Visit first, the typical "gringo" who says "Costa Rica is on my list" but who hasn't spent significant time there first, are the ones who make the stat "90% of gringos who move to CR don't last two years" a true statement. It's expensive, first and foremost, its not going to meet most North American expectations in most ways, and its hot as fuck, ALL the time. Except when its raining 9 months a year, because then its wet. AND hot as fuck too.