One of the things we love most about our work is hearing directly from you. The questions you send us are real, specific, and often the exact same things dozens of other people are wondering about. So in this edition of our Q&A, we are tackling some of the most common — and most important — topics that come up when people are seriously considering a move to Costa Rica.
Currency Exchange: The Hidden Challenge for Retirees
Reader question: “So far we love everything about this place. The biggest challenge is as retirees with Canadian pensions, the dollar exchange. Most of everything is based on the US dollar. This makes most costs fluctuate based on the dollar value.”
This is one of the most important — and most underestimated — factors in deciding whether Costa Rica is financially viable for you.
The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Costa Rican colon has shifted dramatically over the past several years. When Patrick first moved to Costa Rica, the rate was over 620 colones to a dollar. As of this recording, it has dropped below 480. That is a massive loss in buying power, and it affects everything — groceries, dining, transportation, healthcare, daily life.
For Canadians, the challenge is compounded. You are not just converting Canadian dollars to colones — you are converting Canadian dollars to US dollars first, and then dealing with the colon exchange on top of that. Two layers of currency fluctuation can erode your purchasing power quickly.
We have worked with clients from Canada who were thrilled to move down and are now moving back. The sole reason is the dollar. It is that significant.
This is why we always say: Costa Rica is not an inexpensive country. The cheaper countries in Central and South America — Nicaragua, Guatemala, parts of Mexico — might stretch your pension further, though they come with their own tradeoffs in healthcare access, infrastructure, and ease of daily life.
Money is the foundation of whether you can do this. It is wonderful to have the dream, but if the numbers do not work on a fixed income, Costa Rica may not be the right fit. We would rather have that honest conversation with you now than watch it fall apart later. If this is a concern of yours, reach out to us — we can help you think through whether the math makes sense for your situation.
Airbnb Rentals: Yes, You Can — But the Rules Have Changed
Reader question: “Can you earn income from Airbnb rentals while you’re a temporary resident?”
Yes. You can earn income from Airbnb rentals in Costa Rica as a temporary resident or even as a tourist. The income typically flows to your home country — Costa Rica does not prevent you from operating a short-term rental business.
However, as of January 1, 2026, the landscape has changed significantly. Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms are now reporting rental income directly to the Costa Rican government. You are required to pay a VAT tax on that income. The government is enforcing this, and they will come after you if you do not comply.
This makes Airbnb rentals less lucrative than they were before. If you were not paying those taxes already, your margins just got tighter. It is still a viable income stream, but the days of flying under the radar are over.
And here is where we get on our soapbox for a moment: we think this is a good thing. If you are earning money off of Costa Rica — using its infrastructure, its beauty, its appeal to attract guests — it is fully within the country’s right to expect you to contribute back. Property taxes here are remarkably low. This tax helps close that gap.
We also need to talk about the broader picture. Especially in places like Guanacaste, there is growing resentment — similar to what you see in Spain and Portugal — because foreign buyers are snapping up properties specifically for Airbnb, pricing locals out of their own communities. Gentrification within your own country is difficult. Gentrification as a foreigner in someone else’s country is even more fraught. The buy-it-and-Airbnb-it-50-weeks-a-year model has real consequences for the communities you are profiting from.
Aaron has said — and we agree — that he wishes property taxes were even higher. That might sound strange, but the roads need widening, the bridges need repair, and the only way that happens is with a stronger tax base. Contributing is not a burden. It is part of being a responsible immigrant.
Can You Get a Mortgage in Costa Rica?
Reader question: “I’ve heard that you cannot get a mortgage in Costa Rica. Is that true? Is it exorbitant?”
It is not true. Mortgages are available to internationals, and we work with several lenders who serve our clients.
A few things to know:
- Interest rates are higher than what you would get in the United States, which makes sense — the lender is taking on additional risk with a foreign borrower.
- As of recently, mortgages are now available to both US and Canadian citizens. Canada was just added, which is a significant development.
- You cannot get a mortgage from a Costa Rican bank. Many people assume they can walk into Banco Nacional and apply. That is not how it works. International mortgage lending in Costa Rica is handled by specialized lenders.
- Some buyers find alternative financing — Patrick, for example, took a loan against his investment portfolio rather than a traditional mortgage.
If you are a client of ours, we can connect you with lenders we trust. The process is more involved than getting a mortgage stateside, but it is absolutely doable. As more lenders enter this space, we expect more people to take advantage of in-country financing. For more on property in Costa Rica, read our guide on buying vs. renting.
Walkability in Costa Rica: An Honest Assessment
Reader comment: “You are far too negative about walkability in Costa Rica. It’s a very walkable country.”
We hear this one a lot. And we understand the pushback — Costa Rica feels walkable when you are visiting as a tourist. But living here day to day is a different experience.
Urban planner Jeff Speck defines true walkability as having four elements: a reason to walk (a destination like a grocery store), a safe walk, a comfortable walk, and an interesting walk (something worth looking at besides urban sprawl). In many parts of Costa Rica, you are not going to get all four.
Here is the reality:
- Sidewalks come and go. What passes for a sidewalk might involve a foot-and-a-half step up onto a curb, then transition into dirt, then disappear entirely. None of it would be considered ADA compliant.
- The terrain is extremely hilly. Patrick can walk from his house to downtown Atenas — about 10 kilometers round trip — but the incline is brutal. You are not going to walk that route to pick up groceries and carry them back uphill.
- Traffic is intense. Aaron lives in the city and walks almost everywhere within his neighborhood. But when he recently walked to the US Embassy — a 20-minute route he knew well — the traffic congestion made it genuinely unpleasant.
