Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica

To continue with more ideas and tips about moving to Costa Rica I would like to introduce to you the Pros and Cons of living on the “big cities” of Costa Rica with a very detailed explanation.

 

Just like in any other country of the world, Costa Rica real estate listings found online are mainly focused on retreats or getaways on paradise like places; not that this is bad, lots of us are actually looking for those kinds of deals, yet some people just want a change of scenery without losing the advantages of living in the city.

 

PRO: Costa Rica has a very well developed industry, meaning that, by living in areas such as San Jose or Heredia downtown gives you access to everything you would have in the US: malls, movie theatres, museums, every kind of shopping imaginable and much more.

 

CON: Every big city is hectic, noisy and full of people, and Costa Rica is no exception, so peace might be something easier to find elsewhere.

 

PRO: By living on a downtown location, you have easier access to visit Costa Rica in all its glory. From San Jose, you can get to every single place. If you need to get to any of the beautiful places to visit, Costa Rica downtown cities are the best bet to open up your traveling choices.

 

CON: Downtown areas are very insane traffic wise: people just don’t respect traffic signs. In Costa Rica, roads are like a war zone, especially during rush hour. If you are planning on driving anywhere in Costa Rica, my advice is to be very patient and extra careful.

 

PRO: Houses downtown may be much less expensive than properties in far away areas. In real estate, Costa Rica is advertised as a place to go hide out and lots of lovely properties are lost because they are never advertised. Make sure you know exactly what kind of property you need; in Costa Rica, real estate listings are not your only choice to find a nice place.

 

CON: You need to make very detailed researches about the location where the properties are located. In Costa Rica, you can find an awesome luxury home located in the worst neighborhood around. Ask questions, be a perfectionist.

 

So far, this is what I have, as always, feel free to comment or ask questions.