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Hi!

First, you won't find much re: shopping online in Costa Rica. Most people find places by word-of-mouth.  There are a few large stores (chains), but so much more can be done in the one-of places in each city.
Some chains: Hypermas (household supplies), Pali (groceries and some housewares), Automercado (high-end groceries), Pricesmart (housewares), EPA (like home depot).  These are almost all centered around San Jose.
Forget Target, etc, and explore the smaller stores in your town-to-be.
There are plenty of clothing stores - malls are congested with them, and there are many in the central areas of the cities (Llobet's in Alajuela centro, for example, is just a block from the central park, and is itself a landmark for directions).
One of the best things you can do is to talk to your neighbors - they can tell you where to find anything! (shoe repair, linens, freshest produce and meat, seamstress).

Ants - don't leave food out for long, sprinkle boric acid around, spray w/ Cynoff (avail at agro business stores), encourage geckos.

Emergencies - dial 911
Bomberos (firemen) usually take care of snakes (and bee hives)

salons - oh boy! Hair and nails are a big deal here! Even in small towns, there are people who do manicures (often out of their homes), and several beauty salons! Most local women have regular manicures and pedicures.

Bedding - it is difficult to find sheets w/ high threadcount. If this is important to you, bring them. Likewise, down pillows. Sheets and towels are expensive. ($100 got me 2 twin sets and 3 bath towels).  You can look here: for ideas of what is available.

jobs - you can't legally work unless you have either (1) a work visa, usually arranged before you come or (2) permanent residency, usually not available until after 3 years of temporary residency.  If you own a business, you can "manage" it, but not draw a salary.

We have yet to drive in Costa Rica.  The public transportation system is great!  (and I come from California, so was not used to thinking this way at all!)  People usually shop for groceries more often, and buy less at once.  However, when we bought a lot, we usually would walk to the store, then take a taxi back.  Many have the little carts that hold groceries coming home.

Some places to check out for more info:
(also check the forum there)
yahoo's CostaRicaLiving group

feel free to read my blog - I tried to capture daily life:
JulieAndRickInCostaRica.blogspot.com

Hi, unless you're planning to live in some jungle, you won't have 90% of the problems you're concerned about.

ants, they are not a problem
no snakes in bathrooms
the malls are great and walmart just bought a chain here, so you won't have to wory about that. they don't carry any of the organics i'm used, but i'm learnign how to do that myself:)
there is pricemart and no shortage of bras!
costa rica, is very americanized, too much at times, but with the small town feel.

come and check it out, you'll love it!!!

Hola BrandyMarie,
   The previous answers covered just about everything. I live in Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side and I love it. I have a car. My Suzuki Sidekick cost me $6000.00 two years ago and it is a great car. I like the freedom of having a car, but I use the buses, too. It is a good way to practice my Spanish and get to know the locals.

   Puerto Viejo is a small tourist town but you can get most of what you need here. There is a top quality hair salon here run by a North American woman. There are several good grocery stores. And Limon is only about an hour away. You can get everything else there, but for the best prices, I take a trip into San Jose once in a while. (Hiper Mas is Wal Mart.)

     For clothes, I like to shop at the "Ropa Americana" stores. That is where the Salvation Army rejects from the States go. You have to hunt through things but you can get some real bargains - good quality, too. I've purchased bought Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy clothes at them. You can usually find several of these stores in every town.

    Out here there is a local North American biologist who will take the snake out of your house. And there is even a Waldorf School.
   
    Check out my web site for more information: