Costa Rica is a lovely nation to go to, particularly for those who’re within the temper for fairly seashores and jungle adventures. It has turn out to be the place to go to in Latin America over the previous 10 years, and for good motive. In fact, with that recognition comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has turn out to be fairly expensive in comparison with its neighboring nations, but it surely’s nonetheless low cost in comparison with widespread vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of occasions and touring by plenty of totally different means, we expect we’ve got a good suggestion of the particular prices of journey in Costa Rica. Heck, we even have good associates who moved down there and are loving it, in addition to different associates who owned and ran a lodge in Costa Rica for years. That is first-hand data.
So, how a lot cash do you have 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 nations, but it surely’s nonetheless typically reasonably priced in comparison with the USA and Western Europe. For those who’re coming from a rustic with a excessive value of residing, I doubt you’ll discover Costa Rica very costly.
Additionally, there are tons of how it can save you cash whereas touring Costa Rica. Skip the guided excursions and discover as a lot as you may by yourself, and attempt to keep away from eating places that cater particularly to English-speaking vacationers. Most excursions and eating places that purpose 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 no less than one fluent Spanish speaker in your group, it must be simple to keep away from the inflated vacationer costs when visiting Costa Rica.
On high of that, it will likely 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 may 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 nations in Central America. However for those who select your lodge correctly, benefit from the free sights, and be sensible about the place you eat, a visit to Costa Rica doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution.
What Is The Common Price 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 embody the price of a return flight.
How A lot Does An Common Meal Price in Costa Rica?
A median 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 no less than $1,200 for seven days in Costa Rica with lodging and a return flight (from the US). Though the nation will be explored on a smaller funds, it’s not fairly as pleasurable for those who miss out on enjoyable actions for the sake of saving cash.
Price 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 might be $1,000+ per night time. Whether or not you need to journey low cost or stay it up, you will discover loads of choices in your value vary.
Funds vacationers are almost definitely to remain at personal flats, hostels, or low cost accommodations. The typical Costa Rican hostel expenses $20 for a dormitory mattress, so the weekly funds for lodging in Costa Rica will be as little as $120. I’ll say that for those who’re touring with one other individual, renting an residence might be one of the best budget-friendly choice.
For about $350-400 per week, you may hire a spacious one-bedroom residence for 2, the place you should have a non-public toilet and kitchen. Since you’ll have entry to a kitchen, you may cook dinner most of your meals and save fairly a bit of cash on meals. And that’s on a funds of $170-200 per individual for a complete week.
A mid-range funds in Costa Rica means you may keep in nearly each sort of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a funds of $70-100 per night time, you may afford the majority of the lodging within the nation.
This incredible five-star lodge is simply $150 per night time for 2, and this beautiful cabin within the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a funds of $400-700 per individual for a complete 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 individual. However select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay almost half that quantity for a similar degree of service. Generally, count on five-star accommodations and all-inclusive resorts to value $300-500 per night time, per individual, so about $1,800-3,000 per week.


How a lot you spend on the lodge 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 widespread with vacationers.
For those who’re simply searching for a spot the place you may have a relaxed trip, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is an equally good choice. There are many accommodations and resorts the place you may 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 aspect of the nation.
One other factor to bear in mind is that when is simply as necessary as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Might or June, and also you’ll get one of the best lodge offers. It’s the start of the moist season, so the vacationer crowds are minimal, however the climate remains to be dry sufficient. Inns 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 want to have a mattress in a room and entry to a shared toilet, you’ll have to spend no less than $20-25 per night time. Double rooms in funds accommodations and personal flats are $50-100 per night time, and a few of the accommodations 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 accommodations. For those who can funds about $600 per individual for lodging for the week, you’ll have your choose of accommodations and flats throughout Costa Rica.
Luxurious:
All-inclusive beachfront resorts are the epitome of luxurious in Costa Rica. Spend your days stress-free 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 price of $1,000.
Price of Transportation


For those who’re not pressed for time and like to economize, I say keep away from the vacationer shuttles in any respect prices and follow good outdated public transportation. Certain, they’re a bit quicker 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 typically not value it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly for those who’re making an attempt to go to Costa Rica on a funds.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most popular to taxis. Native taxi drivers are generally sketchy and would possibly attempt to rip you off; Uber is way safer as you conform to a value beforehand. Uber can also be a superb choice for transfers between two cities which might be comparatively shut to at least one one other, as it may be considerably quicker than the bus however not extraordinarily costly.
So, what do you have to funds for transportation?
It actually relies on your journey type. For those who don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time outdoors your resort, then you definately simply have to funds for the switch to and from the airport.
A tough every day funds for Costa Rica could 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 on daily basis of your keep; take someday to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day stress-free 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. For those who can set up the tour by yourself, it will likely be loads cheaper, but it surely’s comprehensible for those who want to have a information with you abroad.
The cities and cities in Costa Rica are typically walkable, so that you don’t have to funds a lot to discover the vacationer sights. For those who keep in downtown San Jose, you’ll have the ability 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 generally is a bit sketchy within the night.
Automotive Rental In Costa Rica


