Pura Vida, Practically: What Daily Life Really Looks Like
Schools, healthcare, internet, groceries and the small things that turn a vacation home into a real one.
‘Pura vida’ is more than a greeting — it is a posture toward the day. But practical questions matter when you are moving your life: where do the kids go to school, what does the dentist cost, how reliable is the internet?
Tambor and Cobano have well-regarded bilingual schools and a strong expat community. Healthcare is excellent and affordable — Costa Rica’s hospitals consistently rank among the best in Latin America, and private insurance for a family of four runs $150–$300 per month.
Fiber internet is widely available, banks are friendly to foreigners, and the local Pulpería (corner store) stocks more than you’d expect. The shift from visiting to living is smaller than most people fear.
