no absolute need for a personal vehicle. Instead, everywhere I have lived here so far, a bus stop is within easy walking distance. It costs about a dollar to travel by bus in one direction; for most seniors (those with residency status), taking the bus is free.
Public Education is Free through High School, Higher Education Is Affordable
Books and meals are included. No child goes hungry and every child can receive an education. Mentally and physically challenged children even have their own schools so they are nurtured and educated to their utmost abilities.
As a result, Costa Rica has one of the highest levels of educated adults in the world (97.9%!!!) so they’re well-informed citizens of the world not prone to conspiracy theories or authoritarian rascals. 34% of women and 30% of men in Costa Rica are college graduates. (The United States’ stats are these: Recent data from 2025 shows that just 91.4% of adults 25 and older have a high school diploma; approximately 40.1% of women and 37.1% of men aged 25 and older in the U.S. hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.)
Update (thank you Margaret Aliff, for this additional information): “Note about CR schools providing meals……they delivered food supplies to families when Covid shut down schools. We live in an amazing country!”
People-centric shopping areas.
Towns and cities are built with livability and walkability in mind. It’s easy to shop different kinds of stores because they are within easy walking distance of each other. Although you need to watch your step (sidewalks are sub-par in most areas) and traffic has the right-of-way, getting around is easy and pleasant.
Affordable Housing, Low Property Taxes
You can rent here for as low as $350/month if you get an unfurnished, Tico-level place. Furnished one bedroom apartments and casitas start at around $450. Newly built two bedroom furnished apartments and casitas can be found for significantly less than $1000/month, utilities included in many microclimates. If you choose to pay more, you can find even more luxurious rentals, but why???
Utilities are low (except for electricity if you choose a high heat microclimate and need or want air conditioning) and property taxes are breathtakingly low — just hundreds of dollars per year (not tens of thousands, as in the U.S.) — for most family size dwellings.
I presently rent a two-bedroom, newly built, fully furnished casita with all utilities included (except cable TV, which I don’t want) for $750/month. It’s a doll house! I love it and the landlady!
Socialized Medicine.
Big, bad, scary-sounding “socialized medicine” serves the Costa Rican population just as it does in most developed countries. No deductibles, no copays, no insurance middlemen. (Again, for those in the backward U.S.: No deductibles! No co-pays! No insurance middlemen!) No one goes bankrupt here when they get sick or seriously injured.
Even assisted living communities are more affordable than in the U.S.
Private insurance is available, but very few Ticos have it. PI is mostly a luxury of expats/immigrants who want faster service, more specialized treatments, and “limousine level” handling.
Robust Animal Welfare/Rights Laws
Intentionally mistreat or kill an animal here (for any illegitimate reason) — tame or wild — and face severe punishment, including prison time. They don’t mess around here.
Including factory farming of livestock? AI response: “While there is no explicit ban, Costa Rica has policies that promote and encourage sustainable, low-carbon livestock farming rather than intensive factory farming practices. The government has implemented action plans and strategies to reduce the environmental impact of the sector and increase efficiency, which often involves moving away from less sustainable models.
- Focus on sustainability: Costa Rica’s government has been actively promoting sustainable practices like rotational grazing, improved pasture management, and reducing emissions through strategies like the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) for Livestock.
Veterinary Care — even emergency veterinary care — is affordable!
Healthy “Living” Food
Although food here is heavily treated with pesticides to keep endemic tropical insect species from decimating crops, the food here (both animal and vegetable) is fresh, affordable (foreign food and junk food are the exceptions) and wholesome.
Eating here is a pleasure. The little meat I eat here — mostly chicken, beef and fish — is delicious, nutritious and lacking unhealthy fats because the cattle and chickens are raised on natural feeds and not overfed to create fatty portions. My health has improved significantly since moving here. No bloating, leg swelling, dry skin, or any other diet-related deficits or hits.
….and soooo much more!
I have found my Shangri La here in Costa Rica 10 degrees north of the equator. I’m not going anywhere so if you ever want to see me again in person, you’re going to have to come here! I’m transplanted like a tree: permanently!
Thank you,
Costa Rica and Costa Ricans,
for being everything I imagined you’d be,
and more!