“What’s the Best Central American Country to Live In?”: How Five Different AI Platforms Respond

We asked AI platforms ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Grok the same question: “What’s the best Central American country to live in?” Their answers reveal fascinating differences in analysis style and accuracy.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in recent years, you’ve probably asked AI something. Back in the day, you went to Google to find something out, and they sent you to a website like this, which they determined had the best answers for you. But that style of search is waning, and it’s AI platforms that answer your questions nowadays. At least to those ITK. They also, increasingly, serve as digital advisors for major life decisions, like moving abroad, which gave us an idea. This article looks at how five leading AI systems respond when asked: “What is the best Central American country to live in?”

There’s probably never been a better time to think about getting out of Dodge if you’re in the United States, Canada, or Western Europe. Life in these places seems like a never-ending barrage of bad news, bad politics, division, polarization, stress, taxes, horrendous cost-of-living, and misery. Have we missed anything? Why wouldn’t people start looking into moving somewhere else? Getting online and asking AI is an early starting point in any investigation.

The Five AI Platforms Include:

• ChatGPT: Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is one of the most widely used large language models that pioneered conversational AI for the general public
• Claude: Created by Anthropic, Claude positions itself as a helpful, harmless, and honest AI assistant with strong reasoning capabilities
• Perplexity: Perplexity combines AI language processing with real-time information retrieval, often citing sources in its responses
• Gemini: Google’s advanced AI system, Gemini evolved from earlier models like Bard and LaMDA
• Grok: Owned and developed by xAI (formally Twitter), Grok markets itself as a “rebellious” AI with a focus on wit and comprehensive answers

We chose these platforms because they’re the most well-known and they all have free versions that anyone can use. Their responses to the “What is the best Central American country to live in?” question reveal interesting patterns in how AI systems analyze requests like this with multiple variables and highlight the different approaches each one takes.

Country-by-Country Analysis

Each AI platform rated the seven Central American countries differently, with varying emphasis on factors like cost of living, safety, infrastructure, and lifestyle. Below, we look at how the five AI systems assessed the region on a country-by-country basis, in order of what they seemed to prefer.

Costa Rica

Unsurprisingly, Costa Rica is one of the top contenders across all five AI platforms. The country’s political stability is the most consistently cited advantage, with Claude specifically noting its absence of a standing army since 1949. Environmental protections and natural beauty received unanimous praise, with multiple platforms highlighting the country’s commitment to eco-friendly policies.

Healthcare quality in Costa Rica earned recognition particularly in ChatGPT and Claude’s assessments, while Perplexity cited the “pura vida” lifestyle as a major attraction. Regarding costs, Grok provided the most specific details, estimating monthly living expenses between $1,500-$2,000. Perplexity made a point of characterizing Costa Rica as “the most expensive country in the region.” The large expat community was noted by several platforms, with Grok offering the specific estimate of over 70,000 American residents.

Panama

Panama also ranked highly across all analyses, with ChatGPT explicitly labeling it “Best Overall for Expats.” Economic stability emerged as Panama’s chief advantage, with Claude and Perplexity both highlighting its dollarized economy, which eliminates currency exchange concerns for Americans. The Panama Canal’s economic importance received specific mention in Claude’s analysis.

Infrastructure quality distinguished Panama in multiple assessments. Perplexity praised its modern amenities, while Gemini noted the cosmopolitan lifestyle available in Panama City. Grok added color by describing the capital as having a “Miami-like feel.” On the practical side, ChatGPT highlighted Panama’s easy residency programs and Gemini noted its favorable tax laws. Cost estimates came primarily from Grok, which suggested monthly expenses ranging from $1,200-$1,800, slightly lower than Costa Rica.

Belize

English as the official language was Belize‘s main advantage across all platforms that included it. This linguistic benefit received particular emphasis in Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini’s analyses. The Caribbean coastal lifestyle constituted another commonly cited attraction.

The platforms diverged notably on Belize’s safety assessment. While ChatGPT and Gemini presented it positively as an easy residency option with retirement appeal, Grok cited Belize City’s 2023 murder rate of 37 per 100,000, suggesting significant safety concerns.

Perplexity contributed a unique practical insight by noting that foreigners cannot own property outright. Cost estimates came primarily from Grok, which suggested monthly expenses between $1,000-$1,500, positioning Belize as more affordable than Costa Rica or Panama but with infrastructure limitations outside major tourist areas.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua generated the most varied assessments among the AI platforms. Affordability was its primary advantage, with ChatGPT labeling it “Best for Low Cost of Living.” Grok provided the lowest cost estimate of any country, suggesting monthly expenses between $800-$1,200. Natural beauty received consistent mention, with Claude highlighting “beautiful landscapes” and Grok specifically naming Granada as a “colonial gem.”

Safety evaluations showed striking contradictions. Perplexity described Nicaragua as “one of the safest countries in Central America,” while ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok all emphasized political instability as a significant concern. Grok specifically mentioned challenges under the Ortega regime. Infrastructure limitations received mention in several analyses, though this drawback was balanced against the low cost of living. Notably, Gemini didn’t mention Nicaragua at all when answering the question.

Guatemala

Guatemala appeared in four of the five analyses but received varying levels of attention. Cultural richness emerged as its most commonly cited advantage, with Claude specifically highlighting “indigenous culture and colonial architecture.” Affordability ranked as another benefit, with Grok estimating monthly costs between $1,000-$1,500.

Safety concerns appeared consistently as Guatemala’s primary drawback. Perplexity mentioned these concerns without specifics, while Grok provided statistics, citing a homicide rate of approximately 17 per 100,000 in 2023. ChatGPT took a geographic approach, specifically recommending Antigua rather than the country as a whole, pairing it with Roatán (Honduras) in a “Best for a Laid-Back Lifestyle” category. As with as Nicaragua, Gemini also ignored Guatemala entirely.

El Salvador and Honduras

These two countries received minimal coverage across the platforms. ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude all omitted them both entirely. Perplexity offered a brief mention of El Salvador, noting improving safety conditions and a growing expatriate community.

Only Grok provided substantial commentary on both nations. For El Salvador, it highlighted dramatic safety improvements in recent years, with homicide rates dropping from 52 to 2.4 per 100,000 since 2019, while also noting “authoritarian vibes and economic struggles.” With Honduras, Grok painted a mixed picture, describing mainland crime as “brutal” while acknowledging the appeal of the Bay Islands for diving enthusiasts. The limited coverage of these countries across most platforms suggests they rank lower in AI recommendations for expat living.

Sample Responses

To illustrate the different response styles, here are brief excerpts from each AI platform’s answer to the question “What is the best Central American country to live in?”

ChatGPT

“Best Overall for Expats: Panama
* Pros: Stable economy, strong banking sector, good infrastructure, tax incentives, easy residency programs (e.g., Friendly Nations Visa).
* Cons: Higher cost of living in Panama City, growing traffic issues.

Best for Low Cost of Living: Nicaragua
* Pros: Affordable housing, low daily expenses, stunning landscapes, and a relaxed lifestyle.
* Cons: Political instability, limited infrastructure in some areas.”

Claude

“The “best” Central American country to live in depends on your personal priorities and circumstances. Each country offers distinct advantages:
Costa Rica is often considered a top choice due to its:
Political stability and peaceful history (no standing army since 1949)
Well-developed healthcare system
Strong environmental protection and natural beauty
Relatively high standard of living
Large expatriate community
Better infrastructure than some neighboring countries”

Perplexity

“1. Costa Rica
* Pros: Known for its stability, safety, and high standard of living. It offers excellent healthcare, a strong expat community, and beautiful natural landscapes (beaches, rainforests, volcanoes). The “Pura Vida” lifestyle is a major draw.
* Cons: It is the most expensive country in Central America, with a higher cost of living compared to its neighbors134.

2. Nicaragua
* Pros: One of the most affordable countries in the region. It offers stunning landscapes, including colonial cities (Granada and León), beaches (San Juan del Sur), and islands (Ometepe). Nicaragua is also considered one of the safest countries in Central America134.
* Cons: Infrastructure and amenities are less developed than in Costa Rica or Panama.”

Gemini

“Determining the “best” Central American country to live in is subjective and depends heavily on individual priorities. However, several countries consistently rank highly for expats and retirees. Here’s a breakdown of some top contenders and factors to consider:

Top Contenders:
Costa Rica: Known for its political stability, strong environmental focus, and excellent healthcare system. Offers a high quality of life, beautiful natural landscapes, and a large expat community. Relatively higher cost of living compared to other Central American countries.”

Grok

“Choosing the best country in Central America to live in depends on your priorities—cost of living, safety, climate, or lifestyle. Based on recent data and trends, here’s a breakdown of some top contenders:
Costa Rica often ranks highest. It’s got a stable democracy, no standing army, and a “pura vida” vibe that’s hard to beat. The cost of living is reasonable—about $1,500-$2,000 a month for a comfortable life outside San José. Healthcare’s solid, with both public and private options, and it’s a magnet for expats (over 70,000 Americans live there).”

Response Style Comparison

As you can see, the five AI platforms showed distinct personalities in how they handled the same question. Their different approaches reveal as much about the different AI systems themselves, as they do about the actual Central American countries.

ChatGPT and Claude: A Conservational Approach

For a start, ChatGPT took a practical approach by organizing information into categories like “Best for Low Cost of Living” rather than providing comprehensive country profiles. When ChatGPT finished its analysis, it asked if the user wanted more tailored recommendations for scenarios like retirement or digital nomad life, showing its preference for ongoing dialogue.

