What is the downside to living in Costa Rica?

The honest downsides are import costs, infrastructure outside the central valley, the rainy season, and bureaucracy. Imported goods carry 30 to 80 percent markups thanks to duties (cars, electronics, US-brand groceries), so a familiar Western lifestyle costs materially more than the $2,075 moderate benchmark suggests. Roads and electrical grids outside the San Jose central valley range from inconsistent to poor, particularly on the Caribbean coast and in rural Guanacaste. Internet works in expat-heavy towns but is patchier elsewhere. The May-to-November rainy season is intense, with landslides and flooding in mountainous and coastal areas. Caja healthcare is good but waits for non-urgent specialists can run weeks to months. Bureaucracy is slow: residency permits routinely take 6 to 18 months, vehicle registration is a multi-step ordeal. Petty crime in tourist zones is real; violent crime sits below regional averages. None of these override the upsides for most movers, but each is worth budgeting time and money against. For the full picture, see our Costa Rica cost of living page.