The Leading Construction Partner for Foreign Retirees in Costa Rica

Retiring in Costa Rica has become one of the most practical and rewarding lifestyle decisions a North American or European retiree can make. The country's healthcare system, political stability, natural environment, and cost of living relative to home countries create conditions that are genuinely difficult to replicate elsewhere in the region. For those who want to build rather than buy, the opportunity to design a home specifically for how you want to live in retirement is a compelling reason to go the custom route.

The challenge is that building in a foreign country involves a learning curve most retirees would rather not have. Permits, contractors, suppliers, legal requirements, and project oversight in a second language, often managed from another country entirely. This is exactly the problem Ticonstru's Viva Turnkey program was designed to solve.

Why Costa Rica for retirement

Healthcare. Costa Rica's public healthcare system (CCSS, known as the Caja) is available to legal residents and covers a comprehensive range of services. The country has a well-developed private healthcare sector as well, with costs a fraction of what comparable care runs in the US or Canada. For retirees, healthcare access is often the deciding factor, and Costa Rica consistently ranks among the top options in the world on this dimension.

Cost of living. Costa Rica is not as cheap as it was a decade ago, but it remains significantly more affordable than North American coastal living at comparable quality of life. Property taxes are low, healthcare is affordable, fresh food is excellent and locally available, and the general overhead of daily life is lower than most retirees' home markets.

Climate and natural environment. Year-round warm temperatures, access to the Pacific coast, and one of the most biodiverse environments on the planet. For retirees who value outdoor living, the combination of beaches, forest, and wildlife is hard to match.

Community. Established expat communities in Guanacaste and Puntarenas mean that arriving as a foreigner does not mean arriving without a social context. Communities like Tamarindo, Flamingo, Nosara, Manuel Antonio, and the Central Valley around Atenas and Grecia have significant populations of North American and European retirees with established social infrastructure.

Proximity to home. Direct flights from Liberia (LIR) to dozens of North American cities make staying connected to family realistic. A weekend trip home or a visit from family is not a major undertaking. For more on getting in and out of Guanacaste specifically, see our guide to Liberia Airport (LIR).

What retirees need from a custom home

The design requirements of a retirement home are specific and worth getting right from the beginning. Retrofitting accessibility features into a poorly designed home is expensive and often inadequate. Designing them in from the start is straightforward and has no impact on the home's aesthetic appeal.

The features that matter for retirement-oriented design:

• ◆Single-story layout or elevator-ready design. Stairs become a concern over time. A single-story home avoids the issue entirely. For two-story designs where the view or the lot requires height, planning for an elevator shaft from the start costs far less than adding one later.
• ◆Wider doorways and hallways. Standard residential doorways are too narrow for wheelchair or walker access. Designing to wider dimensions from the start maintains accessibility without any aesthetic compromise.
• ◆Non-slip flooring throughout. Particularly relevant in the bathrooms, pool surround, and any outdoor areas. Material selection at the design stage is the right time to address this.
• ◆Walk-in showers with grab bars and level thresholds. Zero-threshold showers are both more accessible and more aesthetically aligned with modern design than traditional shower pan configurations.
• ◆Good lighting. Natural light is a design priority in all Ticonstru homes. For retirement-oriented builds, adequate artificial lighting in bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways is given additional attention.
• ◆Low-maintenance outdoor spaces. A pool with a good saline system and automated maintenance, native landscaping that does not require intensive upkeep, and hardscape materials that hold up in the climate without constant attention. Our pool construction service and landscape service both address long-term maintenance as part of the design brief.

Building from abroad: how Viva Turnkey works

Most of Ticonstru's retiree clients are building from outside Costa Rica. The Viva Turnkey program is structured specifically for this situation. What that means in practice:

One contract, one team, one point of contact. Architecture, structural engineering, permit management, construction, and project oversight are all handled by Ticonstru. When you have a question or a decision needs to be made, there is one person to call, not multiple independent contractors each managing their own piece of the work.

