Relocation Support
The practical side of landing in Costa Rica, from choosing a zone to having the water turned on.
The hard part is not the move. It is the first ninety days.
People plan the flight and the container carefully, then arrive and discover that the internet takes two weeks, the school enrolment window closed in November, and the rental contract they signed does not say what they thought it said.
We help you plan the landing: where to live, what a fair rent looks like, how to get set up, and what to do in which order so your first months are spent settling in rather than solving problems.
Everything between deciding and belonging.
- Area orientation by budget, climate, and lifestyle
- Realistic cost of living guidance for the zone you are considering
- Rental search support and lease review guidance
- Utility setup on arrival: water, electricity, internet
- School options and enrolment guidance for families
- Health system orientation: CAJA, private insurance, hospitals
- Pet import requirements and coordination
- Container shipping and customs guidance
- Vehicle import versus buying locally, and what each really costs
- Phone line, banking, and everyday logistics in your first weeks
- A written first ninety days plan in the right order
What working with us looks like.
Discovery call
Who is moving, what your budget is, whether you work remotely, and what you actually want out of living here.
Zone shortlist
We narrow the country to two or three areas that fit, and explain the tradeoffs of each honestly.
Landing plan
A written sequence: what to do before you fly, in week one, in month one.
On the ground
We handle the setup tasks as they come up, so you are not learning three systems at once.
Bring these and we can start.
- Your target arrival date and how long you intend to stay
- Monthly budget for housing and living costs
- Whether children are coming, and their ages
- Whether pets are coming, and what species
- Whether you are shipping a container or arriving with suitcases
- Whether you work remotely, locally, or are retired
Start earlier than feels necessary.
The tasks that need lead time are the ones people leave last: pet import paperwork, school enrolment windows, and any document that needs an apostille from your home country.
Three to six months before your move is comfortable. Less than that is workable, but some doors close on their own calendar and we would rather tell you now than apologise later.
Requirements and official fees are set by the institutions and can change without notice. We confirm the current list before quoting, and tell you immediately if something shifts mid-process.
Questions we get asked every week.
There is no universal answer, and anyone who gives you one quickly is selling something. Beach heat, mountain rain, city traffic, and rural distance are real tradeoffs. We help you weigh them against how you actually live.
We usually recommend it. Renting for six months in a zone teaches you more than any amount of research, and it is far cheaper than buying in the wrong place.
It is procedural rather than hard, but it has lead times and specific veterinary certifications. Start it well before you book flights.
In most areas outside the central valley, yes. Whether to import or buy here depends on the vehicle, and import duties often make buying locally the better option.
Residents enrol in the CAJA. Many people also carry private insurance for shorter waits. We explain how both work and where the private hospitals are relative to where you are considering living.
Thinking about the move but not sure where to start?
Book a free consultation. Even if you are a year away, knowing the sequence now changes what you do next.