Costa Rica is a stupendous nation to go to, particularly for those who’re within the temper for fairly seashores and jungle adventures. It has change into the place to go to in Latin America over the previous 10 years, and for good cause. After all, with that recognition comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has change into fairly expensive in comparison with its neighboring international locations, however it’s nonetheless low-cost in comparison with fashionable vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of occasions and touring by lots of totally different means, we expect we’ve a good suggestion of the particular prices of journey in Costa Rica. Heck, we even have good pals who moved down there and are loving it, in addition to different pals who owned and ran a resort in Costa Rica for years. That is first-hand info.
So, how a lot cash do it’s worthwhile to journey to Costa Rica, and is funds journey within the nation even potential? Let’s dive into the funds breakdown for a Costa Rica vacation.
Is It Costly To Go to Costa Rica?


Costa Rica is sort of an costly nation to go to. It’s dearer than different Central American international locations, however it’s nonetheless usually reasonably priced in comparison with the USA and Western Europe. In case you’re coming from a rustic with a excessive value of dwelling, I doubt you’ll discover Costa Rica very costly.
Additionally, there are tons of the way it can save you cash whereas touring Costa Rica. Skip the guided excursions and discover as a lot as you’ll be able to by yourself, and attempt to keep away from eating places that cater particularly to English-speaking vacationers. Most excursions and eating places that goal to draw as many English-speaking guests as potential have particular costs for vacationers and cost them thrice as a lot as they do locals. If there’s at the very least one fluent Spanish speaker in your group, it needs to be straightforward to keep away from the inflated vacationer costs when visiting Costa Rica.
On high of that, will probably be considerably cheaper to go to the nation within the low season. Plan a visit between Might and November, and it can save you some huge cash on flights, lodging, actions, and even meals. So long as you don’t thoughts that it’s the wet season (however nonetheless heat), you’ll be able to nonetheless have a ton of enjoyable in Costa Rica.
Widespread Questions About Visiting Costa Rica


Is Costa Rica Costly For Holidays?
Costa Rica is an costly vacation vacation spot in comparison with different international locations in Central America. However for those who select your resort properly, benefit from the free points of interest, and be good about the place you eat, a visit to Costa Rica doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution.
What Is The Common Value of a Journey to Costa Rica?
The typical value of a visit to Costa Rica is $800-1,300 USD for mid-range vacationers. It’s potential to journey to the nation with a smaller funds of round $500, however that doesn’t embrace the price of a return flight.
How A lot Does An Common Meal Value in Costa Rica?
A mean meal in Costa Rica prices $15. Loads of cheaper and pricier choices can be found, however $15 ought to get you a pleasant meal in most eating places.
How A lot Cash Do You Want For 7 Days In Costa Rica?
You want at the very least $1,200 for seven days in Costa Rica with lodging and a return flight (from the US). Though the nation may be explored on a smaller funds, it’s not fairly as pleasing for those who miss out on enjoyable actions for the sake of saving cash.
Value Of Lodging


Costa Rica is an effective vacation spot for anybody as a result of the lodging choices vary from $20 dorm beds to all-inclusive resorts which can be $1,000+ per night time. Whether or not you wish to journey low-cost or reside it up, you can see loads of choices in your worth vary.
Funds vacationers are more than likely to remain at non-public residences, hostels, or low-cost inns. The typical Costa Rican hostel costs $20 for a dormitory mattress, so the weekly funds for lodging in Costa Rica may be as little as $120. I’ll say that for those who’re touring with one other particular person, renting an condominium might be the most effective budget-friendly choice.
For about $350-400 per week, you’ll be able to hire a spacious one-bedroom condominium for 2, the place you should have a personal rest room and kitchen. Since you’ll have entry to a kitchen, you’ll be able to prepare dinner most of your meals and save fairly a bit of cash on meals. And that’s on a funds of $170-200 per particular person for a whole week.
A mid-range funds in Costa Rica means you’ll be able to keep in nearly each kind of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a funds of $70-100 per night time, you’ll be able to afford the majority of the lodging within the nation.
This unbelievable five-star resort is simply $150 per night time for 2, and this pretty cabin within the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a funds of $400-700 per particular person for a whole week.
Luxurious vacationers would possibly select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re ample in Costa Rica, however their value varies fairly a bit relying on the situation. An all-inclusive resort with direct seashore entry will usually run you $400-500 per night time per particular person. However select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay practically half that quantity for a similar stage of service. Generally, anticipate five-star inns and all-inclusive resorts to value $300-500 per night time, per particular person, so about $1,800-3,000 per week.


