tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24922856.post4532443755593990311..comments2023-06-04T06:42:42.119-06:00Comments on Así es Costa Rica (That's Costa Rica): In the Christmas spiritRavenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04907218589821447266noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24922856.post-31313186422138651712008-12-22T08:00:00.000-06:002008-12-22T08:00:00.000-06:00Hey Don,The dollar hovers around 500 colones these...Hey Don,<BR/>The dollar hovers around 500 colones these days; just about a month ago it was up to 560, but then it dropped back down. It is definitely NOT as cheap to live here as it used to be. The price of food is really going up, as is gas, etc. Housing is the one thing that seems to remain pretty stable. We found a great house in a gated community in Santa Ana (not a cookie-cutter community, either) for a very good price. Deals are still out there; my suggestion is to look at La Nacion. Escazu is still very expensive; for what we pay here in Santa Ana, we were looking at older, more run-down houses in Escazu on smaller lots with fewer ameneties. And it is just a five-minute drive to Escazu, should we need to go over there. Can you tell I love Santa Ana? :-) <BR/>Now buying a car for under $2200 is going to be difficult. Our last crappy Hyundai Elantra 92 cost around $5000, bought back in 2001. You can still get some decent deals up near Grecia, but you have to really be wary of those cars, as a lot of dealers import wrecks that technically shouldn't be sold as anything but junk from the U.S., fix them up here, and then sell them as though they were regular used cars. Which really ought to be illegal, if you ask me. The last car we bought was from the Toyota dealer, because I just don't trust buying a used car from anyone else here in CR anymore (unless, of course, you know a private party personally and they bought the car new from a dealer or something).<BR/>I hope this helps!<BR/>-RavenRavenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04907218589821447266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24922856.post-48956827442767159882008-12-22T00:42:00.000-06:002008-12-22T00:42:00.000-06:00I lived in Costa RIca 2003 -2004 and again a short...I lived in Costa RIca 2003 -2004 and again a short time in 2007. I found the value of the dollar had dropped 50%. I could not afford to live as I had. I rented a cheap place out pass Piedades. The land lord was not friendly, I was isolated, I had sold my Hyundai in 2004 - a friend offered to store it. I left because of the necessity of Prostate Cancer surgery. <BR/><BR/>I loved living in Costa Rica. I made friends with many Ticos and Ex-pats. When I told one close Tico friend that I had cancer and had to leave Costa Rica - he cried - he is like a brother to me. I miss him and others very much.<BR/><BR/>I would like to know the value of the dollar in Costa Rica now. Where are a few good places to live that are safe, clean and beautiful. Downtown San José does not fit my need! I used to live on a private secured property in Escazú, 3 bedroom 2 bath home for a good price. I had a car so I could get to many places. Longer trips I used the Bus such as Nacoya Penninsula, Nicaragua, ... I loved Sámara Beach and Carrillo Beach. <BR/><BR/>I took thousands of digital photos while in Costa Rica. A few I have posted. But ones with people in them I left out because of their privacy. <BR/><BR/>If I could afford a safe, clean, place to live, and buy a car for say $2,200 or so as I did before, I would have to consider it strongly.<BR/><BR/>DonDr Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16856516837780786285noreply@blogger.com