This conversational quality appeared differently in Claude’s response. Claude seemed more interested in education than decision-making, explaining factors that might influence personal preferences rather than making definitive recommendations. After describing the countries, Claude asked, “What specific aspects of living abroad are most important to you?” – suggesting it values personalized guidance over one-size-fits-all answers.

Perplexity and Gemimi: Research Assistants

While ChatGPT and Claude prioritized conversation, Perplexity positioned itself as a research assistant. Its response featured numbered lists with citation markers that made it look like an academic paper. The organized “Pros” and “Cons” sections for each country created an impression of objectivity and thoroughness. Perplexity’s conclusion matched countries to specific priorities, functioning more like a reference guide than a conversation partner.

Gemini also emphasized organization with clear headings and bullet points, but its approach felt more cautious than Perplexity’s. Throughout its response, Gemini repeatedly acknowledged the subjective nature of the question. It was also the only platform that specifically recommended users to visit the countries before making any decisions.

Grok: Assertiveness Personified

This cautious approach stands in sharp contrast to Grok, which delivered the most confident and detailed analysis. Grok packed its response with specific figures like monthly living costs and crime statistics. Unlike the other platforms, it seemed comfortable making definitive judgments, declaring Costa Rica the winner with Panama “a close second.” This assertiveness aligns with Grok’s brand as an opinionated AI that’s willing to take stronger positions than its competitors.

Unique Insights by Platform

Each platform contributed distinctive observations (some true, some not (more on falsehoods in a bit)):

• ChatGPT uniquely framed its response around specific lifestyle categories, positioning Panama and Belize as “Best for Business & Tax Benefits” and suggesting Honduras (Roatán) and Guatemala (Antigua) for laid-back lifestyles.
• Claude exclusively mentioned Costa Rica having no standing army since 1949, a significant political detail omitted by other platforms.
• Perplexity was the only platform to mention that foreigners cannot own property outright in Belize, an important legal consideration for potential expatriates.
• Gemini uniquely emphasized the importance of visiting potential locations before making decisions, suggesting a more cautious approach than other platforms.
• Grok provided the most specific data points, including current murder rates for multiple countries and concrete monthly budget ranges. It also offered unique political context, such as El Salvador’s transformation under President Bukele and Nicaragua’s challenges under the Ortega regime.

Fact Check: Notable Inaccuracies

While AI platforms provide useful overviews, several key inaccuracies appeared in their analyses:

1. Costa Rica Cost of Living: Grok’s estimate of $1,500-$2,000 monthly living expenses under-represents typical expatriate costs. A more realistic minimum budget starts at $2,000, with expenses in desirable areas often running higher.
2. Property Ownership in Belize: Perplexity incorrectly stated that “foreigners cannot own property outright” in Belize. In reality, foreigners can buy and own real estate in Belize with the same rights as citizens.
3. Panama Cost Estimates: The $1,200-$1,800 monthly estimate for Panama (provided by Grok) appears conservative, particularly for Panama City, where expatriate living costs typically start higher. Urban areas in Panama often require budgets comparable to or exceeding Costa Rica.
4. Belize Expenses: Similarly, the $1,000-$1,500 monthly estimate for Belize seems a little optimistic, especially in popular expatriate and tourist destinations like Ambergris Caye, where costs can almost rival those in Costa Rica.

These discrepancies highlight the importance of consulting specialized expat resources and conducting on-the-ground research before making relocation decisions based on AI recommendations. We would always recommend speaking to actual people with boots on the ground rather than relying on AI. The expat Facebook groups are often argumentative and subjective, but at least they’re real people offering their real life experiences and observations.

Wrapping Up

While these AI platforms offer helpful starting points for researching potential Central American homes, this comparison reveals why you shouldn’t book your one-way ticket based solely on their advice. The contradictions between platforms (like Perplexity calling Nicaragua “one of the safest countries” while others emphasize political instability) and factual errors (like incorrect property ownership rules in Belize) highlight the limitations of AI research.

These tools are great at giving you a broad overview and helping you identify what questions to ask next. Think of them as conversation starters rather than decision makers. They can help you narrow down options or identify factors you hadn’t considered, but they simply can’t replace human expertise and firsthand experience.

For life-changing decisions like international relocation, AI advice should be just the first step. Join expat forums where people share real experiences. Connect with relocation consultants who specialize in your target countries. Most importantly, visit the places yourself before making any commitments. The nuances of daily life in a foreign country can’t be adequately captured by even the most sophisticated AI analysis.

AI platforms can help you dip your toe in the waters of international living options, but before diving in, make sure you’ve consulted the human experts who’ve already taken the plunge.

James Dyde is the editor of centralamerica.com. He lives in Escazu, Costa Rica.