Great article. We experienced a few of these in moving to Costa Rica.
Re furnishing an apartment — really better to rent a furnished place & ship or buy the minimum possible until you’re sure you’re staying. Our first rental included dishes, towels, sheets, everything. It’s actually very liberating to let go of all your old stuff! Or store it, though that’s a money trap of a different sort.
Re bank accounts — CR banks offer accounts in US dollars (our home currency) as well as in colones. Many sales transactions, including real estate, are pegged to the dollar as well. Helps with the currency exchange issue. But your solution to hold target currencies in Wise is a good one too.
Re health insurance, as senior citizens we found the premiums for international policies completely unaffordable at $1100-1200 per month for both of us even with a high deductible. Plus no coverage for pre-existing conditions — & let’s face it, at our age almost everything is pre-existing 😂. We pay cash for private care as needed or use the very good public health system here which costs us $118 per month as residents.
Those are great additions! When it comes to paying cash for private care, I think many ppl would be surprised that this is actually an option in some countries. Many exceptions apply of course. But even at my age (38) I'm choosing the cash option every now and then, since it's so much quicker this way. But healthcare abroad is a whole universe, I'll drop an article on that at some stage, but not sure if it will fit within the Substack post length limit ;)
You're welcome Will! Once you subscribe to Digital Citizen, I'm able to add you to the list (alternatively, you can send me you e-mail via DM). Then I will add you right away ;)
My companion shared this article with me and his timing (and therefore yours) was impeccable.
I have been dreaming of living abroad for the last 3+ years and now it’s seeming like it’s on the horizon. I had the “just pull the trigger” feeling about doing it and something in the last couple of months told me that it doesn’t have to be forever. Do what you want, when you want. So I’m looking at slo-mading it in 2026.
More things on the list to do now, but more contingency plans too. I’ll take the trade off!
Ben — this is such a grounded, practical piece, and I appreciate how calmly you lay out mistakes that are usually learned the hard (and expensive) way. The framing of the first year abroad as a trial run is especially important — emotionally and financially. That one insight alone can save people thousands and a lot of stress.
The currency timing example is a great reminder that money mistakes abroad aren’t always about spending — sometimes they’re about urgency and bad timing. And the point about home banks quietly changing the rules is one more thing people assume won’t happen… until it does.
I also really respect how you handled insurance here — neither fear-mongering nor minimizing it, just clear-eyed about reading the fine print and matching coverage to reality, not assumptions.
This is exactly the kind of post people bookmark and come back to when they’re actually packing up their lives. Clear, honest, and genuinely useful.
Great article. We experienced a few of these in moving to Costa Rica.
Re furnishing an apartment — really better to rent a furnished place & ship or buy the minimum possible until you’re sure you’re staying. Our first rental included dishes, towels, sheets, everything. It’s actually very liberating to let go of all your old stuff! Or store it, though that’s a money trap of a different sort.
Re bank accounts — CR banks offer accounts in US dollars (our home currency) as well as in colones. Many sales transactions, including real estate, are pegged to the dollar as well. Helps with the currency exchange issue. But your solution to hold target currencies in Wise is a good one too.
Re health insurance, as senior citizens we found the premiums for international policies completely unaffordable at $1100-1200 per month for both of us even with a high deductible. Plus no coverage for pre-existing conditions — & let’s face it, at our age almost everything is pre-existing 😂. We pay cash for private care as needed or use the very good public health system here which costs us $118 per month as residents.
Those are great additions! When it comes to paying cash for private care, I think many ppl would be surprised that this is actually an option in some countries. Many exceptions apply of course. But even at my age (38) I'm choosing the cash option every now and then, since it's so much quicker this way. But healthcare abroad is a whole universe, I'll drop an article on that at some stage, but not sure if it will fit within the Substack post length limit ;)
That would be great! Maybe make it a two-parter?
I think this will need to go intro a structured product, I will work on that soon and try to remind myself to answer here as well :)
RETIRE. This is a great article! All your articles have been incredibly helpful!
Thanks a lot! Comments like this keep me going ;) And added you to the list!
Retire
Hey Rae, thanks! Once you subscribe or send me your mail via DM, I can add you ;)
Retire
Added you ;)
Retire
Thanks Rindy, added you!
RETIRE. Thanks for all the great information.
Thanks Jay! Just added you and sent you the inital mail to get started!
Retire
Mailed you!
Retire
Hey Meg, happy to add you, pls subscribe, and I will add you to the list ✌️
Retire. Thanks for the good information.
You're welcome Will! Once you subscribe to Digital Citizen, I'm able to add you to the list (alternatively, you can send me you e-mail via DM). Then I will add you right away ;)
RETIRE
Added you ;)
RETIRE thanks for the article!
Welcome Ella! DM'd you ;)
RETIRE
Hey Jeanine, I sent you a DM!
RETIRE.
My companion shared this article with me and his timing (and therefore yours) was impeccable.
I have been dreaming of living abroad for the last 3+ years and now it’s seeming like it’s on the horizon. I had the “just pull the trigger” feeling about doing it and something in the last couple of months told me that it doesn’t have to be forever. Do what you want, when you want. So I’m looking at slo-mading it in 2026.
More things on the list to do now, but more contingency plans too. I’ll take the trade off!
That's amazing! Must be an exciting feeling, having made that internal decision. I'll add you to the list!
Ben — this is such a grounded, practical piece, and I appreciate how calmly you lay out mistakes that are usually learned the hard (and expensive) way. The framing of the first year abroad as a trial run is especially important — emotionally and financially. That one insight alone can save people thousands and a lot of stress.
The currency timing example is a great reminder that money mistakes abroad aren’t always about spending — sometimes they’re about urgency and bad timing. And the point about home banks quietly changing the rules is one more thing people assume won’t happen… until it does.
I also really respect how you handled insurance here — neither fear-mongering nor minimizing it, just clear-eyed about reading the fine print and matching coverage to reality, not assumptions.
This is exactly the kind of post people bookmark and come back to when they’re actually packing up their lives. Clear, honest, and genuinely useful.
– Kelly
Aww thanks guys! Appreciate this thoughtful comment! And yes, clarity always wins 😎
RETIRE And this is so helpful! I had already downloaded Wise but haven’t set it up yet.
Glad this helped! And good job getting started with Wise!
RETIRE
Noted Lori ;)