Job Discussion Forums

[nesec]

Hello everyone!

I completed my CELTA a year ago in Spain and after a year teaching here in the US, I'm ready to start travelling! Costa Rica has been in the back of my head for years now, and after much consideration, I made my decision and purchased tickets to San Jose. I will be arriving on February the 2nd.

As things come to mind, I am in the process of preparing a fairly large post � questions and concerns regarding various things in general. And questions regarding things I�ve read, or haven�t seen addressed yet in this forum.

However, for tonight, I just have a few questions about budgeting, earning and cost of living in CR. From what I�ve read so far � what people are currently earning and paying � I�ve worked out a budget for myself. However, it would be greatly appreciated if anyone currently residing in CR could check this over � let me know if this is accurate, or if I�ve missed something, or just have it wrong.

Here is what I�ve calculated.

Assuming I�m earning 4 USD / 2 mil CRC an hour (Average pay from what I can tell.) and working 32 hours a week, that should provide me with 512 USD / 252 mil CRC per month total income. (BTW - Can I expect to find 32 hours a week?)

According to what has been posted in this forum, online realty sites, craigslist.org and other online sources, I can expect to pay between 200 � 350 USD / 98 � 172 mil CRC per month for a studio or one bedroom apt in or around San Jose.

512 USD (my total income)
- 350 USD (max. rent)
162 USD / 80 mil CRC

Is 162 USD per month enough to cover food, utilities, transportation &etc? Do my calculations seem correct to those of you working and living in the Central Valley right now? Most importantly, are my base figures correct (ie. 350 USD for an apt, 4 USD an hour pay)? If not, what can or should I expect?

I�ve read that many people earn more than 4 USD an hour; however, when doing calculations like this, I feel it�s safer to project a lower income.

Thanks to everyone here!! All the information you guys have posted has been of great value and assistance to me. I look forward to being in Costa Rica soon!

Cheers,
Nate

[nesec]

anyone??

[eli.]

you�ll probably make more (average 6,000 colones per hr) - but you�re going to have a VERY HARD TIME getting that many hours (20 hours a week is considered a good schedule) - if you do get that many hours you�re going to be working from 7 AM on and off until 9 PM and on Saturdays and traveling an hour or more to some of your classes.
oh, but you should be able to find lower rent, you just have to look around

it�s hard to break even here, but it can be done.

[nesec]

6,000 CRC = 12.17 USD as of this moment. That's comparable to what I'm making here in the states (16.50 currently).

With 20 hours a week at that pay:

974 USD (80 hours per month) minus 350 for rent, which apparently is high, leaves me with 624 USD. That sounds too go to be true... Maybe I'm just a 'the glass is half empty' kind of person but I'm having a hard time accepting that things could be that easy financially. After reading that food, buses and so many other things are amazingly inexpensive by my US standards, with that much money at my disposal, I'd be more than content.

Pay at 6,000 CRC per hour is a thing of San Jos� solely I assume?

Thanks eli for the information. I still have this feeling like there is something I'm missing however... It just sounds like too much / too easy.

Also, I'm curious. You said that it's hard to make ends meet. I'm having difficulty seeing that granted the above figures. What expenditures are pushing you? Sorry if I'm being intrusive. I just want to know what to expect and be prepared.

Thanks again!!

[Cdaniels]

Are you a social drinker? If not, what do you imagine doing for recreation? I think a big expense is dealing with culture shock, and this is very hard to quantify what you will spend to cope in a foreign place. Are you going to shop? Go hiking? Tour Nat'l Parks? Stay in your room and read? Books can be an expensive hobby, especially outside N.America. Are you going to call home frequently? Call a girlfriend back home? Don't underestimate how the small comforts might add up.

[nesec]

Actually, I don't drink at all. I do, however, smoke quite a bit (cigarettes - not hash)... A habit I've been trying to kick for years but may not anytime soon as things are right now.

I do read frequently. Books are expensive there? That's odd.

Of course I'll be doing some hiking and traveling. Not a tremendous amount.

As for calling home, I probably won't be doing that often. I had a girlfriend; however, we recently broke it off in anticipation of my move and for other reasons that are hardly fitting for this forum... Anyways, I mostly stay in touch with people through the computer. I've come across a few apts with internet connections included. However, assuming I need to get one, and I can guarantee I'll be needing the net, how much am I looking at there?

