Costa Rica’s warm welcome and pura vida atmosphere took it to second place on the InterNations list of top expatriate destinations for 2017. According to one expat, he loves Costa Rica because it "provides the freedom to live a peaceful, happy life, surrounded by peaceful, kind and happy people." We agree!
Costa Rica scored in the top 10 for four of the five indices: Finding Friends, Quality of Life, Ease of Settling In, and Family Life. Costa Rica ranked first place in the Finding Friends subcategory, taking the top ranking for every question. Expats say it’s easy to make local friends, with almost one in five (19%) stating that their social circle is mostly Costa Ricans and 63% saying it’s a mix of locals and expatriates.
Costa Rica made big improvements in the Family Life index, jumping 16 places due to higher scores in the Quality of Education and the Availability of Childcare and Education subcategories.
Costa Rica has also made great strides in the Personal Finance Index, jumping from 43rd place in 2016 to 24th. Almost seven in ten respondents (68%) are generally satisfied with their financial situation, with 79% saying they have enough or more than enough to cover their daily expenses.
Interestingly, two-thirds of the respondents were not retired - indicating that Costa Rica attracts younger expats and families. Many respondents said that they appreciate the relaxed pace of life and pura vida vibe. With such a warm welcome and tranquil lifestyle, half of the respondents said they can see themselves staying in Costa Rica forever. Pura Vida!
Lisa and Chris Simmons, Remax agents, and co-owners of 3 Remax offices in Playa del Coco area