Nous sommes un jeune couple résidant en France. Nous partons en septembre prochain nous établir au Costa Rica. Je suis francais, mon epouse est chilienne. Nous souhaiterions obtenir des informations utiles quand a la vie au CR (prix des loyers, des charges, quartiers conseillés de San Jose ou autre ville, formalités administratives a effectuer en arrivant, les meilleures methodes pour trouver un travail, etc).
Merci a tous ceux qui pourront nous aider dans cette démarche.
Etes vous déja allés au Costa Rica?
Quelles activités envisagez vous?
Monter une entreprise?
Trouver un emploi salarié?
Dans ce dernier cas, il vous faudra vivre dans la clandestinité, car les étrangers n'ont pas le droit de travailler sans avoir un visa de ré"sidence, qu'on ne peut obtenir, avec difficultés et pas mal de frais, que dans les cas suivants:
Investir plus de 250 000$ dans un secteur d'activité comme le tourisme, l'agriculture et reforestation
Etre retraité et pouvoir justifier de plus de 1200$ mensuels de retraite
Etre rentier et pouvoir justifier d'intérèts mensuels superieurs à 1200$
Epouser une personne costa ricienne
Adopter un enfant costa ricien
Mettre au monde un enfant sur le sol du costa rica
En dehors de ça, à moins d'ètre embauchés pour un boulot très spécialisé par une entreprise costa ricienne, pas de permis de travail, donc, petits boulots mal payés, visa de tourisme à renouveler tous les trois mois en sortant du pays 3 jours
J'ai l'impression que vous n'ètes pas très préparés?
Bonne chance
Le tabac et l'alcool tuent, le travail aussi! Prenez des vacances!
Etre retraité et pouvoir justifier de plus de 1200$ mensuels de retraite
Etre rentier et pouvoir justifier d'intérèts mensuels superieurs à 1200$
Bonjour
Vous qui vivez au CR pensez vous qu'en vivant sur place on puisse vivre avec 1200 $ et est ce pour une personne ou pour un couple que ce montant est exigé.
Nous sommes un cple avec un bébé et nous pensons à quitter l'Europe pour un pays (nous recherchons tjrs "l'endroit") ou il y aurait du soleil toute l'année ou du moins plus que 4 mois Mon ami d'enfance est marié et vit en Rep Dom mais ce pays ne plait pas trop à mon épouse qui elle est plus attirée par le Mexique -nous envisageons de decouvrir le CR et le Panama ces prochaines années suite à de nombreuses discussions et reportages et verrons à ce moment là-
Merci d'avnce pour vos reponses
Il semble que la vie au Panama, au Nicaragua et au Guatémala coute bien moins chère qu'au Costa Rica, ce dernier étant considéré comme le pays le plus cher d'Amérique centrale.Cependant, le Costa Rica offre un peu plus de sécurité, de services, les gens y sont moins misérables.Avec 1200$ par mois, on peut y vivre sans luxe, mais on y arrive,
le salaire moyen est inférieur à 600$ mensuels.La qualité de la vie, si on aime la nature , est franchement extra ordinaire, mis à part dans la capitale bruyante et polluée et surpeuplée, mais dans mon coin, c'est le bonheur, contrairement aux absurdités colportées par les guides la région Caraibes est très ensoleillée, très agréable, peu peuplée, peu dénaturée par le tourisme de masse (à part Tortuguéro).Et les gens y sont très gentils, mais ça c'est vrai dans tout le C R.
En ce qui vous concerne, si vous êtes un jeune couple, ne pas perdre de vue que si votre deuxième enfant nait au Costa Rica, ça vous donne droit au visa de résident, et à lui la double nationalité!
Le tabac et l'alcool tuent, le travail aussi! Prenez des vacances!
