Costa Rica is a gorgeous nation to go to, particularly if you happen to’re within the temper for fairly seashores and jungle adventures. It has change into the place to go to in Latin America over the previous 10 years, and for good motive. After all, with that recognition comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has change into fairly expensive in comparison with its neighboring international locations, but it surely’s nonetheless low-cost in comparison with widespread vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of instances and touring by loads of completely different means, we expect 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 resort in Costa Rica for years. That is first-hand info.
So, how a lot cash do you could 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 Costly To Go to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is sort of an costly nation to go to. It’s costlier than different Central American international locations, but it surely’s nonetheless typically inexpensive in comparison with america and Western Europe. In case you’re coming from a rustic with a excessive price of residing, I doubt you’ll discover Costa Rica very costly.
Additionally, there are tons of how it can save you cash whereas touring Costa Rica. Skip the guided excursions and discover as a lot as you’ll be able to by yourself, and attempt to keep away from eating places that cater particularly to English-speaking vacationers. Most excursions and eating places that intention to draw as many English-speaking guests as attainable have particular costs for vacationers and cost them thrice as a lot as they do locals. If there’s no less than one fluent Spanish speaker in your group, it needs to be simple to keep away from the inflated vacationer costs when visiting Costa Rica.
On prime of that, will probably be considerably cheaper to go to the nation within the low season. Plan a visit between Could and November, and it can save you some huge cash on flights, lodging, actions, and even meals. So long as you don’t thoughts that it’s the wet season (however nonetheless heat), you’ll be able to nonetheless have a ton of enjoyable in Costa Rica.
Widespread Questions About Visiting Costa Rica
Is Costa Rica Costly For Holidays?
Costa Rica is an costly vacation vacation spot in comparison with different international locations in Central America. However if you happen to select your resort correctly, benefit from the free points of interest, and be good about the place you eat, a visit to Costa Rica doesn’t have to interrupt the financial institution.
What Is The Common Value of a Journey to Costa Rica?
The typical 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 A lot Does An Common Meal Value in Costa Rica?
A median meal in Costa Rica prices $15. Loads of cheaper and pricier choices can be found, however $15 ought to get you a pleasant meal in most eating places.
How A lot Cash Do You Want 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). Though the nation may be explored on a smaller price range, it’s not fairly as pleasing if you happen to miss out on enjoyable actions for the sake of saving cash.
Value Of Lodging
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 might be $1,000+ per evening. Whether or not you need to journey low-cost or dwell it up, you will discover loads of choices in your worth vary.
Price range vacationers are most certainly to remain at personal residences, hostels, or low-cost inns. The typical Costa Rican hostel fees $20 for a dormitory mattress, so the weekly price range for lodging in Costa Rica may be as little as $120. I’ll say that if you happen to’re touring with one other particular person, renting an house might be the very best budget-friendly choice.
For about $350-400 per week, you’ll be able to lease a spacious one-bedroom house for 2, the place you should have a personal rest room and kitchen. Since you’ll have entry to a kitchen, you’ll be able to prepare 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’ll be able to keep in just about each kind of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a price range of $70-100 per evening, you’ll be able to afford the majority of the lodging within the nation.
This unbelievable five-star resort is simply $150 per evening for 2, and this pretty cabin within the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a price range of $400-700 per particular person for a whole week.
Luxurious vacationers may select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re considerable 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. However select a resort with out direct seaside entry, and also you’ll pay almost half that quantity for a similar stage of service. On the whole, anticipate five-star inns 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 resort 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 widespread with vacationers.
In case you’re simply in search of a spot the place you’ll be able to have a relaxed trip, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is an equally good choice. There are many inns and resorts the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from lounging on the seaside and sipping cocktails, and also you’ll be saving cash in comparison with the resorts on the opposite aspect of the nation.
One other factor to bear in mind is that when is simply as necessary as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Could or June, and also you’ll get the very best resort offers. It’s the start of the moist season, so the vacationer crowds are minimal, however the climate continues to be dry sufficient. Resorts are sometimes as much as 50% cheaper within the low season.
Price range:
Price range 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; if you happen to want to have a mattress in a room and entry to a shared rest room, you’ll have to spend no less than $20-25 per evening. Double rooms in price range inns and personal residences are $50-100 per evening, and among the inns I’ve seen that provide double rooms for $80-100 per evening are simply within the mid-range class.
Mid-Vary:
The choices for mid-range vacationers vary from secluded mountain cabins to five-star inns. In case you can price range about $600 per particular person for lodging for the week, you’ll have your decide of inns and residences throughout Costa Rica.
Luxurious:
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.
Value of Transportation
In case 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 outdated public transportation. Certain, they’re a bit quicker than the native buses, however they’re additionally considerably costlier. A vacationer shuttle from Monteverde to San Jose is roughly $50-70, whereas the general public bus is simply $7. The shuttle is just an hour faster, so it’s typically not price it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly if you happen to’re making an attempt to go to Costa Rica on a price range.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most well-liked to taxis. Native taxi drivers are typically sketchy and may attempt to rip you off; Uber is far safer as you conform to a worth beforehand. Uber can also be a superb choice for transfers between two cities which might be comparatively shut to at least one one other, as it may be considerably quicker than the bus however not extraordinarily costly.
So, what do you have to price range for transportation?
It actually relies on your journey fashion. In case you don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time outdoors your resort, then you definitely simply have to price range for the switch to and from the airport.
A tough every day price range for Costa Rica could 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 actually need to go someplace far every single day of your keep; take in the future to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day enjoyable on the seaside.
