The week after the 2024 U.S. election, our inquiry calls increased by roughly 500 percent. The phones did not stop. The emails did not stop. And most of the messages sounded exactly the same: “I am freaked out. I want to move.”
We get it. Regardless of which side of the political aisle you sit on, elections create uncertainty. That uncertainty triggers fear. And fear makes people want to act — fast.
But here is the thing we tell everyone who reaches out in moments like these: fear is not a moving plan. Moving to Costa Rica — or anywhere abroad — is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It deserves more than a reaction. It deserves intention.
Why Running Away Rarely Works
There is a concept we talk about often called “pulling a geographic.” It means uprooting your life purely to escape pain or discomfort in your current situation. And in our experience, people who move abroad purely to run away from something almost never find what they are looking for.
The reason is simple. When you move to escape, you bring yourself with you. The anxiety, the frustration, the unresolved issues — they do not stay behind at the airport. They board the plane right alongside you.
We have seen this pattern play out many times. Someone arrives in Costa Rica expecting the tropical setting to fix everything, and within months they are just as unhappy as they were before — except now they are unhappy in a country where they do not speak the language, do not understand the culture, and do not have their support system nearby. That is a recipe for going home, and it is one of the top reasons people leave Costa Rica.
This is not a political statement. We are not here to tell anyone their feelings about the election are wrong. People on both sides of the spectrum have contacted us, and people from countries outside the United States have reached out too. The feeling of wanting to escape political turmoil is universal. But the decision to relocate your entire life should not be driven by that feeling alone.
The Right Intention Makes All the Difference
So what does a good reason to move to Costa Rica look like? It starts with intention.
The people who thrive here — the ones who build genuine, lasting lives in this country — are the people who move toward something, not just away from something. They want to become part of the fabric of Costa Rica. They want to invest in their neighbors, learn Spanish, participate in their communities, and respect the culture they are joining.
That is a fundamentally different mindset from “I want to live in a tropical bubble where U.S. politics cannot reach me.”
Costa Rica has its own political landscape, its own challenges, and its own frustrations. You are not going to escape politics by moving here. What you can do is build a life that feels more aligned with your values — but only if you come with the right qualities and mindset.
We are not trying to discourage anyone. If you have been dreaming about Costa Rica for years and the election was simply the nudge you needed to take the next step, that is a completely different situation. We welcome that conversation. The key question to ask yourself is this: would you still want to move to Costa Rica if the election had gone the other way?
If the answer is yes, you are probably thinking about this for the right reasons.
The Financial Reality: Can You Actually Make a Living?
The other critical piece most people overlook in the heat of the moment is income. How are you going to support yourself?
This is not a minor detail. It is the single most important practical question you need to answer before you move anywhere. If you have a remote job that you can do from anywhere in the world, Costa Rica is absolutely a viable option. If you are retired with a steady income, the same applies. But if your plan is “I will figure out a job when I get there,” we need to have an honest conversation.
Finding work in Costa Rica as a foreigner is extremely difficult. Costa Rican labor law — rightfully — prioritizes Costa Rican citizens for employment. If you are a teacher, a welder, a tradesperson, or any other professional without a specific company sponsoring your visa, you are very unlikely to receive a work permit. This is not unique to Costa Rica. It is how immigration works in Canada, the United States, and most countries around the world.
The internationals who do work here are typically employed by multinational companies that sponsor their visas, or they run their own businesses through the proper legal channels. Showing up and hoping to find work is not a plan — it is a gamble, and it is one that almost never pays off.
If you are seriously considering Costa Rica, take a clear-eyed look at your finances. Can you sustain yourself and your family with your current income? Do you understand the cost of living in Costa Rica? Have you looked into the residency options available to you and what each one requires?
These are not exciting questions, but they are the ones that determine whether a move works or falls apart.
What Costa Rica Expects of You
We often tell people: Costa Rica does not owe you anything. It is a sovereign country with its own culture, its own way of doing things, and its own people who deserve to be respected by anyone choosing to live among them.
That means learning the language. It means adapting to life here on its terms, not yours. It means embracing the pace, the bureaucracy, the occasional frustrations, and the enormous beauty of daily life in this country. It does not mean building a gated compound where you recreate suburban American life with better weather.
We do not want more people moving here purely to escape something or to consume a slice of beauty while giving nothing back to the community. What we want — what Costa Rica needs — are people who want to participate. People who want to become part of their neighborhood, support local businesses, and integrate into society rather than hovering above it.
If that description resonates with you, we would love to talk.
Take a Breath Before You Take a Leap
If you are reading this in a state of anxiety or urgency, here is our honest advice: slow down. Take a breath. Give yourself permission to feel whatever you are feeling without immediately acting on it.
The best decisions about moving abroad are made from a place of clarity, not crisis. That does not mean you should abandon the idea. It means you should give the idea the respect it deserves by thinking it through carefully.
Here is a simple framework we suggest:
- Wait 30 days. If the desire to move is still strong after the initial emotional wave passes, it is worth exploring seriously.
- Examine your “why.” Are you moving toward a life you want, or running away from a life you do not want? The former works. The latter rarely does.
- Do the financial math. Can you support yourself? Do you have a remote income, retirement savings, or another sustainable financial plan?
- Research the realities. Read about what daily life is actually like. Understand the challenges newcomers face and decide if you are willing to embrace them.
- Talk to people who have done it. Not travel bloggers. Not people selling real estate. Talk to people who actually live here and can tell you the truth.
That last point is exactly what we do. We are two immigrants who have built our lives in Costa Rica, made every mistake in the book, and now help others avoid those same pitfalls. We are not here to sell you a fantasy. We are here to help you figure out if Costa Rica is genuinely the right fit for you and your family.
We Are Here When You Are Ready
If you have taken that breath, done some honest self-reflection, and still feel that Costa Rica might be the right next chapter for your life, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email at hola@yourpuravida.com or book a free scouting call to talk through where you are, what your goals look like, and whether Costa Rica is the right fit.
We do these calls because we genuinely care about getting this right. For some people, Costa Rica is everything they hoped for and more. For others, it is not — and we will tell you that honestly, too. Either way, you deserve to make this decision from a place of information, not fear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a good idea to move to Costa Rica because of the U.S. election?
The election alone is not a strong enough reason to relocate. If you were already considering Costa Rica and the election was the final push, that may be different. But moving purely out of political frustration or fear tends to lead to disappointment. The best moves are driven by a genuine desire to build a new life, not to escape an old one.
Can I find a job in Costa Rica as a foreigner?
In most cases, no. Costa Rican labor law prioritizes citizens for employment, and work permits for foreigners are difficult to obtain without a sponsoring employer. If you have a remote job, are retired, or plan to start a business through proper legal channels, those are viable paths. Arriving and hoping to find local employment is not a realistic plan.
What is the best way to start planning a move to Costa Rica?
Start by examining your motivation and your finances. Research residency options, understand the cost of living, and consider doing a scouting trip before making any commitments. Speaking with someone who has been through the process — rather than relying on social media or tourism content — will give you a much clearer picture.
Do I need residency to live in Costa Rica?
Not immediately. Many people start on a tourist visa, which allows 90-day stays. However, if you plan to live in Costa Rica long-term, you will want to explore residency pathways such as the Rentista, Pensionado, or Investor categories. Each has different financial requirements and benefits.
Will moving to Costa Rica help me escape U.S. politics?
Not really. Costa Rica has its own political system and challenges, and in a connected world, U.S. politics will still reach you through news and social media. What Costa Rica can offer is a different pace of life, a strong sense of community, and an environment where your daily experience is shaped more by local culture than by partisan politics — if you choose to engage with it that way.