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Rental Housing is affordable and plentiful in Costa Rica. With the exception of downtown San José, rents for houses or apartments are reasonable—half or less the cost in the United States. Depending on location and personal taste, a small house or large apartment usually rents for a few hundred dollars per month. A luxurious house or apartment may go for $800 to $1500 per month or more. Most of these upper-end houses and apartments have all the amenities of home: large bedrooms, a spectacular view, pools, gardens with fruit trees, bathrooms with hot water, kitchens, dining rooms, a laundry room and even maid’s quarters, since help is so inexpensive in Costa Rica.

In the lower range— from $300 to $700—you can expect to find a two to three bedroom house or apartment in a middle class neighborhood. Since the majority of Costa Ricans pay less than $150 monthly for rent, a few hundred dollars should rent a nice place to live. Most affordable houses and apartments are unfurnished. However, you can usually buy a complete household of furniture Condo from someone who is leaving the country. This way you can save money. Most of these cheaper places will not have hot water. In the shower there will probably be an electric device that heats the water. If there is not one of these devices, you can buy one for about $30 and have it installed for a few dollars.

When looking for a place, remember to check the phone, the shower, the closet size, kitchen cabinets, electrical outlets, light fixtures, the toilet, faucets and water pressure, locks, general security of building, windows and the condition of the stove, refrigerator and furniture, if furnished. Look at ceilings for telltale leaks and stains.

Also, check for traffic noise, signs of insects and rodents and what the neighbors are like. Ask about the proximity of buses and availability of taxis. Have anything you sign translated into English before you sign it. Don’t sign anything you don’t understand based on the landlord’s word of honor. You should be aware that by law landlords could raise rents where the contract is in colones a maximum of 15% annually. On the other hand, contracts in dollars may only be raised once every three years. There is a publication that you can purchase a House in Costa Rica which explains in detail how the country’s rental laws work (La Ley de Inquilinato).

Rooms in homes usually rent for around $100 monthly. We know of several foreigners who live this way to save money. As we mention later on, before deciding to live in Costa Rica permanently, it is a good idea to rent a place first or find a real estate agent who can show you around and guide you through the buying process. As you have just seen there are a variety of rental options and price ranges to match almost any taste or budget. However, for gringos, the prices are generally much higher.

You will need a map of San José and the suburbs. The Tico Times and Central America Weekly, are two places to start looking. La Nación is the Spanish language newspaper with ads. However, relying solely on classified ads in newspapers is a mistake and can prove to be misleading. Some places are outright disappointing when compared to the way they are described in ads.

Other sources for finding an apartment are supermarket bulletin boards and word of mouth. Tell everyone you know you’re hunting, and ask them to tell every one they know, and so on. The Blue Marlin Bar, in the Hotel Del Rey, MacDonald’s in San José, around the Central Park in Heredia and other gringo hangouts are other places to inquire about rentals.

When hunting for an apartment or house to rent contact the Association of Residents of Costa Rica ARCR. They will help you look in those areas that suite your personal needs and take the headaches out of finding a place to live.

When reading the ads in the Spanish newspapers you should be familiar with the following words: Se Alquila-for rent, agua caliente-hot water, alfombrado-carpeted, amueblado-furnished, sin muebles-unfurnished, baño-bathroom, cocina-kitchen, cochera or garaje-garage, contrato-contract, depósito-deposit, dormitorio-bedroom, guarda-guard, jardín-garden, seguro-safe, patio-patio, parqueo-parking, verjas-bars, zona verde-grassy area, ¢ = colones - Costa Rican money -.