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 2025

Cost of living: Costa Rica VS Belgium

On average, the cost of living in Costa Rica in 2025 is 2% less than in Belgium.

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices Belgium in in Belgium and Belgium by types of expenses:

Local prices in Costa Rica by expense type

Costa Rica: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 11/person
($ 7.5 to $ 23)

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54% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 24

3 course dinner

$ 33/person
($ 19 to $ 54)

---

31% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

McDonald's meal

$ 11/person
($ 9.7 to $ 12)

---

8% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 12

Local beer

$ 3.3 for 500ml
($ 2.1 to $ 6.4)

---

38% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.3

Imported beer

$ 3 for 330ml
($ 2 to $ 4.9)

---

28% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.4

Cappuccino

$ 4.2/cup
($ 2.3 to $ 6.9)

---

5% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4

Fizzy drink

$ 2.3/can
($ 1.8 to $ 3.4)

---

26% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 1.8/bottle
($ 1.3 to $ 2.8)

---

37% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Costa Rica: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 86/night
($ 34 to $ 353)

---

18% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 106

2-star hotel

$ 106/night
($ 36 to $ 361)

---

26% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 144

3-star hotel

$ 156/night
($ 43 to $ 558)

---

1% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 155

4-star hotel

$ 307/night
($ 102 to $ 878)

---

65% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 187

5-star hotel

$ 599/night
($ 406 to $ 964)

---

146% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 244

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 100/month
($ 37 to $ 338)

---

18% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 171/month
($ 39 to $ 909)

---

13% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 197

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 202/month
($ 47 to $ 994)

---

5% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 194

Cottage or guest house

$ 121/month
($ 58 to $ 343)

---

28% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 169

Family room

$ 219/month
($ 51 to $ 1027)

---

15% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 258

Costa Rica: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 2.1/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 3.3)

---

63% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.3

Bread

$ 6.8/500g
($ 2.7 to $ 13)

---

37% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.9

Rice

$ 2.6/kg
($ 2 to $ 4.3)

---

2% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.5

Eggs

$ 3.6/12 eggs
($ 2 to $ 6.4)

---

7% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4

Chicken

$ 10.2/kg
($ 4.3 to $ 16)

---

15% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 13

Apples

$ 4.8/kg
($ 2.1 to $ 8.7)

---

68% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.8

Tomatoes

$ 3.3/kg
($ 1.5 to $ 4.8)

---

11% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3

Potatoes

$ 3.2/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 5.4)

---

49% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.1

Water bottle

$ 2.7
($ 1.9 to $ 4.3)

---

158% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1

Costa Rica: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 1.1/ticket
($ 0.8 to $ 1.5)

---

63% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.1/km
($ 1.5 to $ 2.7)

---

26% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Petrol

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.4 to $ 2.1)

---

17% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2
($ 1.5 to $ 3.3)

---

66% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.9

Car hire

$ 65/24hrs
($ 25 to $ 183)

---

8% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 60

Costa Rica: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 8.7/ticket
($ 6.9 to $ 13)

---

42% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 15

Tennis

$ 34/hr
($ 16 to $ 66)

---

55% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 22

Costa Rica: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 5.4/pack
($ 4.9 to $ 6.1)

---

54% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 12

Levi's jeans

$ 81
($ 44 to $ 108)

---

25% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 107

Summer dress

$ 61
($ 23 to $ 98)

---

29% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

Plane ticket budget

London → San José

$ 924
(fair price: $ 826)

Montreal → San José

$ 664
(fair price: $ 530)

New York City → San José

$ 546
(fair price: $ 402)

Toronto → San José

$ 667
(fair price: $ 510)

Chicago → San José

$ 540
(fair price: $ 428)

Los Angeles → San José

$ 553
(fair price: $ 430)

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