How much spending money do I need for Costa Rica?
If you have a trip to Costa Rica coming up - as a tourist, to visit friends and family, for work or for any other reason - it’s important to know how much spending money is needed based on your plans. This guide looks at the prices in Costa Rica for tourists, including some budgeting tips and ideas, for luxury and budget travel alike.
How Much Money Should You Take to Costa Rica?
So - your question might well be: how much do I need in CRC (Costa Rican Colon) for a week in Costa Rica?
We'll break down how much money you should take to Costa Rica by different spending types later - but first, an overview. Here are some handy estimates to give you a flavour, looking at the costs of accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing, so you can start to budget, and decide how much money to bring to Costa Rica, based on your spending for a day or for a week.
| Travel Style | Average Daily cost | One Week cost |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (Cheap) | $46 CRC 23,429 | $322 CRC 164,001 |
| Mid-range | $116 CRC 59,081 | $812 CRC 413,568 |
| High-end (Luxury) | $293 CRC 149,231 | $2,051 CRC 1,044,615 |
How Much Cash Should You Take to Costa Rica?
Let's kick off with some key points when it comes to deciding how much cash to take to Costa Rica.
Cash is still commonly used in Costa Rica, but many larger stores, restaurants and hotels - especially in tourist areas - are able to accept card payments. It’s worth taking both cards and cash with you when you head off to Costa Rica. You’ll be able to use your card whenever it’s accepted, and also to make ATM withdrawals to get cash when you need it.
Carrying lots of cash at any one time can be a security risk and make you a target for thieves, so making smaller ATM withdrawals as and when you need to is a smart plan. Bear in mind that some ATMs may charge extra fees for foreign cards - and your own card issuer might have fees including foreign transaction fees and out of network ATM costs.
Using an international travel debit card from a provider like Wise can make overseas spending cheaper, whether you tap and pay in a store, or get cash from the ATM.
Wise travel card
Order a Wise travel card to buy, hold and exchange 40+ currencies. You’ll be able to spend conveniently in Costa Rica - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no markup.
Card holders get some free ATM withdrawals available every month, and there’s no annual or monthly fees to pay, and no minimum balance requirement.
Is Costa Rica Expensive to Visit (in 2024)?
Ultimately, the cost of visiting Costa Rica varies depending on your plans, and how you like to enjoy yourself when you're abroad.
Overall, Costa Rica is rated as a "moderately priced" place to visit by BudgetYourTrip. Accommodation, food, and activities are all available to suit any budget - but you'll need to plan your time to make sure you're making the most of both your time and your money while you're away.
What Currency should I take to Costa Rica?
The official local currency used in Costa Rica is the Costa Rican Colon-CRC. If you plan to take cash with you to spend while you're away, you'll need Costa Rican Colones.
The currency symbol is ₡, which is what you'll see in stores and on restaurant menus.
| Costa Rican Colon | |
|---|---|
| Currency name | Costa Rican Colon |
| Currency symbol | ₡ |
| Currency code | CRC |
| Exchange rate today | 1 USD = 509.32 CRC 1 CRC = 0.0019634 USD |
How to Save Money in Costa Rica - Traveller tips
No matter what you're planning on doing during your trip to Costa Rica, you want to make sure your money goes as far as possible.
Here are some top tips to save money in Costa Rica:
- Book your hotels or accommodation in advance to secure the best available deals
- Use public transport where possible, or approved taxi and ride hailing operators
- Use Google maps and reviews to find good restaurants. You'll often find better food and more reasonable prices away from the most touristy areas of town
- Look online for recommendations of free or low-cost attractions and activities in Costa Rica - blogs and travel magazines are a great place to start
- Use travel cards that offer fair exchange rates with transparent fees such as Wise, to keep down the costs of currency conversion and ATM use while you're away
Get a free multi-currency account and card to buy, hold, convert and send over 40 currencies. Fast, secure, easy and cheap transfers at the commercial exchange rate.
Get a Revolut account that supports 30+ currencies and cards to buy, store, send and receive money. Safe, reliable and cheap transfers at the real exchange rate.
Costs and Prices in Costa Rica for Tourists
Let's move on to the typical prices in Costa Rica for tourists. Below we've got a handy overview of prices for accommodation, food and services for tourists in Costa Rica. Use this along with your own research to figure out the likely costs and prices you'll come across during your visit.
