Budgeting for Costa Rica
Costa Rica has a reputation as one of the more expensive countries in Central America — and that's partly true. But the range is wide: a backpacker staying in hostels and eating at local sodas can get by on $50–$70 per day, while a luxury eco-lodge experience can run $500+ per person. The key is knowing where the value is.
How much does Costa Rica cost per day?
It depends heavily on your travel style, but as a rough guide:
- Budget traveler: $50–$80/day (hostel dorms, sodas, public buses, free beaches)
- Mid-range traveler: $100–$200/day (private rooms, mid-range restaurants, shared shuttles, a few paid activities)
- Luxury traveler: $300–$600+/day (boutique eco-lodges, fine dining, private transfers, guided tours)
Costs are higher in tourist hotspots (Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Santa Teresa, Arenal) and noticeably lower in less-visited areas. Traveling in green season (May–November) cuts accommodation and flight costs significantly.
Daily Budget Breakdowns by Travel Style
Budget Traveler — Per Day
Currency: USDMid-Range Traveler — Per Day
Currency: USDLuxury Traveler — Per Day
Currency: USDAccommodation Costs
| Type | Price Range / Night | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel Dorm | $15–$30 | Shared room (4–12 beds), usually includes kitchen and common area. Quality varies widely — read recent reviews. |
| Hostel Private Room | $35–$65 | Private room in a hostel setting. Good value for solo travelers or couples wanting privacy at a lower price. |
| Budget Hotel / Guesthouse | $50–$90 | Basic private room with AC and private bathroom. Often family-run. Reliable for a no-frills stay. |
| Mid-Range Hotel / B&B | $90–$200 | Comfortable private rooms, pool common, breakfast sometimes included. This tier represents the best value for most travelers. |
| Boutique Hotel | $150–$350 | Stylish properties, often with excellent restaurants, jungle views, and personalized service. |
| Luxury Eco-Lodge | $300–$700+ | Costa Rica's signature accommodation. Incredible locations, sustainability focus, all-inclusive options. Includes places like Lapa Rios, Nayara, and Pacuare Lodge. |
| Vacation Rental (Airbnb, VRBO) | $80–$400+ | Great for families or groups. Full kitchen saves on food costs. Availability and quality vary by location. |
High Season Price Surge
During peak high season (Christmas week, New Year, Easter week, spring break in March), hotel prices in popular areas can double or triple. Book well in advance and compare total trip cost versus traveling a few weeks earlier or later.
Food & Drink Costs
Sodas — Local Restaurants
A "soda" is a small, family-run Costa Rican restaurant — the backbone of local eating. The casado (literally "married") is the classic lunch plate: rice, black beans, a protein (chicken, beef, fish, or pork), salad, and plantains. Expect to pay $5–$10 for a full casado with a drink. Breakfast gallo pinto (rice and beans with egg and coffee) runs $3–$6.
Sodas are the single best money-saving move in Costa Rica. The food is fresh, generous, and authentic.
Mid-Range & Tourist Restaurants
In tourist areas, mid-range restaurants charge $12–$25 per main course. A beer typically costs $3–$5. Wine markups are significant — a $15 bottle in a supermarket might cost $40 in a restaurant. A full dinner with drinks at a solid restaurant runs $30–$50 per person.
Upscale & Fine Dining
Costa Rica's growing fine dining scene, particularly in Santa Teresa, Manuel Antonio, and San José's Escalante neighborhood, offers world-class cuisine. Expect $50–$100+ per person for a full upscale dinner with wine.
Supermarkets & Self-Catering
Supermarkets (Mas x Menos, Super Mas, PriceSmart) are well-stocked and comparable in price to the US. Local produce markets (ferias) offer dramatically cheaper fruit and vegetables. If you have kitchen access, grocery shopping for breakfast and lunches can cut food costs by 40–60%.
Local beer (Imperial, Bavaria, Pilsen) costs $1–$2 at a supermarket, $3–$5 at a bar.