Merci pour votre reponse et votre rapidité. De France on entend que le CR est hors de prix et "envahi" par des hordes de touristes americains qui font grimper les prix surtout du cote de Tamarindo Une connaissance me disait que le prix des terrains est plus cher qu' en France Est ce vrai et pour la scolarité et la santé est ce valable Merci encore
Au CR, il y a deux cotes:
la cote Pacifique, dont certains endroits sont effectivement saturés par le tourisme de masse, américain ou pas, ça devient très laid et très cher!
La cote Caraibes, encore très nature, le tourisme existe, heureusement, j'en vis! Mais il n'est pas encore détestable.
Partout, il y a deux types de terrains:
Ceux placés tout près de la mer, dans une ville à la mode, hors de prix!
Ceux placés plus loin des plages, et dans des petits bleds, qui ne coutent rien!
Ainsi, j'ai payé ma villa, 300m2 plus 5000m2 de jardin, 400 000 $, elle est près d'une plage superbe entre Puerto viejo et Manzanillo, c'est le "must" de la cote Caraibes.
Pour moins cher que ça, j'aurais pu avoir une ferme de 300ha avec batiments dans la vallée centrale.
Donc tout dépend de ce que vous voulez faire, moi, je voulais vivre de la location de mes chambres, on ne loue pas des chambres dans un coin paumé et désert!
Si vous voulez seulement une maison pour y habiter, vous trouverez beaucoup moins cher, d'autant qu'avec la crise les prix se sont dégonflés!
La scolarité est gratuite et de qualité, pour la santé je vais avoir une couverture sociale maladie, chirurgie, pour 24$ par mois.
Le tabac et l'alcool tuent, le travail aussi! Prenez des vacances!
oui, les deux parents et l'enfant peuvent obtenir le visa de résidence, cependant, il y a bien sur de fastidieuses formalités, l'assistance d'un avocat est recommandée, et coute un peu de $
Le tabac et l'alcool tuent, le travail aussi! Prenez des vacances!
avec mon mari nous sommes alles au costa rica et avons fait cote caraibe et pacifique puerto viejo est tres chaleureux mais un peu pluvieux sinon nous avons fait jaco moyen moins trop d'americains
et nous avons finis a montezuma et c'est là que nous sommes tombes amoureux du costa
nous souhaiterions investir au costa rica mon mari est cuisinier et voudrais ouvrir un resto
Un endroit sympa?
J'ai coutume de dire "à chacun son Costa Rica", car en fonction de tes gouts, de tes centres d'intérèt, tu trouveras sympa un endroit qui me déplait!
Ainsi, pour moi, le comble de l'horreur pour moi, c'est Jaco, avec ses grands immeubles en béton, ses multiples fast foods, magasins de souvenirs et autres "trucs pour touristes", ce qui n'empèche pas certains d'adorer l'endroit!
Si vous avez un projet professionnel, ce qui compte avant tout, ce n'est pas forcément que l'endroit soit "sympa", mais qu'il soit rentable!
Ainsi, pour un restaurant, évaluer la concurrence, savoir si la fréquentation touristique dure toute l'année, ou seulement quelques mois, savoir quels types de touristes fréquentent l'endroit, si la cuisine qu'on veut proposer sera adaptée aux consommateurs.
Après, si l'endroit est agréable à vivre, tant mieux !
Avant d'acheter, de bloquer tout votre capital, prenez votre temps, passez des mois sur place, ne vous emballez pas .
Il y a sur ce forum un membre qui a un petit restaurant à vendre sur Manzanillo, endroit des Caraibes qui ressemble fort au paradis.
Tu peux la contacter à: info@manzanillo-caribe.com , mème si son resto ne t'interesse pas elle aura peut ètre de bons conseils à te donner.
Le tabac et l'alcool tuent, le travail aussi! Prenez des vacances!
bonjour
merci de ta reponse
manzanillo nous connaissons bien et ce n'est pas un endroit qui me plais vraiment contrairement a mon mari j'ai deja pris contact avec elle
moi je suis plus pour montezuma et la cote pacifique mais bon on verra bien
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Costa Rica · 4 replies
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