Buying a used car in Costa Rica: checks and costs
Put the title, inspection, transfer costs and insurance beside the asking price before paying a deposit.
Make the numbers work.
A clear-eyed look at living costs, banking, U.S. addresses and the tax questions that cross borders.
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Moving abroad does not automatically end your state taxes
How to examine domicile, continuing state-source income and a genuine U.S. base before you leave.
Read the guideFBAR and Form 8938: reporting Costa Rican accounts
The $10,000 account threshold, separate asset-reporting rules and the records to start keeping now.
Can you receive U.S. Social Security in Costa Rica?
Benefit eligibility, local direct deposit and the paperwork that keeps retirement income arriving.
Keeping a U.S. address while living in Costa Rica
Separate reliable mail handling, bank records and tax domicile so your arrangements stay consistent.
U.S. taxes when you live in Costa Rica
Worldwide income, foreign accounts and the difference between filing a return and owing tax.
Costa Rica’s territorial tax system: what “foreign income” means
Why the location of your bank account does not, on its own, determine the source of your income.
Moving money to Costa Rica: compare the amount received
A practical way to compare a bank wire and a transfer service without being distracted by a zero-fee headline.
Opening a Costa Rican bank account as an American
The documents to ask about, how to explain your funds, and the U.S. reporting issue to keep in view.
What does living in Costa Rica actually cost?
Sourced housing and household-price snapshots for the Central Valley and Guanacaste, plus a better way to build your budget.