Jun 2, 2026
In an episode of HGTV’s World’s Bargain Dream Homes — in which “buyers shop dreamy houses at jaw-dropping low prices” — Isah Kushma, a combat veteran who served in the United States Army for 25 years, purchased a picturesque property in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
The wellness coach and yoga instructor is finalizing her residency in Costa Rica, where she hopes to integrate into the local community. While the move has taken years of planning and research, she tells Moneywise that relocating abroad has been worth every step.
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“Army life has given me a lot of injuries,” she said in the episode, which she filmed last year, with her realtor, Talya Peters of Expat Properties. “I knew that retirement would be in my ‘40s. I have been saving up [and] plan to sell my house and just move down here with a suitcase and my heart.”
Her military pension and VA disability compensation — monthly tax-free payments available to eligible veterans whose service caused or aggravated injuries or illnesses — have helped make that vision possible.
Why Costa Rica called
Kushma spent a lot of time reading Poppin’ Smoke, a blog dedicated to teaching active military personnel and veterans how to make the most of their travel-related military benefits. Before settling on Costa Rica, she traveled to and considered destinations around the world.
Ultimately, she wanted warm weather, affordable living costs and a place where she could comfortably live on her retirement income without needing to return to work.
“I wanted warm weather because of some of my injuries,” she says. “Being in the cold doesn’t work for me.”
After years of military service, Kushma now manages a mild traumatic brain injury, arthritis in multiple parts of her body, chronic inflammation, PTSD and anxiety.
“With a brain injury, a pain level five for the average person is like a nine for me,” she says.
Climate became a major factor in her decision-making process, but it wasn’t the only one. She also wanted access to quality food, a relatively straightforward residency process and proximity to family in the United States.
Thailand and Bali initially made her shortlist, but the distance proved impractical.
“The flights are too long for me,” she says. “I’m very close to my family.”
Costa Rica checked nearly every box.
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Her search wasn’t rushed. After first visiting the country in 2020 — the same year she retired from the military — she spent years traveling throughout different regions, returning during various seasons and even house-sitting to better understand day-to-day life.
“Go visit the place first,” she advises. “A lot of the information online is pre-COVID, and prices have gone up [since then].”
Eventually, she landed on Guanacaste, drawn by its beaches, growing infrastructure and convenient access to an international airport.
“If you’re trying to come back to the States … I don’t want a two-hour drive,” she says. “I want to be near an airport within 45 minutes.”
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Financing a life abroad
One of the biggest financial advantages Kushma enjoys is the stability of her military retirement income.
“I’m living off of my pension,” she says.
That pension continues regardless of where she lives, and so does her VA disability compensation.
For veterans considering a similar move overseas, that’s an important distinction. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, most veterans remain eligible to receive disability compensation, pensions and many other earned benefits while living abroad.
There can be exceptions depending on a veteran’s individual circumstances and disability rating. Some may need periodic medical evaluations or documentation to maintain benefits. But in general, moving overseas does not automatically mean losing VA disability compensation.
Kushma says she still plans to maintain relationships with providers who monitor her service-connected conditions, even though she now has access to care in Costa Rica.
In fact, she has already used Costa Rica’s healthcare system several times.
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Veterans with service-connected conditions may also be eligible for reimbursement through the VA’s Foreign Medical Program, which covers certain healthcare services received outside the United States.
“We pay upfront and then submit a claim to the VA and they reimburse us,” she explains.
The hidden costs of moving abroad
While social media often paints expat life as a bargain, Kushma warns that some costs can surprise newcomers.
Buying property overseas was one example.
She ultimately purchased her Costa Rican home with cash after selling property in the United States. At the time, obtaining financing as a foreign buyer was more complicated than it is today.
“I basically paid cash from my house,” she says.
Transferring large sums of money internationally also involved far more paperwork than she anticipated.
“The kind of red tape you go through of transferring such large amounts of money to another country — that process I didn’t expect,” she says.
Another surprise was transportation.
“The cost of a vehicle is way more expensive,” Kushma says.
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Import taxes can make cars costly, and repairs often require parts to be brought in from larger cities. Fortunately, she says many residents in her area don’t own vehicles at all.
“Out of all my friends who live down there, only two of them actually own vehicles,” she says.
Public transportation, by contrast, is remarkably affordable.
“You can go across the country for like the equivalent of $10.”
Property taxes are also significantly lower than what she paid in the U.S., helping offset some of the other expenses associated with relocating.
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Lessons for aspiring expats and vets moving abroad
For Kushma, the move has been about more than finances. It’s also about creating a lifestyle that supports her health, happiness and long-term goals.
Still, she cautions anyone considering an international move to spend time on the ground before making major decisions.
“Find someone who’s from the States who’s moved,” she says. “They can help you compare.”
She also recommends finding trusted local professionals, especially when purchasing property abroad.
“Having someone that understands the U.S. house-buying process, they can translate it for you,” she says.
For veterans with retirement income, disability benefits and a carefully researched plan, Kushma’s story offers a reminder that a move abroad may be more financially feasible than many realize.
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AnnaMarie is a weekend editor for Moneywise.
