Americans in Costa Rica consists of immigrants and expatriates from the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
to
Costa Rica, mostly retirees. According to the U.S. State Department, about 70,000 Americans live in the country.
American retirees, many of whom are
Baby boomers, flocked to Costa Rica’s tropical beaches to retire as they’re drawn to its biodiversity, the political stability, and its relative low cost health care. The number of Americans who collect their
Social Security
Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifical ...
checks in Costa Rica has jumped 67% since 2002.
Many Americans have also purchased vacation homes rather than moving lock, stock and barrel, leaving the U.S. behind. They intend to retire in Costa Rica in five years or so and are using the rental income to pay off the property in the interim.
Living in Costa Rica
, ''ideal-LIVING'', 22 December 2007
Education
* The American International School of Costa Rica serves American families in Costa Rica.
* The Tico Lingo Spanish School in Heredia teaches the Spanish language to Americans traveling and living in Costa Rica.
See also
* Costa Rican American
Costa Rican Americans () are Americans of at least partial Costa Rican descent.
The Costa Rican population in 2018 was 154,784. Costa Ricans are the fourth smallest Latino group in the United States and the smallest Central American population. ...
* Costa Rica–United States relations
References
{{Americans abroad
Costa Rica
Americans
Americans are the citizens and nationals of the United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents could also legally claim Ame ...
Costa Rica–United States relations