Is Costa Rica expensive to live in?

Costa Rica isn’t the cheapest country in Central America, but it’s not outrageous either. Daily life costs less than in most major U.S. cities — especially if you adapt to local food and lifestyle. Where it gets pricey is rent in beach towns, imported goods, and electricity if you blast the A/C all day.

What is the average rent in Costa Rica?

Rent depends on location. In San José, a two-bedroom apartment runs $600–$1,200/month. In popular beach towns or suburbs, expect $800–$1,800/month. Rural areas can be as low as $400/month — but you’ll trade off some conveniences.

How much money do I need to live comfortably in Costa Rica?

A single person can live modestly on $1,200–$1,500/month. For more comfort (A/C, private healthcare, imported snacks), budget $2,000–$3,000/month. Couples usually spend $1,500–$2,500+ depending on lifestyle and location.

What’s the cost of food in Costa Rica?

Local produce, coffee, and seafood are affordable (think avocados for $0.50, pineapples for $1, fresh fish at local markets). Imported items, though, are expensive — a jar of peanut butter can be $8 and wine can sting your wallet. Sticking to the local diet saves money and makes you healthier.

🎭 The Anatomy of a Broadway “I Want” Song — Featuring Something’s Brewing from Speakeasy

Waymon Hudson
Aug 31
3 min read

Updated: Oct 13

In musical theatre, there’s a moment — usually early in the show — when a character steps into the spotlight and tells us what they long for.It’s not just a song.It’s a roadmap. A key to their soul.

We call it the “I Want” song — and it’s the heartbeat of any great musical.

🎶 What is a Broadway “I Want” Song, Anyway?

Even if you don’t know the term, you know the feeling. It’s when the curtain’s barely lifted and suddenly, the audience gets a flash of something deeper:

The yearning. The tension. The spark of what’s to come.

Elphaba from Wicked stands in a vast field with her arms outstretched, singing powerfully, mid-song during “The Wizard and I,” a classic Broadway “I Want” moment.

Think:

“Part of Your World” (The Little Mermaid) — Ariel aching to be part of a world just out of reach
“The Wizard and I” (Wicked) — Elphaba imagining a future where she’s seen
“Corner of the Sky” (Pippin) — a restless soul searching for meaning
Or my personal favorite deep cut: “I Want to Be Like Everyone Else” from Side Show — a dual “I Want” that brilliantly reveals what each conjoined twin really dreams of (and how different those dreams truly are)

These songs don’t just move the plot.They show us why we care.

🌪 Why “Something’s Brewing” Matters

In Speakeasy, Jules is the daughter of a police sergeant and a devout temperance crusader — two people who see control as love and silence as survival.

But Jules? She’s not wired for silence.

She was quietly raised by Miss Addie — the Black, queer housekeeper who taught her how to think for herself. And now, just as the cracks start to show in her perfect world, Jules finds herself standing at the edge of everything she’s been taught… with something new bubbling up inside her.

This is her “I Want” moment.

☕ The Scene: A Teetotaler on the Edge of Temptation

Jules stands hesitantly outside the hidden Velvet Boot entrance in Speakeasy, poised between duty and desire as she sings “Something’s Brewing.”

It’s early evening.The sun is fading.Jules lingers at the hidden entrance to the Velvet Boot — the underground queer speakeasy where joy is rebellion and love sings louder than law.

She’s never been inside.But she knows what’s in there.

She watches Merc (Rome’s best friend and the fiery heart of the Velvet Boot) sneak inside. She learns the secret knock. And for the first time in her life, she decides to disobey the rules… not in protest, but in pursuit of herself.

🍷 Layered Lyrics: The Meaning Behind the Metaphor

“Something’s Brewing” isn’t just a catchy phrase — it’s a triple entendre:

Tea = a nod to her teetotaler mother (who abstains from all alcohol)
Brewing = the illegal liquor bubbling beneath the streets
And emotionally? Something is brewing inside Jules — her desire, her defiance, her fire.

The lyrics flirt with tension and release:

“They say, ‘Be good, be still, be nice’ / But I want life poured cool on ice.”

This isn’t quiet rebellion. It’s a simmer.A slow, intoxicating burn.

🔥 The Final Chorus: A Spark That Becomes a Flame

By the end of the song, Jules isn’t tiptoeing anymore. She’s burning.

“If life is sin, then call me cursed / I want a sip… I want the thirst.”

It’s not just about entering the speakeasy. It’s about stepping into her power — and finally choosing what she wants, not what’s expected.

That’s the true magic of a great Broadway “I Want” song.

🎧 Listen Now: “Something’s Brewing”

Ready to feel it for yourself?

🎧 The full song is now live. This #SpeakeasySundays, press play and let yourself simmer.

Let something brew.

Want more behind-the-scenes of Speakeasy?

Follow along online or explore the full world of the musical at waymonhudson.com/musical.

Read about the entire fundimental Broadway character arc:

And read the arc on Broadway's Soft Boys, Masculinity, and Rome's arc in Speakeasy:

And watch my YouTube series Behind Broadway where I pull back the curtain on all things Broadway Musicals!

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