I relocated from the US to Costa Rica and now work 25 hours per week, resulting in increased happiness.

Six years ago, when Kema Ward-Hopper relocated from the U.S. to Costa Rica with her family and career, she was uncertain about what the future held.

In Houston, Texas, they left their corporate jobs as a research analyst and mortgage broker, respectively, to become entrepreneurs abroad.

The couple signed a one-year lease on a house in the middle of the jungle on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula without knowing "a single person who lived there" and "how long we'd be able to find work for," Ward-Hopper, 42, recalls.

Although she had to leave a cherished job in the U.S. and is currently earning less, Ward-Hopper claims she is "much happier" residing and working in Costa Rica than she was in the U.S.

Ward-Hopper now juggles four part-time jobs: She is a health and fitness coach, a Spanish teacher, a wellness retreat host, and an author. She self-published her first book, "For my Beloveds: An End-of-life Journal for Guidance & Wisdom," in September 2023.

"She states that she works 25 hours a week now, with a heavy week consisting of 30 hours occurring once a month."

According to CNBC Make It, financial documents reveal that Ward-Hopper earned approximately $10,500 from various income streams last year.

Her husband, Nicholas, 43, operates a remote logistics business and earns approximately $19,500 in 2023.

""Exploring my passions while earning a living has become effortless for me, as it feels like I'm simply doing what I love, which is serving others. Although we earn less, we manage to live comfortably here, and our money goes further than in the U.S." - Ward-Hopper."

The Ward-Hoppers relocated to a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath house in Nicoya last year. Their largest expenditure is on rent and utilities, which amounts to approximately $628 per month.

What it's like working in one of the world's happiest countries

Ward-Hopper has discovered a more fulfilling and less stressful career in Costa Rica due to the country's relaxed, family-first work culture, which comes with a lower cost of living.

"Working parents with young children often experience stress due to the challenges of balancing work and childcare."

Ward-Hopper's son, Nico, was born in Costa Rica in 2020.

Costa Ricans prioritize a healthy work-life balance, with a shorter workweek that enables them to engage in leisure activities, recharge, and spend quality time with their loved ones.

In her neighborhood, many businesses do not open until 9 a.m. or later, making it difficult to get a morning latte at 7 a.m. like in the U.S. Additionally, many places are closed on Sundays and holidays, which likely helps their employees avoid burnout.

The 2024 World Happiness Report ranked Costa Rica as one of the happiest countries globally, at 12th place.

The Ward-Hoppers reside in one of the five Blue Zones, which are regions known for their long-living inhabitants and high life expectancy, as determined by longevity researcher Dan Buettner.

Buettner found that some of the reasons why Nicoya is a Blue Zone include the Nicoyans' healthy diet, which consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as their emphasis on family and community.

Ward-Hopper would include the Costa Ricans' perspective on work in her list. "In Costa Rica, work is not a central topic in conversations or self-identification as it is in the U.S.," she explains. "This mindset allows individuals to lead a more fulfilling and joyful life outside of work, which is often beyond their control."

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