Travel budget and cost of living in Costa Rica how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Costa Rica

Costa Rica: calculate your travel budget

Costa Rica: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Costa Rica for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Costa Rica in 2024

Cost of living: Costa Rica VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Costa Rica in 2024 is 12% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Costa Rica by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Costa Rica compared to the national average.

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Local prices in Costa Rica by expense type

Costa Rica: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 10/person
($ 6 to $ 21)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 32/person
($ 17 to $ 51)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 10/person
($ 8.4 to $ 11)

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8% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 3 for 500ml
($ 1.9 to $ 6)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 4.6)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 3.5/cup
($ 2 to $ 6)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 2/can
($ 1.5 to $ 3)

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16% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 1.6/bottle
($ 1.2 to $ 2.6)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Costa Rica: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 91/night
($ 26 to $ 451)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167

2-star hotel

$ 92/night
($ 32 to $ 305)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 157

3-star hotel

$ 141/night
($ 40 to $ 518)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 228

4-star hotel

$ 247/night
($ 88 to $ 687)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 305

5-star hotel

$ 350/night
($ 198 to $ 766)

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27% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 481

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 99/month
($ 34 to $ 395)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164

Room with kitchen

$ 144/month
($ 34 to $ 750)

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40% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 240

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 171/month
($ 41 to $ 829)

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19% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

Cottage or guest house

$ 106/month
($ 46 to $ 330)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Family room

$ 190/month
($ 46 to $ 894)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

Costa Rica: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 2.5)

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83% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 2.8/500g
($ 1.2 to $ 5)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 2.2/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 3.6)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 3.5/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 6)

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5% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 9.5/kg
($ 4 to $ 15)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 4.5/kg
($ 2 to $ 8.8)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.2)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4.4)

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13% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 2.5
($ 1.4 to $ 4)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Costa Rica: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1/ticket
($ 0.9 to $ 1.4)

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60% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.8/km
($ 1.3 to $ 2.4)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2)

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60% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.8
($ 1.3 to $ 2.4)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Car hire

$ 59/24hrs
($ 23 to $ 142)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 55

Costa Rica: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 8/ticket
($ 6 to $ 12)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 35/hr
($ 21 to $ 61)

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42% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 24

Costa Rica: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 5/pack
($ 4.4 to $ 6)

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50% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 76
($ 41 to $ 101)

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42% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 54
($ 25 to $ 81)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

New York City → San José

$ 511
(fair price: $ 393)

Los Angeles → San José

$ 485
(fair price: $ 364)

London → San José

$ 754
(fair price: $ 674)

Montreal → San José

$ 667
(fair price: $ 560)

Toronto → San José

$ 651
(fair price: $ 516)

Manchester → San José

$ 875
(fair price: $ 753)

Book a flight Flight prices to Costa Rica