Is Costa Rica Expensive? Actual Costs To Visit In 2024

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 develop into the place to go to in Latin America over the previous 10 years, and for good purpose. In fact, with that reputation comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has develop into fairly expensive in comparison with its neighboring international locations, however it’s nonetheless low-cost in comparison with widespread vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe. 

After visiting the nation a number of instances and touring by a whole lot of totally different means, we predict we have now a good suggestion of the particular prices of journey in Costa Rica. Heck, we even have good buddies who moved down there and are loving it, in addition to different buddies who owned and ran a lodge in Costa Rica for years. That is first-hand info.

So, how a lot cash do you could journey to Costa Rica, and is price range journey within the nation even potential? Let’s dive into the price range breakdown for a Costa Rica vacation. 

Is It Costly To Go to Costa Rica? 

Costa Rica is type of an costly nation to go to. It’s costlier than different Central American international locations, however it’s nonetheless usually reasonably priced in comparison with america and Western Europe. If you happen to’re coming from a rustic with a excessive price of dwelling, 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 3 times as a lot as they do locals. If there’s at the very least one fluent Spanish speaker in your group, it ought to be straightforward 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 Could 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

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 evening. Whether or not you need to journey low-cost or reside it up, you will see loads of choices in your value vary. 

Price range vacationers are almost definitely to remain at personal residences, hostels, or low-cost lodges. The typical Costa Rican hostel expenses $20 for a dormitory mattress, so the weekly price range 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 condominium might be the perfect budget-friendly choice. 

For about $350-400 per week, you may hire a spacious one-bedroom apartment for two, the place you should have a personal lavatory and kitchen. Since you’ll have entry to a kitchen,  you may prepare dinner most of your meals and save fairly a bit of cash on meals. And that’s on a price range of $170-200 per individual for a whole week.  

A mid-range price range in Costa Rica means you may keep in just about each kind of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a price range of $70-100 per evening, you may afford the majority of the lodging within the nation. 

This fantastic five-star hotel is simply $150 per evening for 2,  and this pretty cabin in the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a price range of $400-700 per individual for a whole week. 

Luxurious vacationers would possibly select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re considerable in Costa Rica, however their price varies fairly a bit relying on the situation. An all-inclusive resort with direct beach access will typically run you $400-500 per evening per individual. However select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay almost half that quantity for a similar stage of service. On the whole, anticipate five-star lodges and all-inclusive resorts to price $300-500 per evening, 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. 

If you happen to’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 lodges 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 facet of the nation. 

One other factor to bear in mind is that when is simply as vital as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Could or June, and also you’ll get the perfect 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.  

Price of Transportation

If you happen to’re not pressed for time and like to save cash, I say keep away from the vacationer shuttles in any respect prices and follow good previous public transportation. Positive, they’re a bit quicker than the native buses, however they’re additionally considerably costlier. 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 value it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly for those who’re attempting to go to Costa Rica on a price range.  

For shorter journeys, Uber is most well-liked to taxis. Native taxi drivers are generally sketchy and would possibly attempt to rip you off; Uber is way safer as you comply with a value beforehand. Uber can also be a very good 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 must you price range for transportation? 

It actually relies on your journey type. If you happen to don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time exterior your resort, then you definitely simply have to price range for the switch to and from the airport. 

A tough day by day price range for Costa Rica can be $15 for price range vacationers, $40 for mid-range vacationers, and round $80-100 for luxurious vacationers. And that’s since you don’t really want to go someplace far day by day of your keep; take at some point 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 price range for leisure and transportation. If you happen to can arrange the tour by yourself, it will likely be lots cheaper, however it’s comprehensible for those who want to have a information with you abroad. 

The cities and cities in Costa Rica are usually walkable, so that you don’t have to price range a lot to discover the vacationer points of interest. If you happen to keep in downtown San Jose, you’ll have the ability to stroll to each main attraction within the metropolis. I simply wouldn’t suggest strolling alone after darkish, as a result of some areas of town generally is a bit sketchy within the night. 

Automobile Rental In Costa Rica

Renting a car is usually not a price range journey tip, however it will probably prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. If you happen to’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 individual, and for those who’re touring with multiple different individual, it’s a no brainer. Having a automobile in Costa Rica additionally offers 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 price range of $18 per individual for your entire week. 

Driving in Costa Rica is usually very protected, and the principle roads are in good situation. Roads off the crushed path aren’t fairly as clean; typically, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes will be fairly large. If you happen to’re contemplating automobile rental only for straightforward transfers between cities, you’ll be tremendous with smaller autos. However if you wish to discover nature and go to nationwide parks, you’ll encounter rougher roads, and I counsel a car with a excessive floor clearance. These are normally priced at $75-85 per day. 

Flights to Costa Rica

The majority of your price range for transportation in Costa Rica will probably be allotted in direction of the flight to the nation. If you happen to’re coming from america, you may normally get a very good deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways gives 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 price 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 acquainted with the native methods. The principle factor to know is that many eating places have menus in Spanish and English, with increased costs on their English menus. These eating places are vacationer traps, and the meals isn’t pretty much as good as the worth would point out. 

Whereas $30 for a most important course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the typical price of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is nearly a luxurious deal with at a very good 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 also have a menu in English. It’s the place all of the locals eat, and you’ll normally have a very nice meal for simply $10. You get to eat the perfect native meals and pay the identical costs because the locals, which is essential for Costa Rica on a price range. 

Additionally, it’s vital to needless to say consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is usually costlier than within the smaller cities. Locations off the crushed path will provide higher offers each for lodging and meals, and it’s another excuse why it’s best to think about staying in a city that’s not included in all of the vacationer guides for Central and South America. 

Grocery Procuring In Costa Rica

Price range 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 considerable in reasonably priced contemporary fruit and greens, and you’ll typically get nice offers from locals promoting produce at stalls on the facet of the highway. Even simply 1,000 CRC ($2) goes a good distance in Costa Rica and is sufficient for a home-cooked meal. Pineapple is admittedly low-cost in Costa Rica, and you’ll normally get three items for about $2. 

A weekly price range 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 elements 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 should maintain you full, and it’s cheaper than consuming out. 

How A lot To Price range For Meals In Costa Rica

Price range vacationers who store for groceries and eat out solely a few instances can simply get by with a price range of $50 per week. Consuming a couple of 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 follow sodas, a price range of $100-150 per week for one individual ought to be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend somewhat extra, however that sum of money ought 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 worth of most 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 would simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals for those who needed. 

However say you eat breakfast on the lodge, go to a extra reasonably priced place for lunch, and splurge for dinner. That’s a price range 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 lots of free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you would simply discover a very good 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 individuals who need to expertise these bucket record 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. 

Price range vacationers are more likely to follow free actions and revel in 2-3 paid excursions throughout their keep. A tough price range of $20 per exercise offers you all kinds of choices, because it covers all the pieces from kayaking to nationwide park entrances and entry to waterfalls. A weekly price range might be as little as $50, however I like to recommend rising it as a result of the actions are the perfect factor about Costa Rica. If you happen to can handle a weekly price range 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 most likely need to do one thing enjoyable day by day of their keep. A weekly price range of $150-200 ought to be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable your entire time. 

Luxurious vacationers are almost definitely to spring for expensive actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. If you happen to’re doing one thing that prices $100 day by day, you may simply spend $600-700 for every week in Costa Rica. 

Price range For 1 Week in Costa Rica

Price range For two Weeks in Costa Rica