Transportation Costs
| Transport Type | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local city bus | $0.40–$1.00 | Urban buses in San José and larger cities. Exact fare in colones required on most routes. |
| Intercity public bus | $2–$15 | TRACOPA and other operators. Comfortable, cheap. SJO to Quepos ~$7, SJO to Liberia ~$10. |
| Shared shuttle | $25–$60/person | Door-to-door between tourist hubs. Interbus, Tropical, Gray Line. Worth paying for convenience. |
| Private transfer | $80–$250 | Private van or 4WD. Best for groups, remote areas, or early morning flights. |
| Rental car | $50–$150/day | Includes mandatory basic liability insurance. Add collision waiver ($15–$30/day). 4WD essential for many routes. |
| Uber (San José metro area) | $5–$20 | Available in the SJO metro area and some tourist towns. More reliable and cheaper than unofficial taxis. |
| Domestic flight (SANSA) | $80–$200 | One-way fares. Saves hours of driving to remote areas. Book early — small aircraft fill up. |
| Water taxi | $5–$30 | Used around the Nicoya Peninsula, Tortuguero, and the Osa Peninsula where boats are the primary transport. |
Activity & Entrance Fee Costs
| Activity | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| National park entry | $18–$25/person | Most parks require online reservations in advance. Corcovado requires a guide. Manuel Antonio books up fast in high season. |
| Zip-lining / canopy tour | $60–$110 | Arenal and Monteverde have the most famous canopy tours. Prices vary by number of platforms and add-ons (tarzan swing, superman). |
| Surfing lessons | $50–$80 | Group lesson with board rental included. Popular in Tamarindo, Jacó, Santa Teresa, and Dominical. |
| White water rafting (half-day) | $75–$100 | Pacuare and Reventazón rivers are world-class. Full-day multi-rapid trips cost $100–$150. |
| Whale watching tour | $80–$130 | Best from the Osa Peninsula and Uvita (Whale's Tail beach). Drake Bay operators run 3–4 hour trips. |
| Snorkeling tour | $50–$90 | Half-day tours with gear. Popular from Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Cahuita (Caribbean side has a free snorkel trail). |
| Scuba diving (2-tank dive) | $100–$180 | Bat Islands and Catalina Islands (Guanacaste) are top sites. Cocos Island liveaboard trips cost $4,000–$6,000+. |
| ATV tour | $65–$120 | Half or full day guided tours. Popular in Arenal, Tamarindo, and Mal País areas. |
| Volcano hike / guided tour | $30–$80 | Arenal, Poás, Irazú, and Tenorio (Celeste River) are top picks. Some require guides; others have self-guided trails. |
| Hot springs (Arenal) | $20–$80 | Free public springs exist on the La Fortuna river. Resorts like Tabacón charge $50–$80 for access. |
| Wildlife tour (night / day) | $35–$70 | Night walks to see frogs, sloths, and insects are popular in Monteverde and Caño Negro. |
Hidden & Often-Forgotten Costs
ATM Fees
Foreign ATM fees in Costa Rica can be brutal. Local bank ATMs charge $3–$5 per withdrawal, and your home bank may charge an additional $3–$5. Always confirm you're using an official bank ATM (BAC, BCR, BN, Scotiabank) and bring sufficient cash when heading to remote areas where ATMs may be scarce.
Rental Car Insurance
If you rent a car, you'll be required to pay for the mandatory basic liability insurance (SLI), and you'll almost certainly want the collision damage waiver (CDW) as well. Together these typically add $20–$40/day on top of the base rental rate. Never drive in Costa Rica without proper insurance coverage — repair costs are high and road conditions are unpredictable.
Tipping
A 10% service charge is legally required on all restaurant bills in Costa Rica (look for "10% servicio"). It's already included — you're not obligated to tip beyond that, though rounding up or leaving an extra 5–10% for exceptional service is appreciated. Tour guides expect $5–$20 cash tips. See our money guide for full tipping norms.
Travel Insurance
Often forgotten in budget planning. A 2-week policy costs $20–$165 depending on coverage level. Not including it is a false economy — one unexpected emergency can dwarf the entire cost of your trip. Factor it in from the start.
Departure Tax Is Now Included in Airfare
Costa Rica used to charge a separate departure tax payable at the airport. This has been incorporated into the airfare by most carriers and is no longer a surprise cost at check-out. Verify with your airline, but in most cases you will not need to pay separately at the airport.
Money-Saving Tips
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Travel in green season (May–November). Accommodation prices drop 20–40%, flights are cheaper, and you'll find fewer crowds. Mornings are typically dry and beautiful, with afternoon showers that cool things down.
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Eat at sodas for lunch. The casado lunch at a local soda is the best value meal in the country — typically $6–$9 for a full, freshly cooked plate. Breakfast at a soda runs $3–$5. Save splurge meals for dinners.
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Take public buses instead of shuttles. A public bus from San José to La Fortuna costs about $4; a shared shuttle costs $35–$50. If you have the time and are comfortable with the experience, public buses are perfectly safe and give a more local perspective.
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Use the free hot springs in La Fortuna. The public hot springs on the river just outside La Fortuna town are free and excellent. Save the $60–$80 resort entry for a special occasion.
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Buy alcohol at supermarkets. A beer at a bar costs $3–$5; the same beer at a supermarket costs $1–$2. Pre-game at the villa or AirBnB to save considerably on drink budgets.
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Book national parks in advance. Some parks have capacity limits and must be booked online through the SINAC portal. Booking early doesn't save money, but it avoids the cost of a trip to a park you can't enter — and the wasted transport getting there.
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Stay in the same area longer. Moving between destinations every 1–2 days is expensive in shuttles, taxis, and lost time. Spending 4–5 nights in one area cuts transport costs dramatically and gives a better experience of each place.
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Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card. Cards like the Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, or Schwab Debit Card eliminate the 3% foreign transaction fee and (for Schwab) reimburse ATM fees. This can save $50–$150 on a two-week trip.