Unless you are interested in a beachfront condo at the beach or an apartment in a Escazú high rise, you will generally find much lower rents in Costa Rica than in most areas of the U.S. You should be able to find a decent rental for around $600 or less on the lower end and something really nice for about $900-$1000 at the upper end. No matter what kind of rental you get, it will either be furnished or unfurnished. Furnished rental will be more expensive. If you’re looking for a house rental, your two basic options are stand-alone houses and houses (or townhouses) in gated communities. The former might be cheaper because your landlord does not have to pay condo fees. The latter will be safer, since the condo fees usually include 24-hour security, and your landlord may not ask you to pay them. If you have limited resources and are not planning on staying in Costa Rica for the long term, renting is by far the best option. Likewise, even if you do plan to live in Costa Rica for a long time, it’s highly recommended that you rent before you buy. Neighborhoods and cultures reveal their secrets reluctantly, and six months of renting will teach you things about your new home that a simple visit would never expose. This is especially true considering that your move will include a measure of culture shock. If you discover something you don’t like, you can pull up stakes and try out another region of Costa Rica. Costa Rican rentals seem very affordable when compared to these prices in the U.S. 10. Chicago Average rent for 1 bedroom: $1,423 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $1,991 9. Los Angeles-Long Beach Average rent for 1 bedroom: $1,646 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $2,029 8. Denver Average rent for 1 bedroom: $819 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $989 7. San Diego Average rent for 1 bedroom: $1,281 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $1,550 6. Dallas-Fort Worth Average rent for 1 bedroom: $779 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $938 5. Atlanta Average rent for 1 bedroom: $852 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $976 4. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Average rent for 1 bedroom: $1,205 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $1,644 3. Houston Average rent for 1 bedroom: $764 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $998 2. Phoenix-Mesa Average rent for 1 bedroom: $623 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $773 1. Washington, D.C. Average rent for 1 bedroom: $1,736 Average rent for 2 bedrooms: $1,744