Living
Living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica: The Honest Expat Guide (2026)
Tamarindo is the most divided-in-opinion beach town among Costa Rica expats. Some people love it. Some think it lost its soul. Both perspectives have merit.
Laura Whitfield
Living
Costa Rica vs Panama for Retirement: An Honest Comparison From Someone Who Chose Costa Rica
I researched both countries before we moved. I chose Costa Rica. I have no lived experience in Panama. This is my research, not my testimony.
Living
Healthcare in Costa Rica for Expats: CAJA, Private Insurance, and What to Actually Expect
In the US, seeing a specialist means a referral, pre-authorization, a 3-week wait, and a $250 copay. In Costa Rica, I call directly and get an appointment within a week.
Living
Things to Know Before Moving to Costa Rica (That Nobody Warns You About)
I arrived feeling like I had done my homework. Within two weeks I realized the homework had prepared me for about 40 percent of the actual experience.
Living
Is Costa Rica Safe? What Six Years as an Expat Family Has Taught Me
The version of Costa Rica crime that American media presents is dramatically different from the version we actually live.
Living
Retiring in Costa Rica: The Honest Guide for Americans (2026)
The retirees who do well here are not the ones who came for the price. They are the ones who came for the life.
Living
Best Places to Live in Costa Rica for Expats and Families (2026)
Every American who finds out I live in Costa Rica asks the same question: Where should I move? My answer is always the same: it depends on who you are.
Living
Costa Rica Residency: Pensionado, Rentista, and Digital Nomad Visas Explained
Laura went through the Costa Rica residency process with two kids and a half-unpacked house. Here is what the process actually feels like — and what nobody warned her about.
Living
The Real Cost of Living in Costa Rica: A Monthly Budget Breakdown
Every cost-of-living article about Costa Rica gives you the same range: $1,500 to $3,000 a month. Then it calls it a day and moves on to a paragraph about pura vida. That range is so wide it is useless. It covers everything from a single retiree
Living
Moving to Costa Rica from the US: The Honest Guide
Six years in Costa Rica, the unfiltered version — visas, cost of living, schools, healthcare, culture shock, and what we gave up to get it.