Milestone-based payment schedule. Payments release against verified completion of defined construction phases, not against calendar dates. This aligns incentives correctly: the project advances, the payment releases. You are not funding work in advance on faith.

Weekly reporting. Photo documentation and progress reports tied to the construction schedule give you a current picture of the project without requiring you to be on site. Many clients visit once or twice during the build; many never visit until delivery.

All permits included. CFIA review, municipal building permit, SETENA environmental assessment where applicable, and utility connections are all managed within the Viva Turnkey scope. No separate permit expediter, no navigating the CFIA process on your own. The full permit process is covered in our complete guide to building in Costa Rica.

Bilingual service throughout. The entire client experience, from design conversations to contract documentation to construction reporting, is in English.

Where retirees are building

The communities that work best for retirement in Costa Rica tend to have a few things in common: established expat populations, good healthcare access, practical services nearby, and climate conditions that suit year-round living. A few worth knowing:

Guanacaste: Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Playas del Coco offer full services, established communities, and the consistent dry season weather that makes coastal living comfortable year-round. Proximity to LIR Airport is a practical advantage for retirees who travel frequently or receive regular visitors.

Central Valley: Atenas, Grecia, and Santa Ana offer temperate mountain climate at elevation, excellent healthcare access in San José, and a cost of living below the coast. Less dramatic scenery but a genuinely comfortable and practical daily life. Popular with retirees who prioritize healthcare access and climate comfort over beach proximity.

Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio, the Costa Ballena, and Dominical offer lush Pacific coastline at lower price points than equivalent Guanacaste locations. The Costanera Sur highway has significantly improved access to the south Pacific corridor. Strong community feel in smaller towns like Ojochal with a concentrated international resident population.

Pricing and what it includes

Viva Turnkey pricing starts at $1,450 per square meter for high-end construction and $1,700 per square meter for luxury. All professional fees, engineering, and permit management are included. No separate charges for architecture or permitting.

Pool, landscaping, and solar are priced separately and integrated into the same project timeline. Land is separate. For the full cost picture including everything beyond the construction contract, see our guide on construction costs in Costa Rica. If you are still finding land, our land and build service covers the full process, and available verified lots are at ticonstru.com/land.

The legal and financial side

Foreigners in Costa Rica have the same property rights as nationals for titled land. No residency is required to purchase or build. The legal process, including title verification, purchase agreement, and transfer deed registration with the Registro Nacional, follows a defined sequence that Ticonstru guides clients through in coordination with qualified Costa Rican attorneys. The full legal and tax framework for foreign buyers is covered in our guide on building in Costa Rica as a foreigner.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a resident to build or own property in Costa Rica?
No. Foreigners have the same property rights as Costa Rican nationals for titled land. You can purchase, build, and own property as a non-resident. Residency has implications for access to the public healthcare system (CCSS) but is not required for property ownership.

How do I manage the construction process from another country?
Ticonstru's Viva Turnkey program is built for exactly this. Single point of contact, milestone-based payments, weekly reporting, and full permit management. Most clients build the entire home without being on site for more than one or two visits during construction.

What accessibility features can be included in a retirement home?
Any feature you specify can be integrated from the design stage. Single-story layouts, elevator-ready shafts, wider doorways, zero-threshold showers, grab bars, non-slip flooring, and enhanced lighting are all straightforward to design in and add no meaningful cost when incorporated from the beginning rather than retrofitted.

Which location is best for retirement in Costa Rica?
Depends on your priorities. Guanacaste for beach lifestyle, airport access, and strong expat community. Central Valley for temperate climate, healthcare access, and practical services at lower cost. Puntarenas for lush landscapes and lower entry prices than comparable Guanacaste locations. Our guides to living in Guanacaste and living in Puntarenas cover each in detail.

How do I get started?
Get a quote here or reach us directly on WhatsApp.