Renting a automotive is usually not a funds journey tip, however it may prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. For those who’re planning to go to the nationwide parks and journey to extra secluded locations, automotive rental is by far the most cost effective choice for getting across the nation.
Automotive rental is $55-60 per day, together with gasoline and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per individual, and for those who’re touring with multiple different individual, it’s a no brainer. Having a automotive in Costa Rica additionally provides you the last word freedom to discover the nation and lets you skip guided excursions as you don’t want to fret about transportation. Plus, you don’t want it each single day; hire a automotive for 4 days of every week’s keep, and that comes out to a transportation funds of $18 per individual for the complete week.
Driving in Costa Rica is usually very protected, and the principle roads are in good situation. Roads off the overwhelmed path usually are not fairly as clean; usually, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes will be fairly massive. For those who’re contemplating automotive rental only for simple transfers between cities, you’ll be nice 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 normally priced at $75-85 per day.
Flights to Costa Rica


The majority of your funds for transportation in Costa Rica might be allotted in direction of the flight to the nation. For those who’re coming from the USA, you may normally get a superb deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways affords round-trip flights from Miami which might be underneath $200 per individual, which is dirt-cheap in comparison with the price of flying out of Europe.
The most cost effective round-trip flights from Europe I’ve seen had been round $700, and people had been uncommon. The typical value of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you would possibly have the ability to get a greater deal for those who journey within the low season.
Price of Meals


Consuming out in Costa Rica will be expensive for those who aren’t aware of the native methods. The primary 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 isn’t nearly as good as the value would point out.
Whereas $30 for a important 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 search out sodas. These are small, family-owned, hole-in-the-wall eating places that normally don’t actually have a menu in English. It’s the place all of the locals eat, and you may normally have a very nice meal for simply $10. You get to eat one of the best native meals and pay the identical costs because the locals, which is vital for Costa Rica on a funds.


Additionally, it’s necessary to understand that 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 you need to contemplate 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 you need to purpose 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 normally $6-10 in a restaurant, relying on whether or not it consists of meat.
- Gallo Pinto is one other conventional Costa Rican dish based mostly on beans and rice. It’s historically served for breakfast with fried eggs and normally prices 3,500-4,500 CRC ($7-9).
- Arroz con leche is to Costa Rica what Tiramisu is to Italy. It’s one of the best native dessert that you will discover in nearly each restaurant, and it’s so scrumptious that you just’ll need to eat it after each meal. The candy rice pudding is normally priced at 1,300-2,000 CRC, which is roughly $3-4.
Grocery Procuring In Costa Rica


Funds vacationers are unlikely to eat out for each meal in Costa Rica. It can save you a good amount of cash for those who store for groceries and cook dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Native grocery shops in Costa Rica are ample in reasonably priced recent fruit and greens, and you may usually get nice offers from locals promoting produce at stalls on the aspect 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 absolutely low cost in Costa Rica, and you may normally 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 greatest to buy at native supermarkets; Maxi Pali even has a web-based store the place you may take a look at the costs and availability of components within the closest store to you.
Additionally, many grocery shops within the greater cities in Costa Rica have a ready meals part. Meals are normally 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 would 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 a number of vegetarian meals might be even cheaper, as recent 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 follow sodas, a funds of $100-150 per week for one individual must be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend a bit of extra, however that amount of cash must be sufficient to cowl all meals and drinks in Costa Rica.
Luxurious vacationers usually tend to eat for each meal except they’re staying in all-inclusive lodging. Fancy eating places in Costa Rica are fairly costly, and the value of important programs ranges from $25-40. A tasting menu in San Jose’s fanciest restaurant is round $110 per individual with out wine pairings, so you may simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals for those who wished.
However say you eat breakfast on the lodge, 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.
Price of Actions


How a lot cash will you spend on sightseeing and actions whilst you’re in Costa Rica? That largely relies on what you love to do; there are a lot of 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 well-liked place like Arenal Volcano Nationwide Park, or take pleasure in a day of deep-sea fishing, the prices shortly add up. I like how Costa Rica is nice each for vacationers preferring to discover the free actions and for individuals who need to expertise these bucket listing adventures. The latter goes to be the pricier various, however value it for the expertise.
One factor to notice is that most 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 folks, however that’s simply a part of touring to Costa Rica.


Funds vacationers are more likely to follow free actions and luxuriate 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 part 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 one of the best factor about Costa Rica. For those who can handle a weekly funds of $100 for leisure, you may 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 need to do one thing enjoyable on daily basis of their keep. A weekly funds of $150-200 must be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable the complete time.
Luxurious vacationers are almost definitely to spring for expensive actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. For those who’re doing one thing that prices $100 on daily basis, you may 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 individual for a complete week, not together with the return flight. And have in mind I’ve allotted a better funds for meals and actions; for those who had been to spend a few days having fun with the free issues to do in Costa Rica and eat out much less steadily, 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 no less than $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 one of the best expertise. Luxurious vacationers are more likely to spend no less than $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is certainly one among our favorite nations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter in case you are a backpacker on a funds or somebody searching for luxurious; you might be assured to have an incredible journey. Whereas it’s true that Costa Rica will not be the most cost effective vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it would break the financial institution both. For those who observe our options above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica realizing that you could hold your funds the place you want it and have a good time as nicely.