Accommodation Costs in Costa Rica
Accommodation is usually one of the biggest costs on any trip abroad - but what you pay in the end will depend a lot on the accommodation type you pick. Below is an example of accommodation costs in Costa Rica based on two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room.
| Types of accommodation | Prices per night |
|---|---|
| Budget | $23 CRC 11,714 |
| Mid-Range | $59 CRC 30,050 |
| Luxury | $149 CRC 75,889 |
Daily Food Costs in Costa Rica
Food is an important feature of a trip abroad for many of us - but what you spend can vary significantly depending on where you purchase your meals in Costa Rica. As you might expect, buying food from local markets and stores can be one of the cheapest options, or you could choose to eat at mid-range restaurants, or sample some high-end establishments.
Here's an example of how much a meal costs in Costa Rica based on different restaurant types.
| Types of Meal | Average Daily Cost |
|---|---|
| Budget | $10 CRC 5,093 |
| Mid-Range | $25 CRC 12,733 |
| Luxury | $55 CRC 28,013 |
Cost of Drink & Beverages
Let's move on to the cost of beer, wine, water and other beverages in Costa Rica:
| Drink & Beverages | Prices |
|---|---|
| Beer (bottle) | $3 CRC 1,421 |
| Wine (bottle) | $15 CRC 7,395 |
| Can of Coca-cola /Pepsi | $2 CRC 1,059 |
| Mineral water (1.5L bottle) | $2 CRC 830 |
| Coffee, Cappuccino, Hot Chocolate | $4 CRC 1,844 |
Travel Costs in Costa Rica
Once you've arrived in Costa Rica you still need to figure out how to get around. The cost of travel can be different depending on your preferences - and how much of a hurry you're in. Using public transport is often our cheapest choice, but getting a taxi or hiring a car could be faster and more flexible, depending on your budget.
Some common ways to save money on transport in Costa Rica include:
- Where possible use airport shuttles on arrival to get to the city centre
- Use buses, metro, trams or other public transport where you can - Google Maps can help you navigate more easily
Plan activities to limit the travel needed by covering the popular sites in one area before exploring the next, to avoid excess travel time
Use known taxi operators and approved ride-hailing companies.
Tourist Attractions Costs in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has many tourist attractions and beautiful places to visit.
The average daily cost for visiting attractions and entertainment in Costa Rica is ₡15,789 Costa Rican Colones ($31).
| Top Tourist Attractions | Information |
|---|---|
| Arenal Volcano | A popular destination for its hot springs, hiking trails, and the active Arenal Volcano. |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest | A misty forest reserve known for its incredible biodiversity and hanging bridges. |
| Manuel Antonio National Park | A small national park on the Pacific coast, famous for its beaches, wildlife, and lush rainforest. |
Data Roaming, Internet, Local Sim Cards
Having easy access to your phone while you're away is important - not only to keep in touch with your friends and family, but also to navigate, look up good places to eat or visit, and to translate if needed. Make sure you don't get stuck without your phone - or with a big roaming bill - when you're in Costa Rica with these tips:
- Turn off your data roaming if you're concerned about running up excess fees, and only use your phone on secure wifi networks while you're away
- Check the roaming costs with your mobile operator - you may be able to add a roaming data package to your normal plan for a fairly low price
- Consider getting an international eSIM if your phone is compatible with eSIMs - these can be low hassle ways to keep access to your data, without needing to install a physical SIM card
- Check the SIM card price for tourists in Costa Rica, before travelling - you'll likely find people trying to sell you a local SIM in the airport when you arrive, so knowing the price you should pay can help you avoid scams
How Much Should You Tip in Costa Rica?
Tipping etiquette can vary a lot between countries, and naturally depends a lot on the type of establishment you're in, or service you've received. Generally, tipping around 10-15% of the bill when you are happy with the service is in line with expectations.
Bear in mind that in some places a service fee - which is a percentage of the amount you spend - is already added to the bill, and means you don't need to add an additional tip unless you really want to. Check your bill before you pay - or just ask if the tip has already been included or not.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Take away something to remember your trip to Costa Rica with - or as a gift to someone back home.
Boruca Masks and Coffee are the most popular souvenirs to buy from Costa Rica. While you can pick up these and many other souvenirs and gifts at the airport, you'll normally save money by buying them from local shops instead.
How to Get the Best Exchange Rate for Costa Rican Colones
Naturally you want to get the very best USD to CRC exchange rate. However, bear in mind that you'll also need to pick a secure and reputable provider when you exchange money. Black market money changers may look like they're offering great rates but they're not safe or reliable. Look out for the USD - CRC exchange rate online or at the currency exchange office.
Always seek out official exchange companies that offer fair rates and transparent fees. Or, consider getting a travel money card, such as Wise, to ensure your transactions are secure and convenient. Use your Wise card to pay where card transactions are supported, or to get cash from the ATM whenever you need it during your visit to Costa Rica.
The live exchange rate today is:
1 USD = 509.32 CRC
1 CRC = 0.0019634 USD
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