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Honestly, before coming to Costa Rica, I had already heard about the so-called “Gringo Tax.” But I didn’t realize how real and widespread it actually is. We were planning to buy an apartment on the Jaco beach and also get a car for everyday use. We started looking on our own and quickly realized that prices for foreigners often seem to “have a life of their own.” The same property or car could be offered at different prices depending on who is asking. Based on recommendations from people from our own country, we reached out to Arthur’s team at Real. From the very beginning, they explained how the local market actually works — what prices are considered normal for local deals, where price inflation usually happens, and how to negotiate properly. They got involved in the process and helped us choose an apartment in Jaco at a real market price, verify the property and avoid hidden risks, handle negotiations without inflated pricing, and as a bonus, help us find and buy a car without overpaying. In the end, we paid significantly less for the apartment than the original asking price. With the car, we avoided the typical “foreigner markup,” and they also helped us complete everything properly through their lawyers.
Our total savings came to over $35,000 compared to the initial prices.
The most important thing is not just the money. It’s the feeling that you actually understand what’s going on and that you’re not overpaying just because you’re a foreigner. In Costa Rica, it’s very easy to overpay if you don’t understand how the local market works.
