Learning to Relax on $2,000 a Month in Atenas, Costa Rica

Karen Lynn Mountain is a spirited 66-year-old who traded the hustle and bustle of southern California for Pura Vida living amidst Costa Rica's natural wonders… And spending less than she did in the US because her Social Security payment stretches further in paradise.

A retired entrepreneur with a background in sales, Karen now has a schedule full of social get-togethers and time communing in nature.

A typical morning starts with a walk around her neighborhood, followed by breakfast on her patio. When she has no plans, she reads, plays games on her phone, or gazes at the waterfall she can see from her hammock. Then it's time to meet up with friends.

"On Tuesdays, it's Mahjong—we play the American version," she explains. "On Wednesdays, a group hits the hiking trails, and then I have coffee with the ladies on Thursday mornings. Every month, we choose a restaurant to meet at. And I go out for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays with a guy I'm seeing."

Karen zip lining in La Fortuna and hiking near Poás.

Prioritizing downtime has become a game changer. "For the rest of the week, I relax in my hammock. Retiring here was the right choice; this life has helped me slow down. Although I'm a type A personality, I'm learning to relax, which has many health benefits."

Karen's monthly expenses come in at about $2,000. Her costs include:

• Three bedroom/one bath rental $550

• Caja (socialized healthcare payment) $110

• Internet $55

• Cell phone $85

• Water $10

• Electricity $34

• Feria $160 ($40/week)—fresh fruit and vegetable market

• Supermarket $80—she doesn't eat meat or cheese

• PriceSmart $100

• Car $300—gas and upkeep

• Entertainment/food out/trips $500

Why I Chose Atenas, Costa Rica

Karen used many online resources in her research prior to her move, mentioning International Living as one of her top sources.

"I dove into researching the country for about six months, and before my feet touched Costa Rican ground, I was set on moving here. I was looking at Panama, Costa Rica, and Portugal. But I knew people who had been to Costa Rica, and since they raved about its stunning nature and kind people, it sounded like the right place," she smiles.

When most people think about moving to Costa Rica, they think they will want to live on one of its famously pristine beaches, and Karen is no different.

But she quickly learned that life by the beach was too hot for her, and prices are much higher in these more touristed areas.

Then she made a trip to the Central Valley, and her eyes opened.

"When I visited Atenas, it just felt comfortable," she says. "Centrally located, an hour from the airport and downtown San Jose, and just over an hour from Playa Herradura, near Jaco—it ticked all the boxes."

Joining Facebook groups—and the warmth of people in Atenas—helped Karen swiftly integrate into her new community.

She found her first rental online, and it cost her $800 a month. After a few months, she decided she wanted to move because she wanted something more affordable and private. She asked a local friend, and before she knew it, she was moving into her current $550 three-bed, one-bath rental.

She also has a car, which she finds convenient.

"While the bus system is efficient, I enjoy the freedom my car affords me, even though my last mechanic bill was $1,500," she reflects.

Due to Costa Rica's high import taxes, cars are expensive here and many retirees consider a car a luxury. Karen bought her 2009 Nissan X Trail for just under $10,000 when she arrived in the country in 2022.

This adventurer also just returned from Nicaragua. "It was a bus tour for $220, and we stayed at a nice Hyatt for two nights. It was a great deal." Karen doesn't need to leave the country every 180 days for a visa run, since she got her pensionado visa through an attorney.

Karen's retirement is all about embracing new experiences and savoring the simple things in life.

"I work on learning Spanish daily on Duolingo and took classes when I first moved here. It is a process," she laughs. Since communicating with locals enhances Karen's everyday experiences, she keeps working on it. "I started doing mosaics—I'm loving it. I also brought all my scrapbooking to finish albums for my kids, but I haven't even had time for that yet!"