U.S. citizens may visit Costa Rica under their present immigration laws on their passport for 90 days, currently they have a relaxed law that allows many to leave the country usually going to Panama or Nicaragua for a short visit, getting their passport stamped and returning for another 90 days, however the authorities are now beginning to discourage this practice, and those they find that have flagrantly used this method many times, can fall under the law that removes them from the country for a number of years. There are two primary avenues to become a resident of Costa Rica which allows you to remain in the country full time. One is as a pensionado with a guaranteed monthly minimum pension from Social Security or other means, of $1,000 per month, or a guaranteed monthly income of that amount from investments. The second is as an investor with a minimum $200,000 investment in Costa Rica. This normally leaves out younger people who do not have a retirement or investment income to meet these requirements.

Once you have overcome the culture shock, living in Costa Rica is a nice experience. Costa Ricans who refer to themselves as "ticos", love to socialize, and the parks and streets of the towns are always a meeting place to stop and visit. There are many holidays, religious and other, and they celebrate with fiestas, fairs, and gatherings. Costa Rica living is slower and more relaxed than many other places. Serious crime in Costa Rica is rare but does occur, mostly it is petty crime such as taking something from someone else's property, car breakins and some car theft. Roads are a challenge to get used to, most drivers feel they are on the Indy 500 passing on curves, double lanes, etc. most roads are two lane and poorly maintained or marked, so driving at night is especially hazardous. Ticos are a passive people, and do not seek confrontation, they had rather let things go than confront someone. 

Our community in Costa Rica is in a rural area several kilometers west of the town of San Ramon in the western central valley and most of our neighbors are tico, however there are numerous other American families in our area. We chose the area primarily because of the cool year round temperature averaging about 72 degrees and because it is convenient to San Ramon where there is a hospital, and all conveniences, and good access to the airport which is only some 40 minutes away. We employ a housekeeper who works several hours per day Monday through Saturday, a part time maid/housekeeper for our vacation rental villas, and a part time handyman who takes care of the property. If we need something done outside of their normal work, we generally hire someone from the local neighborhood.