Atenas, Costa Rica

Cost Of Living In Atenas, Costa Rica

While the cost of living in Costa Rica has been steadily increasing over the past decade or so. But it is still an affordable haven for any expat looking to move overseas.

Moving to Atenas, Costa Rica, will give you a much nicer setting and lifestyle for a better price, on the same budget.

Rent Budget

You can expect for a single person living in Atenas to have a monthly budget of at least US$1,700. This is an average expected cost for bare bones living in a two-bedroom apartment.

For a more comfortable lifestyle and depending on whether you are moving to Atenas, Costa Rica, as a family or not, you can expect to have a budget upwards of US$2,000 per month.

It is possible that your budget may surpass US$2,500 per month. However, this would only be if you are eating out all the time, partaking in costly entertainments, and spending all your leisurely time outside of the house.

A two-bedroom apartment in Atenas, Costa Rica, will run you about US$1,000 per month. This depends on the area you are living in, but generally the closer you get to the city center, the more expensive it will be.

The price will also vary based on if you are looking for a furnished place or unfurnished (typically around a hundred dollars cheaper).

There are places in the mountains that run as high as US$3,500 per month. These apartments are less affordable, but nicer and in a much more heavenly setting.

You can also find places for as little as US$500 per month closer to the town and still very nice.

Meanwhile, if you are looking to buy a small apartment in Atenas, it runs about US$200,000.

A bigger space, with more luxurious amenities (pools, views, more acreage) will cost upwards of US$350,000.

Utilities

Your basic utilities (water, gas, electric, TV), including internet, will run you around US$150 per month.

There are plenty of ways to lower your budget, although some amenities are so affordable it’s hard to wonder why you would put them aside. Household help will only run you US$3 to US$4 an hour.

Entertainment

A nice three course meal for two people is still cheaper than most places in the United States and will only set you back around US$40.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for a local choice, you can easily find traditional meals starting at US$8 to US$10.

All in all, it is still one of the cheaper destinations in Costa Rica, and the cost of living in Atenas is extremely affordable.

The high range of the monthly budget in Atenas is comparable to the lower ranges of a monthly budget in the United States. So, it is easy to see why moving to Atenas is a great choice.

In short, you get a much nicer lifestyle, in a much nicer environment, for a better price.

Things To Do In Atenas, Costa Rica

The first thing to do in Atenas, Costa Rica, is visit the Central Park. It is a big park and square in the center of the city, which makes it a great place for your daily walk, sitting with a book and reading, sipping on some locally sourced coffee, and just enjoying your time.

You can easily spend hours admiring the surroundings, which include a local church not too far from the park…

Local Sights

Parroquia San Rafael Arcángel was built in 1846 in the classic colonial style.

The large windows light up the inside for most of the day in a bright translucent light, which makes it a great place to visit during the day.

Plus, after your day enjoying the local lifestyle and culture that Atenas has to offer, you can choose traditional restaurants that surround the park as your next destination.

Local Flavors

A main thing to do in Atenas is sample the local cuisine.

Here you have international restaurants that offer comfort food at competitive prices. But, try a dish or two from the Costa Rican repertoire.

Try Gallo Pinto, the national dish of Costa Rica, which translates to spotted rooster. Or try a more local delicacy such as Casados, which means marriage. You will find a wide variety of food and produce all married together on a singular plate.

After visiting the local churches of Atenas and stopping at delicious restaurants, continue your tour of the city.

After walking around town and seeing the oxcart monument dedicated to the coffee trail from this part of Costa Rica to its two coasts, the next stop must be a coffee tour.

The Costa Rican Coffee Experience

Check out the Costa Rican coffee farms and tours of those farms in the area. The most notable is the El Toledo coffee farm which is only a 15-minute drive from Atenas, Costa Rica.

You can spend the day here learning about how coffee berries are grown, the different types of coffee plants that lead to different levels of acidity in your coffee, how the beans are harvested from the berries, dried, roasted, and then finally ground up to be served in a delicious drink.

The El Toledo coffee tour goes into detail about organic farming, and biodiversity impacts.

Atenas: A Genuine Taste Of Costa Rica

While you are still outside of the city, check out the nearby hiking trails, wildlife, and all the waterfalls. You’ll find mesmerizing waterfalls nearby in the Alajuela region, some nestled in the national parks.

Be sure to check out Cerro Atenas, Los Chorros, or even a little further away, Parque Nacional Juan Castro Blanco or Parque Nacional Volcan Poás.

You will never run out of nature to see inside and outside of the city, including its wildlife. Be sure to stop by the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center to see Scarlet Macaw parrots, white-faced monkeys, and some jungle cats.

Health Care In Costa Rica

Costa Rica has one of the most advanced health care systems in Latin America. Offering universal health care to all citizens and permanent residents, expats can choose between public and private health care.

The public health care system is managed by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, commonly referred to as the Caja.

A total of 15 public hospitals run under the Caja, offering citizens and permanent residents excellent health care across the country.

The private health care system in Costa Rica is constantly upgrading, with modern facilities and experts in every field. For instance, expats often opt for the private system as insurance is cheap.

Costa Rica is becoming a popular medical tourism destination because of its high standards and comparatively low costs for care. Costa Rica also excels in private dental treatments.

Moving To Atenas, Costa Rica

Moving to Atenas, Costa Rica, is a simple process. The city, in the Alajuela district, is about 45 minutes from San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and only about a thirty-minute drive from San José International Airport.

Visiting Atenas becomes much easier once you know that all you need is a tourist visa to enter the country.

To stay in Costa Rica for up to 90 days you need a tourist visa and a return flight out of the country (which does not need to be back to the country you originally started from).

Atenas is surrounded by rolling green hills, coffee plantations, national parks, and local wildlife.

We recommend to rent a car to genuinely enjoy all that Atenas and its surrounding areas.

But, if you stay in the city use the available tours for your excursions out of the city, the taxi fare from the airport costs around US$30 to US$45.

A Permanent Stay

People who want to live in Atenas, Costa Rica, have to start the process on getting a temporary residency.

The process is simple, and only requires a list of documents (passports, birth certificates, a letter to the Costa Rican consulate or embassy).

The most painful part is getting all the documents in order and getting the apostille (an authentication of a public document).

You will get your temporary residency card (after getting the visa for marital reasons, studies, work related affairs, retirement) in Costa Rica upon arrival. This card can last up to 3 years and leads to permanent residency.

Weather And Seasons

The weather in Atenas, Costa Rica, is tropical and the region has a wet and a dry season.

Like most other tropical settings, the wet season is from June to September, with the dry season starting around October and ending around May.

Dry Season In Atenas, Costa Rica

The warmest month is March, where highs can reach up to 90°F (32°C). Otherwise, during the rest of the year, due to its elevation of 698 meters and being surrounded by hills and mountains, the lows are consistently around 70°F (21°C).

The highs are known to go above 80°F (27°C) sometimes, but usually never exceed 90°F (32°C).

Rainy Season In Atenas, Costa Rica

The humidity can reach up to 86%, and it gets quite muggy. However, during the dry season humidity plummets to around 27% and gets comfortable in the mountain breeze.

Cloud coverage increases dramatically, but it varies year to year and is unpredictable. It gets clearer during the dry season, and the sun comes out to play so that you may enjoy your leisurely down time.

The months where it rains the most are split to the beginning and the end of said season. It rains the most in June and especially September.

Most importantly, the best time of year to visit Atenas, Costa Rica, is during the dry season between December and March. This will be your best chance to enjoy warm weather activities.