Most American, Canadian, and European expats in Costa Rica spend much less money on day-to-day expenses than they do in their home countries. Cost of living, of course, depends on lifestyle. But in many ways Costa Rica is much more affordable than back home. The minimum needed for a decent standard of living for a single person ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 a month. Many retired couples do well on $2,000 to $3,000 a month.