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.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 62 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 17 per person
  • $ 3.8 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 1445* (726446 CRC)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 116 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 31 per person
  • $ 14 per person
  • $ 7.7 per person

Total budget:

$ 3060* (1539104 CRC)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 190 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 51 per person
  • $ 32 per person
  • $ 16 per person

Total budget:

$ 5352* (2691850 CRC)

* 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

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Costa Rica in 2024 is 11% 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.

Cities /Costa Rica View Details
Nicoya 11% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Nicoya
Tamarindo 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Tamarindo
Cartago 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Cartago
Esparza 3% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Esparza
San José 2% moreTravel budget and cost of living in San José
San Vito 2% lessTravel budget and cost of living in San Vito
Puntarenas 18% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Puntarenas
Puerto Limón 19% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Puerto Limón

Show all cities (4 more)




Local prices in Costa Rica by expense type

Costa Rica: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Costa Rica costs 27% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 10/person
($ 6.1 to $ 20)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 30/person
($ 18 to $ 50)

21% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 37
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 10/person
($ 8.6 to $ 11)

11% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 2.8 for 500ml
($ 1.9 to $ 5.8)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.7 for 330ml
($ 1.9 to $ 4.8)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 3.7/cup
($ 1.9 to $ 6.1)

27% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 2.1/can
($ 1.6 to $ 2.9)

15% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 1.6/bottle
($ 1.2 to $ 2.8)

19% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Costa Rica: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Costa Rica costs 29% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 98/night
($ 28 to $ 488)

41% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 93/night
($ 32 to $ 304)

38% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 152
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 139/night
($ 38 to $ 495)

37% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 241/night
($ 75 to $ 746)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 304
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 371/night
($ 221 to $ 845)

14% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 435
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 106/month
($ 31 to $ 461)

34% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 148/month
($ 33 to $ 780)

37% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 235
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 175/month
($ 40 to $ 862)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 113/month
($ 45 to $ 384)

48% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220
Family room
Family room
$ 192/month
($ 47 to $ 895)

4% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 201

Costa Rica: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Costa Rica costs 7% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 2.4)

86% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 3/500g
($ 1.3 to $ 5.3)

14% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Rice
Rice
$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 3.5)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 3.4/12 eggs
($ 1.6 to $ 5.8)

8% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Chicken
Chicken
$ 9.3/kg
($ 3.9 to $ 14)

20% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 4.5/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 7.7)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4)

42% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.2 to $ 4.2)

9% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 2.3
($ 1.6 to $ 3.9)

9% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Costa Rica: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Costa Rica costs 13% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 0.9/ticket
($ 0.7 to $ 1.4)

60% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.9/km
($ 1.4 to $ 2.4)

10% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.5/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 1.9)

57% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 1.8
($ 1.3 to $ 2.8)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Car hire
Car hire
$ 57/24hrs
($ 15 to $ 152)

19% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 71

Costa Rica: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Costa Rica is essentially the same as in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 7.7/ticket
($ 6.1 to $ 12)

44% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 32/hr
($ 14 to $ 58)

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

Costa Rica: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Costa Rica is 5% more expensive than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 4.8/pack
($ 4.2 to $ 5.3)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 74
($ 39 to $ 99)

42% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 52
($ 20 to $ 77)

23% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

Plane ticket budget

Montreal → San José
Montreal → San José
Montreal → San José
$ 640
(fair price: $ 534)
New York City → San José
New York City → San José
New York City → San José
$ 496
(fair price: $ 367)
Los Angeles → San José
Los Angeles  → San José
Los Angeles  → San José
$ 514
(fair price: $ 391)
Toronto → San José
Toronto → San José
Toronto → San José
$ 638
(fair price: $ 495)
Manchester → San José
Manchester → San José
Manchester → San José
$ 899
(fair price: $ 798)
London → San José
London → San José
London → San José
$ 806
(fair price: $ 715)

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About the information on the cost of living in Costa Rica

The information about the cost of living in Costa Rica shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Costa Rica updated on 10-11-2024.

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