Best Places to Retire

Retire to Costa Rica

You might like to consider retiring in Costa Rica.

This is one country that will offer you many, many advantages both in the normal course and as a retired person.

Costa Rica, situated at the southern end of Central America, covers an area of more than 51,000 kilometers and has a population of about 3.2 million.

The country is known for its natural beauty, with different kinds of vegetation and wonderful beaches, where you will surely love to spend a great deal of time.

There's a dry season from December to April, when temperatures are quite high -- pleasant in the valleys, warmer in the lower coastal regions.

Costa Rica is only a 3-hour flight from many locations in the southern part of the United States.

As a retired person, you can expect to find several Costa Ricans who can speak English and will be ready to help you if you are in trouble.

Often you'll find that young people in Costa Rica have received a bilingual education at grade school and been through high school with English, German or French.

In addition, communications are very highly developed here.

There are no exchange controls on foreign currency and foreigners can expect to enjoy the same privileges as Costa Rica's citizens.

One of the reasons why you may be drawn to Costa Rica as a retirement destination is that any profits you make within the country are not taxed, whether you are a national, foreigner or non resident.

Royalty income received from abroad is also exempted from tax, whether the author is a resident of Costa Rica or not.

As far as housing is concerned, you have several choices, such as independent living, assisted living or retirement communities, which are truly beautiful settings.

You can live in this country for as little as $ 1,000 to $ 1,300 per month and the quality of life that you would enjoy would be far better than what would be available for that amount of money in the United States.

Let's say the price of a home would be about the same as that of Middle America -- but in Costa Rica, your home could well include a view of the ocean or a wilderness in your backyard!

As for safety and security, it would be better carry your passport at all times.