- Beach towns are flatter but not perfect. Places like Nosara, Jaco, or Santa Teresa have flatter terrain, but dirt roads, no sidewalks, and motorcycles tearing around still make walking a mixed experience.
- Rainy season changes everything. Layer six months of heavy rain onto inconsistent sidewalks and steep hills, and the walkability conversation shifts dramatically.
We are not trying to discourage walking. But if your plan is to live without a car and walk everywhere, that will significantly limit where in Costa Rica you can realistically live. Factor this into your scouting process.
Type A Personality in a Type B Country
Reader comment: “I like to say if you’re a type A personality, you may have trouble living in a type B country.”
We love this comment. It is one of the most concise ways to describe the adjustment challenge of moving to Costa Rica.
Aaron is a self-described type A personality, and he will tell you it has taken an enormous amount of internal emotional work to adapt to life in Costa Rica. The things that feel simple and convenient back home — updating a passport, dealing with a bank, getting something fixed — are not simple or convenient here. You cannot do it online. You cannot call a hotline and get it resolved in 15 minutes. Every administrative task involves more steps, more patience, and more Tico time.
The hard truth: if you come to Costa Rica expecting to have the same convenience, speed, and connectivity you have now, you will be disappointed. And you cannot fight your way through it. Costa Rica does not need you to tell it how to operate. That might sound blunt, but we mean it.
The people who thrive here are the ones who learn to reframe the question. Instead of “How do I get it on Amazon?” it becomes “How do I go without?” Instead of demanding that systems work the way they do back home, you learn to work within the systems that exist here.
If you are someone who needs everything instantaneous, buttoned up, and tied with a bow, this is probably not the right country for you. But if you are willing to slow down, let go of control, and embrace a different rhythm, the rewards are extraordinary.
Gentrification and Local Sentiment Toward Foreigners
Reader question: “Are people demonstrating against foreigners in Costa Rica like they are in countries like Portugal and Spain?”
The short answer is yes — but not in the same way.
You are not going to see organized protests or tourists being squirt-gunned in Tamarindo or La Fortuna. Costa Ricans are incredibly warm and generous in person. But there is a real and growing conversation — in newspapers, on social media, in private conversations — about what foreign immigration means for Costa Rica.
The pushback comes from two directions:
- Gentrification. In popular areas, foreign buyers are driving up property prices and cost of living, pushing locals further out of their own communities. Restaurants cater to international tastes at international prices. The people who grew up in these towns can no longer afford to live there.
- The gringo mentality. There is frustration with foreigners who arrive expecting Costa Rica to cater to them — who are loud, demanding, and dismissive of local customs. We have personally witnessed people be genuinely disrespectful to locals, and there is legitimate pushback against that behavior.
This is why we are so insistent that our community members think of themselves as immigrants, not expats. Your responsibility is to learn from the people who live here, follow their lead, and contribute positively to the community. Not to remake it in your own image.
Remote Work and Jobs for US Citizens in Costa Rica
Reader question: “What types of jobs will hire you as a US citizen that will allow you to work in Costa Rica? I’ve tried so hard to find something.”
We hear this frustration constantly. Here is the honest picture.
Unless you are a Costa Rican citizen or permanent resident, you cannot legally work a local job in Costa Rica. The country prioritizes employment for its own citizens, just as most countries do. There are jobs in free trade zones where internationals work under specialized work visas, but those are employer-sponsored positions for specific skills that cannot be found locally.
Working under the table is risky. We have seen people get deported for it. We will not encourage it.
The path that works for most people is remote work — doing your job for a company based outside Costa Rica. Customer support, online teaching, programming, marketing, administrative work, and other roles that can be done from anywhere are all options. The key questions are:
- Will your employer let you work remotely? Many will.
- Will your employer let you work remotely from outside the United States? This is the bigger hurdle. Even fully remote positions often require you to remain within the country for tax, legal, or compliance reasons.
If you need a local Costa Rican job to afford living here, we would strongly recommend reconsidering Costa Rica. It is already an expensive country, and without a stable income source, the financial pressure will be overwhelming.
Fitting In as a Visible Minority
Reader question: “Something most North Americans do not think about is when moving to Costa Rica you become a visible minority. What tips would you give people to not stand out or fit in better?”
This is a thoughtful question and one that does not get discussed enough.
The good news is that Costa Rica has significant European ancestry, which means blending in physically is easier here than in some other Latin American countries. But fitting in is about far more than appearance. It is about behavior.
Here are our tips:
- Speak Spanish. Even basic phrases make a difference. Do not walk up to someone and start speaking English. Learn to say, “I do not speak Spanish well — do you by chance speak English?” in Spanish. That small effort goes a huge way.
- Be quiet. Americans, Australians, and Germans consistently rank as the loudest international visitors. Do not speak loudly in restaurants, in lines, or in public spaces.
- Do not slam doors. This is a real thing in Costa Rica. Close car doors gently. It sounds minor, but locals notice.
- Dress conservatively. Costa Ricans are not flashy. Do not draw attention to yourself with your clothing.
- Observe before you act. Go to the feria. Sit in the central square of any town on a weekend and watch how people interact. Act as if you belong — not by being loud and confident, but by being quiet and attentive.
- Act like an immigrant. You are a guest. Follow the lead of the people who have lived here their entire lives. The more you approach Costa Rica with humility and genuine curiosity, the more doors will open.
Tranquilo. That is the word. That is the mindset.
Have a Question for Us?
We love hearing from you. Send us your questions at hola@yourpuravida.com or leave a comment — we compile them and answer as many as we can in future Q&A sessions.
If you are seriously thinking about Costa Rica and want help navigating the practical realities — finances, residency, where to live, how to make it work — schedule a free call with us. We will be straight with you about what is realistic and help you build a plan that actually works.