How a lot you spend on the resort relies upon fairly a bit on the place precisely you’re staying in Costa Rica. The Caribbean coast is extra reasonably priced than the Pacific coast, largely as a result of the cities there aren’t fairly as fashionable with vacationers.
In case you’re simply searching for a spot the place you’ll be able to have a relaxed trip, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is an equally good choice. There are many inns and resorts the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in lounging on the seashore and sipping cocktails, and also you’ll be saving cash in comparison with the resorts on the opposite facet of the nation.
One other factor to remember is that when is simply as vital as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Might or June, and also you’ll get the most effective resort offers. It’s the start of the moist season, so the vacationer crowds are minimal, however the climate continues to be dry sufficient. Accommodations are sometimes as much as 50% cheaper within the low season.


Funds:
Funds vacationers can discover lodging in Costa Rica for as little as $10 per night time. That’s if you wish to camp in a tent on the grounds of a hostel; for those who desire to have a mattress in a room and entry to a shared rest room, you’ll have to spend at the very least $20-25 per night time. Double rooms in funds inns and personal residences are $50-100 per night time, and among the inns I’ve seen that provide double rooms for $80-100 per night time are simply within the mid-range class.
Mid-Vary:
The choices for mid-range vacationers vary from secluded mountain cabins to five-star inns. In case you can funds about $600 per particular person for lodging for the week, you’ll have your decide of inns and residences throughout Costa Rica.
Luxurious:
All-inclusive beachfront resorts are the epitome of luxurious in Costa Rica. Spend your days enjoyable on the seashore or by the pool, getting cocktails delivered to your lounge chair. The resorts begin at roughly $600 per night time for 2 vacationers, with many choices that exceed the nightly charge of $1,000.
Value of Transportation


In case you’re not pressed for time and like to save cash, I say keep away from the vacationer shuttles in any respect prices and keep on with good previous public transportation. Certain, they’re a bit sooner than the native buses, however they’re additionally considerably dearer. A vacationer shuttle from Monteverde to San Jose is roughly $50-70, whereas the general public bus is simply $7. The shuttle is just an hour faster, so it’s usually not price it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly for those who’re attempting to go to Costa Rica on a funds.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most well-liked to taxis. Native taxi drivers are typically sketchy and would possibly attempt to rip you off; Uber is way safer as you conform to a worth beforehand. Uber can be a superb choice for transfers between two cities which can be comparatively shut to 1 one other, as it may be considerably sooner than the bus however not extraordinarily costly.
So, what do you have to funds for transportation?
It actually will depend on your journey type. In case you don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time exterior your resort, then you definately simply have to funds for the switch to and from the airport.
A tough day by day funds for Costa Rica can be $15 for funds vacationers, $40 for mid-range vacationers, and round $80-100 for luxurious vacationers. And that’s since you don’t actually need to go someplace far daily of your keep; take in the future to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day enjoyable on the seashore.
Additionally, for those who plan to go on guided excursions to nationwide parks, cut up the price of the exercise between the funds for leisure and transportation. In case you can set up the tour by yourself, will probably be quite a bit cheaper, however it’s comprehensible for those who desire to have a information with you out of the country.
The cities and cities in Costa Rica are usually walkable, so that you don’t have to funds a lot to discover the vacationer points of interest. In case you keep in downtown San Jose, you’ll be capable to stroll to each main attraction within the metropolis. I simply wouldn’t advocate strolling alone after darkish, as a result of some areas of town could be a bit sketchy within the night.
Automobile Rental In Costa Rica


