Hello, I have only just joined this forum. I am determined to live in community with nature including people. I was going to start my own (see my website http://www.mygardenhome.org/ est. 2004), but now I am searching for a community that may already exist. I need very much to know costs. With the sudden drop in the stock market, I now find myself working again. Costs are a concern in the short term. What is the cost of living in the community? What is the minimum cost for building a modest home. The home shown in the gallery is breath-takingly beautiful, and simple. In gratitude, Jim

JimofCR - Thanks for the post. The cost of living in CR is significantly lower than that of the USA, Canada and/or Europe. They say, the average family budget in CR (4 people) is roughly $1,000 per month. However, at Valle de Machuca the majority of your food and all of your water is provided to you by the land. There will be Homeowners Association fees (monthly or quarterly) which will cover all of the farming operations, maintenance, etc. of the community. The 'how much' will be dictated by the community's needs. One of the goals of living in community is to live lighter, to share resources and to be self-sustaining. All of this, in turn, would lower one's cost of living.

Hello guys,
I'm also very interested in knowing what are the startup costs and ongoing costs and also how other people support themselves financially. I'm a computer programmer but want to learn more ground-to-earth skills how to live off grid and have just enough for myself and my family of 4. I hope this is not just for the wealthiest ones who retire with the pockets full of cash, but a regular middle class guy like me can afford such a living obviously with acquisition of required skills and some financial ability to invest into start-up costs. Can you provide some estimates/success stories? Thanks a lot!

Thank-you, Jeff, for taking time to speak with me by phone. I feel encouraged by our discussion about flexibility in the design of structures and the associated costs. I have been hit very hard by the decline in the stock market. Although this is temporary, it could last for quite awhile. I cannot expend a great deal of money just now, but I want community now. I look forward to visiting your community as soon as you return to Costa Rica. I'm hoping some innovative ideas can result in my joining one of the Kopali communities. Perhaps a simple, low-cost structure could be built by me that would, over time, be developed into something larger.