Frequently Asked Questions

There’s no mail in the Guanacaste Province as in the States, we don’t have addresses and street names (only in San Jose area). But you can have something delivered to you though Correo de Costa Rica or UPS. About all bills are received by emails. You can buy on Amazon and Ebay but delivery would be expensive. We usually go back in North America once or twice a year and bring back what we are missing.

Yes, it works well. We have internet through fiber optic, phone, cable and satellite. Depending on the speed and service you use (10-200mbs), it costs from 25$ to 90$/month.

Yes. It’s 0.22$ per kilowatts – for a 3 bedroom house of 2000 sqft with AC, dryer, pool, you can expect to pay between 300-550$ per month.

Yes – for 1000 min outcalls per month with internet service, it’s about 40$ per month.

You should purchase here. There’s a duty fee of 40-50% (based on the value of the item here) on everything you bring.

Yes, they are both in San Jose, 4 hours from Tamarindo.

You can consult our immigration page for more details. 

Yes. You can be connected to American tv as well with a dish or you can use a Sling Box.

Not really. You will have to learn it eventually if you want to talk with your maid or your gardener, but in Tamarindo area , most people speaks English.

Yes, most of them can be found in San Jose. You will find Epa (ie Home Depot), Walmart, Pricesmart (ie Costco), etc. We now have a Pricesmart (ie Costco) in Liberia, only 45 minutes away. Unfortunately, no Ikea yet!

in Liberia and/or San Jose area. Since 2019, we are having more local stores opened, like Casa Y Mas in Villa Real per example.

When taking possession and moving, it is preferable to have your own vehicle. You can always get a car from different retailers or car rental companies in Tamarindo. To buy a car, we recommend going directly from known dealers like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, etc. The majority are located in large cities, as Liberia and San Jose. If you live in town, no need to buy a car. If you live outside town, you should buy a car because the bus service is not reliable.

We recommend that you prepare a will with your Costa Rican notary, as the one of your country does not cover your property in Costa Rica. In the absence of a will, your property will go to your parents first, and then children; not automatically to your spouse, even if you are married.

Yes, the municipality takes care of that every week. It’s paid at the same time than your property taxes.

There’s no sewer in Tamarindo area, every property has its own septic system.

There’s no city water in Tamarindo area, but there are 3 water distribution associations/companies (AYA & ASADA). There are 6 wells for Tamarindo city. If you buy a property outside town, there are other associations that take care of the water distribution. You can even find some properties with their own well. For a 2,000 sqft 3 bedroom home, you should expect to pay between 50-200$ per month.

We are proud to say that in Costa Rica, we are the only country in Central and South America where the water is potable from tap in the vast majority of the country!

Yes, without any problem.

The rental market is excellent! If you rent long term (30 days and more) in Costa Rica, you agree to rent for 3 years minimum, that’s the law. More information on the long term rental market HERE. You would also make more money by renting the house per week if you are close to the beach. You should expect to rent 25-30 weeks per year if you buy a property that is walking distance to the beach or in a luxury gated community such as El Tesoro, Reserva Conchal or Hacienda Pinilla. You can also budget 10%-12% of the property value as an annual gross income. Out of this 10%-12%, half would pay the expenses and the other half would be a profit. That “rule” typically apply for properties over US$ 300,000.

Yes. A maid costs between US$ 3,00 and US$ 6,00 per hour. Same for the gardener. If you rent your property, it will be managed by the rental and property management company. 

Generally: home insurance building, common water and electricity, outdoor maintenance and common areas, gardening, pool and security.

Generally: condo fees, utilities, insurance on interior contents (optional), property manager if you don’t live here, commission on rentals if you want to rent with a rental company, maid, property taxes, annual corporation tax if you buy through a corporation and income tax in Costa Rica. 

Generally: condo fees if it’s in a gated community, utilities, property manager if you don’t live here, commission on rentals if you want to rent with a rental company, maid, gardener, pool products, alarm system if it’s outside a gated community, insurance on house and interior contents (optional), property taxes, annual corporation tax if you buy through a corporation, accounting and income tax in Costa Rica.

Property taxes in Costa Rica are very low – only 0.25% of the registered property value. Some very large and luxurious properties are subject to a Luxury Tax that is based on a calculation that includes such features as structure size and finishings (ie travertine floors, imported faucets). Your attorney can arrange for a luxury tax assessment if you own a very large condo or home. As of 2018, the Luxury Tax has worked out to be around 0.25% of the fiscal value, depending on the property’s size and features.

Costa Rica allows foreigners to marry in Costa Rica. The needed documents are: original documents of single status, valid passport, police record, divorce decree (if applicable). 

To obtain a work permit you must apply at the Costarican Consulate obtain Residency Status that permits you to work.