Costa Rica is a stupendous nation to go to, particularly when you’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 purpose. Of course, with that reputation comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has turn out to be fairly dear in comparison with its neighboring nations, nevertheless it’s nonetheless low cost in comparison with common vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of instances and touring by plenty of completely different means, we predict we’ve got 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. This is first-hand info.
So, how a lot cash do it’s good to journey to Costa Rica, and is price range journey within the nation even attainable? Let’s dive into the price range breakdown for a Costa Rica vacation.
Is It Expensive To Visit Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is sort of an costly nation to go to. It’s dearer than different Central American nations, nevertheless it’s nonetheless typically inexpensive in comparison with the United States and Western Europe. If you’re coming from a rustic with a excessive price of dwelling, I doubt you’ll discover Costa Rica very costly.
Also, 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 possibly can 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 attainable have particular costs for vacationers and cost them 3 times as a lot as they do locals. If there’s no less than 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 is going to be considerably cheaper to go to the nation within the low season. Plan a visit between May and November, and it can save you some huge cash on flights, lodging, actions, and even meals. As lengthy as you don’t thoughts that it’s the wet season (however nonetheless heat), you possibly can nonetheless have a ton of enjoyable in Costa Rica.
Common Questions About Visiting Costa Rica
Is Costa Rica Expensive For Holidays?
Costa Rica is an costly vacation vacation spot in comparison with different nations in Central America. But when you 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 Average Cost of a Trip to Costa Rica?
The common price of a visit to Costa Rica is $800-1,300 USD for mid-range vacationers. It’s attainable to journey to the nation with a smaller price range of round $500, however that doesn’t embody the price of a return flight.
How Much Does An Average Meal Cost in Costa Rica?
An common meal in Costa Rica prices $15. Plenty of cheaper and pricier choices can be found, however $15 ought to get you a pleasant meal in most eating places.
How Much Money Do You Need 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). Although the nation will be explored on a smaller price range, it’s not fairly as pleasing when you miss out on enjoyable actions for the sake of saving cash.
Cost Of Accommodation
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 evening. Whether you wish to journey low cost or dwell it up, you’ll discover loads of choices in your value vary.
Budget vacationers are probably to remain at non-public flats, hostels, or low cost lodges. The common 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 when you’re touring with one other particular person, renting an house might be the very best budget-friendly possibility.
For about $350-400 per week, you possibly can lease a spacious one-bedroom house for 2, the place you should have a personal lavatory and kitchen. Because you’ll have entry to a kitchen, you possibly can cook 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 possibly can keep in nearly each kind of lodging within the nation, barring a flowery beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a price range of $70-100 per evening, you possibly can afford the majority of the lodging within the nation.
This unbelievable five-star lodge is simply $150 per evening for 2, and this beautiful cabin within the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a price range of $400-700 per particular person for a whole week.
Luxury vacationers may select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re plentiful in Costa Rica, however their price varies fairly a bit relying on the situation. An all-inclusive resort with direct seaside entry will typically run you $400-500 per evening per particular person. But select a resort with out direct seaside entry, and also you’ll pay almost half that quantity for a similar degree of service. In common, count on five-star lodges and all-inclusive resorts to price $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 common with vacationers.
If you’re simply searching for a spot the place you possibly can have a relaxed trip, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is an equally good possibility. There are loads of lodges and resorts the place you possibly can take pleasure in lounging on the seaside and sipping cocktails, and also you’ll be saving cash in comparison with the resorts on the opposite facet of the nation.
Another factor to remember is that when is simply as essential as the place. Travel to Costa Rica in May or June, and also you’ll get the very best lodge offers. It’s the start of the moist season, so the vacationer crowds are minimal, however the climate continues to be dry sufficient. Hotels are sometimes as much as 50% cheaper within the low season.
Budget:
Budget vacationers can discover lodging in Costa Rica for as little as $10 per evening. That’s if you wish to camp in a tent on the grounds of a hostel; when you favor to have a mattress in a room and entry to a shared lavatory, you’ll must spend no less than $20-25 per evening. Double rooms in price range lodges and personal flats are $50-100 per evening, and a few of the lodges I’ve seen that supply double rooms for $80-100 per evening are simply within the mid-range class.
Mid-Range:
The choices for mid-range vacationers vary from secluded mountain cabins to five-star lodges. If you possibly can price range about $600 per particular person for lodging for the week, you’ll have your choose of lodges and flats throughout Costa Rica.
Luxury:
All-inclusive beachfront resorts are the epitome of luxurious in Costa Rica. Spend your days enjoyable on the seaside or by the pool, getting cocktails delivered to your lounge chair. The resorts begin at roughly $600 per evening for 2 vacationers, with many choices that exceed the nightly fee of $1,000.
Cost of Transportation
If 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. Sure, 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 barely an hour faster, so it’s typically not price it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly when you’re making an attempt to go to Costa Rica on a price range.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most popular to taxis. Local taxi drivers are generally sketchy and may attempt to rip you off; Uber is far safer as you comply with a value beforehand. Uber can be a very good possibility for transfers between two cities which can be comparatively shut to 1 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 is determined by your journey fashion. If you don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time outdoors your resort, then you definitely simply must price range for the switch to and from the airport.
A tough every 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 daily of your keep; take in the future to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day enjoyable on the seaside.
Also, when you plan to go on guided excursions to nationwide parks, break up the price of the exercise between the price range for leisure and transportation. If you possibly can arrange the tour by yourself, it is going to be loads cheaper, nevertheless it’s comprehensible when you favor to have a information with you out of the 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. If 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 generally is a bit sketchy within the night.
