Is Costa Rica Costly? Precise Prices To Go to In 2024

Costa Rica is an exquisite nation to go to, particularly if you happen to’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 motive. In fact, with that reputation comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has develop into fairly expensive in comparison with its neighboring international locations, but it surely’s nonetheless low-cost in comparison with in style vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe. 

After visiting the nation a number of instances and touring by a variety of totally different means, we expect now we have 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 lodge in Costa Rica for years. That is first-hand data.

So, how a lot cash do it’s essential to 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, but it surely’s nonetheless typically inexpensive in comparison with the US and Western Europe. For those who’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 how 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 intention 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 least one fluent Spanish speaker in your group, it must be straightforward to keep away from the inflated vacationer costs when visiting Costa Rica. 

On prime 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

Value Of Lodging 

Costa Rica is an efficient vacation spot for anybody as a result of the lodging choices vary from $20 dorm beds to all-inclusive resorts which are $1,000+ per evening. Whether or not you need to journey low-cost or reside it up, one can find loads of choices in your worth vary. 

Funds vacationers are most definitely to remain at personal flats, hostels, or low-cost motels. The common Costa Rican hostel prices $20 for a dormitory mattress, so the weekly price range for lodging in Costa Rica might be as little as $120. I’ll say that if you happen to’re touring with one other particular person, renting an condo might be the most effective budget-friendly choice. 

For about $350-400 per week, you’ll be able to lease a spacious one-bedroom condo for 2, the place you’ll have a non-public toilet 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 price range of $170-200 per particular person for a whole week.  

A mid-range price range in Costa Rica means you’ll be able to keep in nearly each sort of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a price range of $70-100 per evening, you’ll be able to afford the majority of the lodging within the nation. 

This incredible five-star lodge is simply $150 per evening for 2,  and this pretty cabin within the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a price range 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 typically run you $400-500 per evening per particular person. However select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay almost half that quantity for a similar stage of service. Normally, anticipate five-star motels and all-inclusive resorts to value $300-500 per evening, per particular person, 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 inexpensive than the Pacific coast, largely as a result of the cities there aren’t fairly as in style with vacationers. 

For those who’re simply in search of 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 motels 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 necessary as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Might or June, and also you’ll get the most effective lodge offers. It’s the start of the moist season, so the vacationer crowds are minimal, however the climate continues to be dry sufficient. Lodges are sometimes as much as 50% cheaper within the low season.  

Value 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 keep on with good outdated public transportation. Certain, 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 simply an hour faster, so it’s typically not price it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly if you happen to’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 conform to a worth beforehand. Uber can also be a very good choice for transfers between two cities which are 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 price range for transportation? 

It actually is dependent upon your journey model. For those who don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time outdoors your resort, you then simply must price range for the switch to and from the airport. 

A tough every day price range for Costa Rica could 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 daily of your keep; take someday to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day stress-free on the seashore. 

Additionally, if you happen to plan to go on guided excursions to nationwide parks, cut up the price of the exercise between the price range for leisure and transportation. For those who can manage the tour by yourself, will probably be loads cheaper, but it surely’s comprehensible if you happen to choose to have a information with you in another country. 

The cities and cities in Costa Rica are typically walkable, so that you don’t must price range 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 suggest 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 automotive is mostly not a price range journey tip, however it may well 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 affordable choice for getting across the nation. 

Automobile rental is $55-60 per day, together with gasoline and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per particular person, and if you happen to’re touring with multiple different particular person, it’s a no brainer. Having a automotive 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; lease a automotive for 4 days of per week’s keep, and that comes out to a transportation price range of $18 per particular person for your entire week. 

Driving in Costa Rica is mostly very secure, and the principle roads are in good situation. Roads off the crushed path will not be fairly as easy; typically, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes might be fairly large. For those who’re contemplating automotive rental only for straightforward transfers between cities, you may be advantageous 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 often priced at $75-85 per day. 

Flights to Costa Rica

The majority of your price range for transportation in Costa Rica might be allotted in direction of the flight to the nation. For those who’re coming from the US, you’ll be able to often get a very good deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways provides round-trip flights from Miami which are beneath $200 per particular person, 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 common value of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you would possibly have the ability to get a greater deal if you happen to journey within the low season. 

Value of Meals

Consuming out in Costa Rica might be expensive if you happen to aren’t conversant in the native methods. The primary factor to know is that many eating places have menus in Spanish and English, with greater 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 predominant 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 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 often don’t also have a menu in English. It’s the place all of the locals eat, and you may 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 price range. 

Additionally, it’s necessary to remember that consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is mostly costlier than within the smaller cities. Locations off the crushed path will supply higher offers each for lodging and meals, and it’s another excuse why you must contemplate staying in a city that’s not included in all of the vacationer guides for Central and South America. 

Grocery Buying 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 if you happen to store for groceries and prepare dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Native grocery shops in Costa Rica are ample in inexpensive contemporary fruit and greens, and you may typically 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 actually low-cost in Costa Rica, and you may often 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 finest to buy at native supermarkets; Maxi Pali even has a web-based store the place you’ll be able to try the costs and availability of components 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 received’t be the tastiest meals you eat in Costa Rica, however it can maintain 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 instances can simply get by with a price range of $50 per week. Consuming a number of vegetarian meals might be even cheaper, as contemporary produce is mostly very inexpensive 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 price range of $100-150 per week for one particular person must be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend a little bit 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 until they’re staying in all-inclusive lodging. Fancy eating places in Costa Rica are fairly costly, and the worth of predominant 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 can simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals if you happen to wished. 

However say you eat breakfast on the lodge, go to a extra inexpensive place for lunch, and splurge for dinner. That’s a price range of $300-500 per week for meals and drinks. 

Value of Actions

How a lot cash will you spend on sightseeing and actions whilst you’re in Costa Rica? That largely is dependent upon what you love to do; there are various free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you can simply discover a very good chunk of the nation with out spending something. Uncover the mountain 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 many who need to expertise these bucket checklist adventures. The latter goes to be the pricier various, however price 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 keep on with free actions and luxuriate in 2-3 paid excursions throughout their keep. A tough price range 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 price range 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. For those who can handle a weekly price range 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 need to do one thing enjoyable daily of their keep. A weekly price range of $150-200 must be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable your entire time. 

Luxurious vacationers are most definitely to spring for expensive actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. For those who’re doing one thing that prices $100 daily, you’ll be able to simply spend $600-700 for per week in Costa Rica. 

Funds For 1 Week in Costa Rica

Funds For two Weeks in Costa Rica