@Sam-I-Am costa rica seemed fine when i was there, it's definitely safer than countries to the north. panama is a little more expensive but essentially a developed nation. if i were you though, i would check out belize. it's on par with costa rica as far as cost but it's english speaking, and as long as you stay near the coast it's fairly safe. i recommend punta gorda to everyone i meet. it's a sleepy town of 3,000 in the south with direct access to the isthmus via ferry.