Presentación de PowerPoint · Property Costs Rent for US$350 to US$1000 per month… Build for as little as US$60 per square foot… Higher quality finishes US$100 - US$125 per

Costa Rica

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© 2011 Live and Invest Overseas, Inc. www.liveandinvestoverseas.com

© 2011 Live and Invest Overseas, Inc.

At A Glance

• Population – 4.57 million

• Official Language – Spanish

• Currency – Colón / Colones

• GDP per Capita (PPP) – $11,300

• Climate – Tropical (rainy and dry seasons)

• Natural Hazards – Earthquakes

• Government – Democratic Republic




Cost of Living



More

Expensive

• Cars, gas, car insurance

• Imported packaged goods and branded food

• Electrical items – TVs, Computers

About the

same

• Electricity

• Popular restaurants

Less

Expensive

• Fruits & vegetables

• Health care

• International Schools

• Home help – maid, gardener, driver

• Property Taxes



Cost of Living

Cost of living is entirely lifestyle dependent



Cars Take public transport or “buy local”

Gas Driving distances are much less

Imported Food Go local – fresh produce

Electrical goods Buy in the USA and bring down

Electricity No need for heating or air conditioning in

the Central Valley

Restaurants There are many great places to eat where

tourists have not pushed up prices



Cost of Living

Rent / Phone / Utilities US$680

Electricity (See Rent) 0

Telephone (See Rent) 0

Internet / Cable TV See Rent) 0

HOA Fee 0

Property Taxes 0

Transportation / Gas 323

Household Help 0

Food 287

Personal Care / Clothing 50

Entertainment Travel / Meals Out 175

Health 137

Miscellaneous 80

Total Monthly Expenses US$1,733

San Ramon




Property Costs

Rent for US$350 to US$1000 per month…

Build for as little as US$60 per square foot…

Higher quality finishes US$100 - US$125 per

square foot…

Buy for US$75,000 and up…

Property Taxes = 0.25%

For US$100,000 house the tax is US$250

per year

San Ramon




Cost of Living



Average ($)

Housing (3 bedroom, 2 bath houses) US$500-2,000

Gasoline (per gallon of regular) $5.61

Water (per unit m3) $0.48

Electricity (average cost per kWh) $0.11

CCSS - Health Care Annual Family over 55 $588

Housekeeper or Gardener (per hour) $2 to $3

Haircut (in a beauty salon) $3 & up

Movies $4.50



Cost of Living



Average ($)

Home Phone Monthly Charge US$4

Average Bill $6 to $8

Cell Phone Monthly Charge $6.60

400 anytime minutes, incl. taxes $27

Smart Phone iPhone 4 /16Gb w/ 2 year plan, 500

minutes, 400 messages and internet $63

Cable TV (basic / monthly) $30

Internet ADSL Internet (1024/512 kb/sec) $27

WiMax Premium (2048/1024 kb/sec) $90



Costa Rica Pros

• European Flair

• English Spoken (?)

• Best Climate in

Central America

• Proud people, limited

poverty

• Biodiversity

• No army

• Diverse Lifestyle

Options

• Established Expat

Communities

• Business

Opportunities

• International

Schooling Options

• Pura Vida




Costa Rica Cons

• No welcome mat for Expats

• Hot and Humid on the Coasts

• Tico Time

• Roads & Bridges

• Narrow Tax Base

• Government Short of Funds

• Less Affordable

• This is the Developing World




Residency



Five Primary Residency Options:

• Pensionado Retiree

• Rentista Small Investor

• Inversionista Investor

• Representante Agent

• Permanent



Medical Care

• Three major international standard hospitals

are Clínica Biblica, CIMA, and Clínica

Católica …

• English-speaking doctors…

• High standard of care near major cities…

• Medical tourism is a growth industry…

• Costs are half those in the United States (or

less)…

• All residents are required to join the CCSS.

Costs can be as low as US$49 per month




Taxes

• Costa Rica taxes based on jurisdiction…

taxed on income earned in country …

• Income tax bands range from 0% to 15% ...

• Social Security (CCSS) 9% from Employee &

22% from Employer …

• Zero Capital Gains – habitual transactions

taxed as income ...

• Sales tax rate is 13% (no tax on groceries)…

• Property Taxes and Luxury Home Tax

Note: Taxes are being reviewed … again




Accessibility

• Costa Rica has daily flights from the U.S….

• Direct flights from Europe…

• 2+ million tourists ever year

• Two major International Airports

• San José

• Liberia




Retiree Benefits

• Free bus travel

• Costa Rica already has a well established

Expat community, a great climate, and great

biodiversity …



… It does not need to provide

incentives for people to move here.



Recreation

• Most developed in Central America …

• Long Pacific and Caribbean coasts …

• Surfing, Sport Fishing, Scuba Diving, Rafting,

Canoeing, Canopy Tours, Caving, Golfing,

Mountain Biking …

• Birding, Hiking, Rainforest Eco-Tours …

• Hot Springs …

• Well developed cultural activities across the

country – long list every weekend …




Is Costa Rica

for you?

• Great place for slightly more affluent

retirees – North American and European

• Also ideal for younger families seeking

combination of climate and schools

• Join existing Expat communities

• Dive into the Tico towns and culture




Documents

Presentación de PowerPoint · Property Costs Rent for US$350 to US$1000 per month… Build for as little as US$60 per square foot… Higher quality finishes US$100 - US$125 per