Renting a automobile is usually not a funds journey tip, however it will probably prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. In case you’re planning to go to the nationwide parks and journey to extra secluded locations, automobile rental is by far the most cost effective choice for getting across the nation.
Automobile rental is $55-60 per day, together with fuel and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per particular person, and for those who’re touring with multiple different particular person, it’s a no brainer. Having a automobile in Costa Rica additionally provides you the final word freedom to discover the nation and permits you to skip guided excursions as you don’t want to fret about transportation. Plus, you don’t want it each single day; hire a automobile for 4 days of every week’s keep, and that comes out to a transportation funds of $18 per particular person for the complete week.
Driving in Costa Rica is usually very protected, and the primary roads are in good situation. Roads off the overwhelmed path usually are not fairly as easy; usually, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes may be fairly massive. In case you’re contemplating automobile rental only for straightforward transfers between cities, you may be high quality with smaller automobiles. However if you wish to discover nature and go to nationwide parks, you’ll encounter rougher roads, and I recommend a car with a excessive floor clearance. These are often priced at $75-85 per day.
Flights to Costa Rica


The majority of your funds for transportation in Costa Rica will probably be allotted in the direction of the flight to the nation. In case you’re coming from the USA, you’ll be able to often get a superb deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways gives round-trip flights from Miami which can be below $200 per particular person, which is dirt-cheap in comparison with the price of flying out of Europe.
The most affordable round-trip flights from Europe I’ve seen have been round $700, and people have been uncommon. The typical value of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you would possibly be capable to get a greater deal for those who journey within the low season.
Value of Meals


Consuming out in Costa Rica may be expensive for those who aren’t conversant in the native methods. The principle factor to know is that many eating places have menus in Spanish and English, with larger costs on their English menus. These eating places are vacationer traps, and the meals is never nearly as good as the value would point out.
Whereas $30 for a fundamental course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the common value of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is nearly a luxurious deal with at a superb native restaurant, not only a burger and a few fries at a vacationer joint.
The important thing to consuming good however low-cost in Costa Rica is to hunt down sodas. These are small, family-owned, hole-in-the-wall eating places that often don’t actually have a menu in English. It’s the place all of the locals eat, and you’ll often have a very nice meal for simply $10. You get to eat the most effective native meals and pay the identical costs because the locals, which is vital for Costa Rica on a funds.


Additionally, it’s vital to needless to say consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is usually dearer than within the smaller cities. Locations off the overwhelmed path will provide higher offers each for lodging and meals, and it’s another excuse why it is best to think about staying in a city that’s not included in all of the vacationer guides for Central and South America.
Irrespective of the place you keep and the way a lot cash you’ll be able to spend on meals in Costa Rica, listed below are some meals that it is best to goal to attempt, even when it means it’s a must to splurge:
- Casado is a Costa Rican dish consisting of rice, plantain, black beans, tortilla, salad, and optionally meat. It’s often $6-10 in a restaurant, relying on whether or not it consists of meat.
- Gallo Pinto is one other conventional Costa Rican dish primarily based on beans and rice. It’s historically served for breakfast with fried eggs and often prices 3,500-4,500 CRC ($7-9).
- Arroz con leche is to Costa Rica what Tiramisu is to Italy. It’s the most effective native dessert that you’ll find in nearly each restaurant, and it’s so scrumptious that you just’ll wish to eat it after each meal. The candy rice pudding is often priced at 1,300-2,000 CRC, which is roughly $3-4.
Grocery Purchasing In Costa Rica


Funds vacationers are unlikely to eat out for each meal in Costa Rica. It can save you a good sum of money for those who store for groceries and prepare dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Native grocery shops in Costa Rica are ample in reasonably priced contemporary fruit and greens, and you’ll usually get nice offers from locals promoting produce at stalls on the facet of the street. Even simply 1,000 CRC ($2) goes a great distance in Costa Rica and is sufficient for a home-cooked meal. Pineapple is basically low-cost in Costa Rica, and you’ll often get three items for about $2.
A weekly funds of 25,000 CRC ($50) is sufficient to cowl breakfast and dinner for 2, in addition to drinks. It’s finest to buy at native supermarkets; Maxi Pali even has a web based store the place you’ll be able to take a look at the costs and availability of elements within the closest store to you.
Additionally, many grocery shops within the larger cities in Costa Rica have a ready meals part. Meals are often priced at 2,000-3,000 CRC ($4-6), and the parts are very beneficiant. It gained’t be the tastiest meals you eat in Costa Rica, however it should hold you full, and it’s cheaper than consuming out.
How A lot To Funds For Meals In Costa Rica