Additionally, if you happen to plan to go on guided excursions to nationwide parks, break up the price of the exercise between the price range for leisure and transportation. In case you can manage the tour by yourself, will probably be rather a lot cheaper, but it surely’s comprehensible if you happen to want to have a information with you abroad.
The cities and cities in Costa Rica are typically walkable, so that you don’t have to price range a lot to discover the vacationer points of interest. In case you keep in downtown San Jose, you’ll be capable of stroll to each main attraction within the metropolis. I simply wouldn’t advocate strolling alone after darkish, as a result of some areas of the town is usually a bit sketchy within the night.
Automotive Rental In Costa Rica
Renting a automotive is mostly not a price range journey tip, however it could possibly prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. In case you’re planning to go to the nationwide parks and journey to extra secluded locations, automotive rental is by far the most cost effective choice for getting across the nation.
Automotive rental is $55-60 per day, together with gasoline and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per particular person, and if you happen to’re touring with multiple 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 lets you 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 your entire week.
Driving in Costa Rica is mostly very protected, and the principle roads are in good situation. Roads off the overwhelmed path aren’t fairly as clean; typically, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes may be fairly massive. In case you’re contemplating automotive rental only for simple transfers between cities, you’ll be tremendous with smaller autos. However if you wish to discover nature and go to nationwide parks, you’ll encounter rougher roads, and I recommend a automobile with a excessive floor clearance. These are normally priced at $75-85 per day.
Flights to Costa Rica
The majority of your price range for transportation in Costa Rica shall be allotted in the direction of the flight to the nation. In case you’re coming from america, you’ll be able to normally get a superb deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways affords round-trip flights from Miami which might 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 typical price of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you may be capable of get a greater deal if you happen to journey within the low season.
Value of Meals
Consuming out in Costa Rica may be expensive if you happen to aren’t aware of the native tips. The primary factor to know is that many eating places have menus in Spanish and English, with larger costs on their English menus. These eating places are vacationer traps, and the meals isn’t nearly as good as the value would point out.
Whereas $30 for a fundamental course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the typical price of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is nearly a luxurious deal with at a superb native restaurant, not only a burger and a few fries at a vacationer joint.
The important thing to consuming good however low-cost in Costa Rica is to hunt down 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’ll 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.
Additionally, it’s necessary to needless to say consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is mostly costlier than within the smaller cities. Locations off the overwhelmed path will provide higher offers each for lodging and meals, and it’s another excuse why you need to take into account staying in a city that’s not included in all of the vacationer guides for Central and South America.
Regardless of 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 intention 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’s 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 will discover in just about each restaurant, and it’s so scrumptious that you just’ll need 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 Procuring In Costa Rica
Price range vacationers are unlikely to eat out for each meal in Costa Rica. It can save you a good sum of money if you happen to store for groceries and prepare dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Native grocery shops in Costa Rica are considerable in inexpensive recent fruit and greens, and you’ll typically get nice offers from locals promoting produce at stalls on the aspect 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 de facto low-cost in Costa Rica, and you’ll 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 greatest to buy at native supermarkets; Maxi Pali even has an internet store the place you’ll be able to try the costs and availability of elements within the closest store to you.
Additionally, many grocery shops within the larger 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 should maintain you full, and it’s cheaper than consuming out.
How A lot To Price range For Meals In Costa Rica
Price range vacationers who store for groceries and eat out solely a few instances can simply get by with a price range of $50 per week. Consuming a number of vegetarian meals shall 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. In the event that they keep on with sodas, a price range of $100-150 per week for one particular person needs to be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend slightly extra, however that sum of money needs to be sufficient to cowl all meals and drinks in Costa Rica.
Luxurious 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 fundamental 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 if you happen to wished.
However say you eat breakfast on the resort, 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.
Value of Actions
How a lot cash will you spend on sightseeing and actions when you’re in Costa Rica? That largely relies on what you love to do; there are lots of free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you could possibly simply discover a superb chunk of the nation with out spending something. Uncover the mountain climbing trails, swim within the sea, and stroll round San Jose, marveling on the structure and the native vibes.
However if you wish to go to a preferred place like Arenal Volcano Nationwide Park, or get pleasure from 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 individuals who need to expertise these bucket checklist 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’s 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.
Price range vacationers are more likely 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 the whole lot 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. In case you can handle a weekly price range of $100 for leisure, you’ll be able to even squeeze in one of many pricier experiences like ziplining in Monteverde or La Fortuna’s hanging bridges.
Mid-range vacationers will most likely need to do one thing enjoyable every single day of their keep. A weekly price range of $150-200 needs to be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable your entire time.
Luxurious vacationers are most certainly to spring for expensive actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. In case you’re doing one thing that prices $100 every single day, you’ll be able to simply spend $600-700 for per week in Costa Rica.
Price range For 1 Week in Costa Rica
Right 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 consider I’ve allotted the next price range for meals and actions; if you happen to have been to spend a few days having fun with the free issues to do in Costa Rica and eat out much less continuously, you could possibly simply get by with a price range of $1,000 per week.
Price range 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.
Price range For two 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
Price range 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. Luxurious vacationers are more likely to spend no less than $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is certainly one in every of our favorite international locations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter in case you are a backpacker on a price range or somebody in search of luxurious; you might be assured to have an incredible journey. Whereas it’s true that Costa Rica is just not the most cost effective vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it should break the financial institution both. In case you observe our strategies above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica realizing which you can maintain your price range the place you want it and have a good time as effectively.