You're right Cdaniels, I did more or less completely neglect the little things. I realized that almost immediately after I made that last post. So, in the time since, I've been thinking, reading and researching the topic.

Let me know if the following sounds about average:

2 USD a day for buses
10 USD a day for food
misc expenses here in America generally run around 200 a month (hopefully things will be cheaper there). It's the impression I've been given after reading nearly everything in this forum. Also, I often prepare my own food and actually prefer to do so. So perhaps I'll not be spending 10 USD a day - that figures seems more allied to eating out everyday.

Anyways, let's throw these figures in the blender:

After the above expensives are added to everything else, I'm left with 64 USD a month spending money. However, if I do more cooking at home, I believe I can cut my food expenditure in half - 150 USD a month, which would give me 214 USD.

* * *

All said, I'll try to be frugal with my cash. The most important thing is still to know that my base figures are correct (e.g. 10 USD a day for food if I'm eating out). If they're off, then all of this is pointless. BTW - how much are cigarettes in CR? Also, a connection to the net and /or internet cafes?

Thanks Cdaniels for the post Every little bit helps.

__________
How do you get HTML enabled? Sorry, totally off topic...

[Cdaniels]

HTML enabling: Click on the Profile button up above, just beneath the motto of "Job Discussion Forums" Near the extremely helpful 'Search' button. Toward the bottom of that page is single-click options for allowing HTML, along with a bunch of other yes/no options. Unfortunately I know about such things a lot better than budgeting!
You can buy cigarettes individually in CR, instead of whole packs, which is great if you want to cut down on smoking!

[C]

cigarettes $1-$2/pack
internet cafes $0.50-$0.75/hr
dial up $15 + phone bill $20-$30/month
cable modem $40/month
cable tv $28/month
cell phone $15-$25/month

Cable modem usually costs about the same as having dial up plus the extra hours on the phone bill because of internet use. Unfortunately it is not available in all areas.

You can get a cart full of groceries for about $30. I�d also suggest that you bring money for major appliances. Most apartments/houses don't come with anything extra. You can find a small fridge, gas stove, and washing machine for $200 each. Rent for apartments/small houses is $200-$300/month.

Not all books are expensive here. It just depends on the type of book and where you buy it. For example, there are stores around Universidad de Costa Rica in San Pedro that sell used books for about $1.

Good luck!

[nesec]

Thanks C! Your post was really helpful. Taken with all the others, I think I'm starting to get it worked out now

[eli.]

oops, i musta been smokin' crack... I meant 6 DOLLARS an hour (3000 colonies)
I really didn't mean to mess with your calculations. I just get confused sometimes with the currancy converstion thing......
your rent will probably be in US dollars by the way (more stable currancy)

[tesolitis]

[C]

You can find apartments/houses for rent in the La Naci�n newspaper or go to www.economicos.com and check Alquileres. Keep your eyes open when you�re out, you can usually find a few places for rent. Ask around, people are pretty helpful and can tell you of anything they�ve seen or heard of too.

Many ads are in Colones. If you need, you can make exact currency conversions at www.xe.com

There's not many furnished places for rent. You can find a lot of inexpensive furnature here. If you�re just staying a few months then maybe you can afford to rent in one of the gringo apartment buildings. Many hotels also have apartments to rent for short periods. Best Western, Hotel Europa, to name a couple. Do a google search, you should be able to find apartment buildings for foreigners and hotels with apartments here.

[tesolitis]

[C]

tesolitis-

I don't know of many places for rent other than what's in the paper. I've seen plenty of houses and apartment buildings but I couldn't tell you the exact street address. There are places available in the San Pedro residentials around the U, and in La Sabanilla. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

As far as inexpensive furnature goes, La Cueva and La Cocacola have quite a bit. Just don't go there too early in the morning or too late in the afternoon or at night. It's a very colorful area so be careful.

[ThePeatMan]

depending on how you like to live, $600/mo. is more than enough. you can probably find a small room in a furnished house for 60,000-70,000 colones per month (about $150) or a crappy furnished apartment. cigarettes are a buck a pack, beer is a buck at the bar, a cheap and filling lunch will run you about two bucks fifty. phone bill will be about eight bucks a month for local calls (depending on how much you talk) and about the same for elec. and water. bus rides to the beach from the city run a couple of bucks.

it's not an obviously cheap country... but if you're willing to scrounge you'll have no problems. on the other hand, if you wanna live like a gringo, you pay like a gringo.

all this comes from a year and a half living in san pedro (san jos�).