Funds vacationers who store for groceries and eat out solely a few occasions can simply get by with a funds of $50 per week. Consuming just a few vegetarian meals will probably be even cheaper, as contemporary produce is usually very reasonably priced in Costa Rica.
Mid-range vacationers would possibly do one grocery run after which eat out for one meal per day. In the event that they keep on with sodas, a funds of $100-150 per week for one particular person needs to be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend just a little extra, however that sum of money needs to be sufficient to cowl all meals and drinks in Costa Rica.
Luxurious vacationers usually tend to eat for each meal until they’re staying in all-inclusive lodging. Fancy eating places in Costa Rica are fairly costly, and the value of fundamental programs ranges from $25-40. A tasting menu in San Jose’s fanciest restaurant is round $110 per particular person with out wine pairings, so you may simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals for those who needed.
However say you eat breakfast on the resort, go to a extra reasonably priced place for lunch, and splurge for dinner. That’s a funds of $300-500 per week for meals and drinks.
Value of Actions


How a lot cash will you spend on sightseeing and actions when you’re in Costa Rica? That largely will depend on what you love to do; there are numerous free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you may simply discover a superb chunk of the nation with out spending something. Uncover the climbing trails, swim within the sea, and stroll round San Jose, marveling on the structure and the native vibes.
However if you wish to go to a preferred place like Arenal Volcano Nationwide Park, or take pleasure in a day of deep-sea fishing, the prices rapidly add up. I like how Costa Rica is sweet each for vacationers preferring to discover the free actions and for many who wish to expertise these bucket listing adventures. The latter goes to be the pricier different, however price it for the expertise.
One factor to notice is that lots of the touristy issues to do in Costa Rica have particular costs for foreigners, which permits them to maintain the prices low for locals. It’s a bit infuriating to pay $20 for one thing that’s free for many different individuals, however that’s simply a part of touring to Costa Rica.


Funds vacationers are more likely to keep on with free actions and revel in 2-3 paid excursions throughout their keep. A tough funds of $20 per exercise provides you all kinds of choices, because it covers every little thing from kayaking to nationwide park entrances and entry to waterfalls. A weekly funds may very well be as little as $50, however I like to recommend rising it as a result of the actions are the most effective factor about Costa Rica. In case you can handle a weekly funds of $100 for leisure, you’ll be able to even squeeze in one of many pricier experiences like ziplining in Monteverde or La Fortuna’s hanging bridges.
Mid-range vacationers will in all probability wish to do one thing enjoyable daily of their keep. A weekly funds of $150-200 needs to be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable the complete time.
Luxurious vacationers are more than likely to spring for expensive actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. In case you’re doing one thing that prices $100 daily, you’ll be able to simply spend $600-700 for every week in Costa Rica.
Funds For 1 Week in Costa Rica


Right here’s a breakdown of a mid-range funds for one week in Costa Rica:
- $600 for lodging
- $150 meals
- $250 for transportation
- $200 for actions
- $200 (US) – $850 (Europe) for flights
That’s round $1,200 per particular person for a whole week, not together with the return flight. And take note I’ve allotted the next funds for meals and actions; for those who have been to spend a few days having fun with the free issues to do in Costa Rica and eat out much less incessantly, you may simply get by with a funds of $1,000 per week.
Funds vacationers can expertise Costa Rica for $400-500 in every week, whereas luxurious vacationers will spend at the very least $2,500. I have to say that, for luxurious vacationers, reserving an all-inclusive resort drastically reduces the funds for meals and drinks.
Funds For two Weeks in Costa Rica


A two-week funds for a mid-range traveler in Costa Rica is just about simply double the weekly funds:
- $1,200 for lodging
- $300 meals
- $500 for transportation
- $400 for actions
- $200 (US) – $850 (Europe) for flights
Funds vacationers could make do with $800-1,000 for 2 weeks, whereas mid-range vacationers want $2,000-2,500 for the most effective expertise. Luxurious vacationers are more likely to spend at the very least $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is unquestionably considered one of our favorite international locations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter if you’re a backpacker on a funds or somebody searching for luxurious; you’re assured to have an incredible journey. Whereas it’s true that Costa Rica is just not the most cost effective vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it should break the financial institution both. In case you comply with our strategies above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica understanding that you could hold your funds the place you want it and have a good time as nicely.