CR vs DR

White Iguana

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May 2, 2004
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Within the next couple of years I will begin to develop a retirement nest egg for me and my family. I want to begin by purchasing some land, opening bank accounts, networking, and etc. The two countries that I have narrowed my decision down to is the DR and Costa Rica.

There are certain things that I like about Costa Rica over the DR and visa versa. I was wondering if anyone can give me their unbiased opinions of the advantages and disadvantages of both countries. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I will be replying with more specific questions.

Thanks in advance,
David
 

KrackedKris

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Apr 8, 2004
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White Iguana said:
Within the next couple of years I will begin to develop a retirement nest egg for me and my family. I want to begin by purchasing some land, opening bank accounts, networking, and etc. The two countries that I have narrowed my decision down to is the DR and Costa Rica.

There are certain things that I like about Costa Rica over the DR and visa versa. I was wondering if anyone can give me their unbiased opinions of the advantages and disadvantages of both countries. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I will be replying with more specific questions.

Thanks in advance,
David


David

You are going to receive many BIASED opinins on this, simply search the archives (Did I say that?) for hundreds of posts on this issue

Personally, I like the "open" attitude (Govt) of the DR, I like CR in the fact that most everything works (Electricity, drinkable water, police etc)

You can't lose with the friendliness of either country

If I had the money to retire now, I would have the same dilema as you
 

Escott

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Both countries are beautiful. I was between Panama, Costa Rica and the DR. If you want to live near the ocean Costa Rica is difficult if you like to travel. 2 days in and 2 days out to ocean sites. I live in Sosua. 3 hours and 20 minutes direct flight to NY and 8 minutes to the Airport.

Infrastructure here in the DR is much better as far as roads. Electric is a problem that can be solved and so can the potable water problem. If you have been to both places they you should know as well as I do what the differences are. Try getting your residency today in CR. Not an easy thing or possibly not possible. Easy in the DR!

Scott
 

White Iguana

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May 2, 2004
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Thanks for your reply

I do know that most replies will be biased, because this is a "DR forum". I am also a little biased, myself, because I hear of all the good comments from most of you on the message board. I have been to the DR on a few occasions (was even married on the beach in Punta Cana) and absolutely fell in love with the simplicity of the country. However, the more I read about the corruption on all levels of the government, it is somewhat of a minor turn off. Some other issues that could sway me either way are:

corruption
cost of living
number of expats
basic amenities
personal safety
receiving a passport
beauty of the country
opening bank accounts

and some others that I can't think of right now.

Comments from anybody that has been to both countries, or know anybody that has would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
David
 

frank alvarez

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Apr 13, 2004
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Hard decision

You have a hard decision there but you can basically narrow it down to this:

Is order/security/safety your priority? Go to Costa Rica.

Is Caribbean beaches, fun and easy sex your priority? Go to the DR.
 

Narcosis

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Dec 18, 2003
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frank alvarez said:
You have a hard decision there but you can basically narrow it down to this:

Is order/security/safety your priority? Go to Costa Rica.

Is Caribbean beaches, fun and easy sex your priority? Go to the DR.

I think you are way off on the security part. If anything CR is much worse security wise. Crime has skyrocketed over the last 5 or six years to very troublesome levels. CR police although more modern as well as the justice system, than in DR, they are pretty ineffective in crime prevention.

Corruption is a problem in both countries although it may be more evident in the DR as it is wide-open and covered openly by the press.

Cost of living is dependent on your lifestyle. Standard of living are much better in the DR for upper-middle class but if you plan to live modestly CR would be better. Housing, modern ameneties in general such as cell phones/telecom, etc are more easily available in the DR.

Number of US ex-pats seems to be higher in CR especially in San Jose, DR has a more diverse ex-pat community in general nonetheless.

Beauty of the country is very subjective although I will tell you this if you don't like rain forget about CR.

Costa Rican banks are state-owned, as many things are telecom/electricity etc, so you can imagine the banks are not as modern, widespread thoughout the country as DR banks.
 

stormer

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Apr 27, 2004
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Well after just returned from Costa Rica (last week) and having been to the DR several times. The cost of living in Costa Rica is way less, than the DR. In the tourist province of Guanacaste, rent was as little as $100CAD a month. Sorry I'm Canadian so thats the funds I'm working wiht. Speaking with many Canadians who live in Costa Rica, you can live very comfortably for under $500CAD a month. And they welcome Canadians living there. :classic:
 

White Iguana

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May 2, 2004
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First of all, thanks for all the replies and information.

So let me get this right.

In Costa Rica:

the corruption is much less
there is more order/security
the number of expats are higher
the cost of living is cheaper
the basic amentities are more accesible (water, electricity)
there is no standing army

Both the DR and Costa Rica are equally as beautiful.

It seems like a no-brainer. What I'm I missing here? What are some af the disadvantages of moving to Costa Rica other than the roads and the fact it's harder to get to the beaches?
 

Narcosis

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Dec 18, 2003
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White Iguana said:
First of all, thanks for all the replies and information.

So let me get this right.

In Costa Rica:

the corruption is much less
there is more order/security
the number of expats are higher
the cost of living is cheaper
the basic amentities are more accesible (water, electricity)
there is no standing army

Both the DR and Costa Rica are equally as beautiful.

It seems like a no-brainer. What I'm I missing here? What are some af the disadvantages of moving to Costa Rica other than the roads and the fact it's harder to get to the beaches?

Humm some of your final assesments are off, re-read my post. I have done business in CR for 10 years and lived there for 2.

Let me brake it down for you: Let us suppose there are 2 types of people the 1.)back-packing adventure/nature/on a tight budget person and the

2.)golf-playing, cocktail/casino night-life able to spend a bit person.

Person 1 Costa Rica is for you. You don't mind having a hard time travelling around the country, enjoy constant rain from April-December and then bone dry the rest of the year, don't mind waiting for ages to get a cell phone or a land-line installed in your home, (unless you use the corruption route and pay extra to get them), Don't mind pretty low standards of housing unless you are willing to pay a fortune, Don't mind consuming mostly CR products in the supermarket imported goods are not that readily available and only at a steep price. Muggings and car-jacking are pretty common. In general CR can be pretty boring unless what you are after is peace and quiet in the first place.