MORE WAYS TO BE FRUGAL

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: 1.1 pounds of catch of the day- $3

 You can’t get fresher than this—my local fish market is right on the beach. We came across these men after taking a nice sunset stroll.

“What do you have today?” Rob asks.

“Grouper, but come tomorrow morning before 10 and we will have more things available,” the fisherman says. “It’s always fresh. Just yesterday we had lots of red snapper.”

I like the idea of buying off them directly;  there are not many mom and pop operations in the states anymore.  It’s one of the things that makes living here so great, supporting the local businesses and keeping the money flowing in the community.

Next time I stop by I’ll look for the guy giving me the thumbs up. I know he’ll have something great waiting for me in that blue container.

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:35-04:00 December 15th, 2011|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: , , |23 Comments

About the Author:

Nadine is the author of the best-selling series, Happier Than A Billionaire. Join her as she navigates living as an expat in the sometimes confusing, always beautiful, country of Costa Rica.

23 Comments

  1. LS January 14, 2012 at 4:28 pm - Reply

    Is the guy in the cab of the truck texting or crunching profit projections on his calculator? That brings up a question… how is the cell service lately? Thanks!

    • admin January 15, 2012 at 8:20 pm - Reply

      My cell service is good but I don’t make a lot of important calls. If I had a business, I may think differently. But overall, very happy with the phone and internet.

  2. Robert January 4, 2012 at 1:58 pm - Reply

    I fished once in the Gulf of Mexico and caught grouper….ate it that night. Nothing like freshly caught. So much better than what’s at the supermarket.

    • admin January 7, 2012 at 7:01 am - Reply

      Going the the beach today to see what they have. I’m hoping for red snapper!

  3. Ana January 3, 2012 at 8:56 am - Reply

    In which town do you live? I’m researching of spots to stay for three months.
    I’ve been in CR twice before but mostly in touristic areas.

    • admin January 3, 2012 at 7:17 pm - Reply

      I live near Tamarindo which is a very touristy area. But if you go 15 minutes in any direction, it gets incredible rural. I would say that about most of Costa Rica. There are isolated spots of people, but then nothing else.

      Grecia was a great place to live, it was there I wrote the book. It’s a great place to spend time and the weather is marvelous.

  4. Nadine December 19, 2011 at 6:15 pm - Reply

    Even when I lived by the shore, such a small percentage of the fish sold in all the seafood restaurants actually came from local waters. Kind of defeats the point, in my opinion. I don’t even like seafood… that’s why they chased me out of the shore town with pitchforks and empty crab traps.

    I guess the closest I can get to that here is going directly to the farm and buying the farm-fresh produce.

    Do you ever go fishing yourself there?

    • admin December 20, 2011 at 7:27 am - Reply

      My husband wants to rent a kayak so we can paddle out and catch some fish. What I fear is that I’ll catch a Marlin and it will drag me 5 miles out to sea. I wonder if that ever happened to anyone?

      I wonder what the seafood is like off the shores of Jersey. Like off exit 15 on the Turnpike. We could paddle out in a row boat and pray we don’t get sideswiped by an oil barge. Just think how great the story would be at parties “You know my friend Nadine..you know the idiot from Costa Rica….”

      • Nadine December 20, 2011 at 3:22 pm - Reply

        We can totally paddle out there. I’m exit 12 off the turnpike, and at the waterfront park (by the river where there is a lovely view of Staten Island…) there’s a boat launch. We can have our own version of Deadliest Catch.

        • admin December 21, 2011 at 8:09 am - Reply

          I’m a 13a kinda of girl. I rather have the threat of an impending oil refinery explosion behind me. Believe it or not, I need this kind of pressure to get things done.

          • Nadine December 21, 2011 at 6:04 pm

            You are very well versed in your exits. 13a is also where Ikea is!

            However, there are dozens of giant oil tanks around here. One of the first nights living here there was a lightning storm and I was so nervous thinking “omg what if lightning hits one of them??” Those oil tanks have lived here for years, I haven’t. They haven’t exploded yet so that calmed me down.

            There is no amount of pressure whether from a legit deadline or a refinery explosion that could get me to do anything this week besides watch hours and hours of Lost…

          • admin December 22, 2011 at 10:21 pm

            You know, I’ve never watched one episode of Lost. I want to start from the beginning. Everytime I catch a couple seasons in, can’t figure out what is going on!

          • Nadine December 22, 2011 at 4:31 pm

            aaaaand ironically enough there’s been a warehouse fire burning right off the turnpike in Elizabeth since 4PM YESTERDAY. Craziness.

          • admin December 22, 2011 at 10:09 pm

            Wow…you just made me homesick.

  5. Brett December 19, 2011 at 12:17 am - Reply

    Love fresh fish. Butt crack, not so much ☺

    I think I will have fish tomorrow night.

    • admin December 20, 2011 at 7:28 am - Reply

      Yes, I think some photoshopping is in order. Maybe I’ll put a santa hat on it.

  6. Rio's Mom December 15, 2011 at 5:42 pm - Reply

    Fishmonger truck just came by the house…I grabbed 1/2 KG of HUGE Shrimp and a big fat Tuna steak. Sashimi tonight! <>

    • admin December 16, 2011 at 4:04 pm - Reply

      That’s awesome, would love it if he came my way!

  7. Lavae December 15, 2011 at 5:22 pm - Reply

    We try to buy local, as well. Who needs more Wal-Mart franchizes?

    • admin December 16, 2011 at 4:04 pm - Reply

      Absolutely!

  8. Doris December 15, 2011 at 1:31 pm - Reply

    will you be having that thumbs up with the butt crack?? LOL

    • admin December 15, 2011 at 1:47 pm - Reply

      Unfortunately, if you are looking for a butt-crack free zone, the beach isn’t one of them. And they come in all sizes!

    • Kaden December 21, 2011 at 1:30 pm - Reply

      Thanks for cotnrbitiung. It’s helped me understand the issues.

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