Car Rental In Costa Rica
Renting a automotive is mostly not a price range journey tip, however it could prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. If you’re planning to go to the nationwide parks and journey to extra secluded locations, automotive rental is by far the most affordable possibility for getting across the nation.
Car rental is $55-60 per day, together with gasoline and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per particular person, and when you’re touring with a couple of different particular person, it’s a no brainer. Having a automotive in Costa Rica additionally offers you the final word freedom to discover the nation and means that you can 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 the whole week.
Driving in Costa Rica is mostly very protected, and the principle roads are in good situation. Roads off the crushed path are usually not fairly as clean; typically, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes will be fairly large. If you’re contemplating automotive rental only for straightforward transfers between cities, you can be advantageous with smaller automobiles. But 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 bulk of your price range for transportation in Costa Rica will likely be allotted in direction of the flight to the nation. If you’re coming from the United States, you possibly can normally get a very good deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airlines affords round-trip flights from Miami which can be 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 have been round $700, and people have been uncommon. The common price of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you may be capable to get a greater deal when you journey within the low season.
Cost of Food
Eating out in Costa Rica will be dear when you aren’t acquainted with the native tips. The most important 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 is never nearly as good as the value would point out.
While $30 for a most important course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the common price of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is sort of a luxurious deal with at a very good native restaurant, not only a burger and a few fries at a vacationer joint.
The key to consuming good however low cost in Costa Rica is to hunt 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 may normally have a very nice meal for simply $10. You get to eat the very best native meals and pay the identical costs because the locals, which is vital for Costa Rica on a price range.
Also, it’s essential to take into account that consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is mostly dearer than within the smaller cities. Destinations off the crushed 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.
No matter the place you keep and the way a lot cash you’ll be able to spend on meals in Costa Rica, listed here are some meals that you need to goal to attempt, even when it means it’s important 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 contains meat.
Gallo Pinto is one other conventional Costa Rican dish based mostly on beans and rice. It is 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 the very best native dessert that you could find in nearly each restaurant, and it’s so scrumptious that you simply’ll wish 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 Shopping In Costa Rica
Budget vacationers are unlikely to eat out for each meal in Costa Rica. You can save a good sum of money when you store for groceries and cook dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Local grocery shops in Costa Rica are plentiful in inexpensive recent fruit and greens, and you may typically get nice offers from locals promoting produce at stalls on the facet of the highway. Even simply 1,000 CRC ($2) goes a great distance in Costa Rica and is sufficient for a home-cooked meal. Pineapple is admittedly low cost in Costa Rica, and you may 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 finest to buy at native supermarkets; Maxi Pali even has an internet store the place you possibly can try the costs and availability of elements within the closest store to you.
Also, 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 is going to hold you full, and it’s cheaper than consuming out.
How Much To Budget For Food In Costa Rica
Budget vacationers who store for groceries and eat out solely a few instances can simply get by with a price range of $50 per week. Eating a couple of vegetarian meals will likely be even cheaper, as recent produce is mostly very inexpensive in Costa Rica.
Mid-range vacationers may do one grocery run after which eat out for one meal per day. If they keep on with sodas, a price range of $100-150 per week for one particular person ought to be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend a little bit extra, however that sum of money ought to be sufficient to cowl all meals and drinks in Costa Rica.
Luxury 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 most important 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 could possibly simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals when you needed.
But 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.
Cost of Activities
How a lot cash will you spend on sightseeing and actions when you’re in Costa Rica? That largely is determined by what you love to do; there are lots of free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you could possibly simply discover a very good chunk of the nation with out spending something. Discover the climbing trails, swim within the sea, and stroll round San Jose, marveling on the structure and the native vibes.
But if you wish to go to a well-liked place like Arenal Volcano National Park, or take pleasure in a day of deep-sea fishing, the prices shortly 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 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 is 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.
Budget vacationers are prone to keep on with free actions and luxuriate 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 growing it as a result of the actions are the very best factor about Costa Rica. If you possibly can handle a weekly price range of $100 for leisure, you possibly can even squeeze in one of many pricier experiences like ziplining in Monteverde or La Fortuna’s hanging bridges.
Mid-range vacationers will most likely wish to do one thing enjoyable daily of their keep. A weekly price range of $150-200 ought to be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable the whole time.
Luxury vacationers are probably to spring for dear actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. If you’re doing one thing that prices $100 daily, you possibly can simply spend $600-700 for per week in Costa Rica.
Budget For 1 Week in Costa Rica
Here’s a breakdown of a mid-range price range 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 be mindful I’ve allotted a better price range for meals and actions; when you have been to spend a few days having fun with the free issues to do in Costa Rica and eat out much less ceaselessly, you could possibly simply get by with a price range of $1,000 per week.
Budget vacationers can expertise Costa Rica for $400-500 in per week, whereas luxurious vacationers will spend no less than $2,500. I need to say that, for luxurious vacationers, reserving an all-inclusive resort drastically reduces the price range for meals and drinks.
Budget For 2 Weeks in Costa Rica
A two-week price range for a mid-range traveler in Costa Rica is just about simply double the weekly price range:
$1,200 for lodging
$300 meals
$500 for transportation
$400 for actions
$200 (US) – $850 (Europe) for flights
Budget vacationers could make do with $800-1,000 for 2 weeks, whereas mid-range vacationers want $2,000-2,500 for the very best expertise. Luxury vacationers are prone to spend no less than $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is unquestionably certainly one of our favorite nations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter in case you are a backpacker on a price range or somebody searching for luxurious; you might be assured to have an incredible journey. While it’s true that Costa Rica isn’t the most affordable vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it is going to break the financial institution both. If you observe our solutions above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica understanding that you could hold your price range the place you want it and have a good time as effectively.