Costa Rica is an exquisite nation to go to, particularly for those who’re within the temper for fairly seashores and jungle adventures. It has grow to be the place to go to in Latin America over the previous 10 years, and for good cause. Of course, with that recognition comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has grow to be fairly dear in comparison with its neighboring international locations, nevertheless it’s nonetheless low cost in comparison with fashionable vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of occasions and touring by a number of completely different means, we expect we have now a good suggestion of the particular prices of journey in Costa Rica. Heck, we even have good mates who moved down there and are loving it, in addition to different mates who owned and ran a lodge in Costa Rica for years. This is first-hand info.
So, how a lot cash do that you must 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 form of an costly nation to go to. It’s costlier than different Central American international locations, nevertheless it’s nonetheless usually reasonably priced in comparison with the United States and Western Europe. If you’re coming from a rustic with a excessive value of dwelling, I doubt you’ll discover Costa Rica very costly.
Also, 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 may 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 thrice as a lot as they do locals. If there’s not less than one fluent Spanish speaker in your group, it ought to be simple 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 may 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 international locations in Central America. But for those who 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 value 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 not 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 pleasurable for those who miss out on enjoyable actions for the sake of saving cash.
Cost Of Accommodation
Costa Rica is an efficient vacation spot for anybody as a result of the lodging choices vary from $20 dorm beds to all-inclusive resorts which are $1,000+ per evening. Whether you wish to journey low cost or reside it up, you will see loads of choices in your worth vary.
Budget vacationers are most definitely to remain at personal residences, hostels, or low cost accommodations. The common Costa Rican hostel fees $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 for those who’re touring with one other particular person, renting an house might be one of the best budget-friendly possibility.
For about $350-400 per week, you may lease a spacious one-bedroom house for 2, the place you should have a personal rest room and kitchen. Because you’ll have entry to a kitchen, you may 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 complete week.
A mid-range price range in Costa Rica means you may keep in nearly each sort of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a price range of $70-100 per evening, you may afford the majority of the lodging within the nation.
This incredible 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 complete week.
Luxury vacationers would possibly select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re plentiful in Costa Rica, however their value varies fairly a bit relying on the situation. An all-inclusive resort with direct seashore entry will typically run you $400-500 per evening per particular person. But select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay practically half that quantity for a similar degree of service. In basic, anticipate five-star accommodations and all-inclusive resorts to value $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 reasonably priced than the Pacific coast, largely as a result of the cities there aren’t fairly as fashionable with vacationers.
If you’re simply on the lookout for a spot the place you may have a relaxed trip, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is an equally good possibility. There are loads of accommodations and resorts the place you may get pleasure from lounging on the seashore and sipping cocktails, and also you’ll be saving cash in comparison with the resorts on the opposite aspect of the nation.
Another factor to bear in mind is that when is simply as essential as the place. Travel to Costa Rica in May or June, and also you’ll get one of the 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; for those who want to have a mattress in a room and entry to a shared rest room, you’ll must spend not less than $20-25 per evening. Double rooms in price range accommodations and personal residences are $50-100 per evening, and a few of the accommodations 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 accommodations. If you may price range about $600 per particular person for lodging for the week, you’ll have your choose of accommodations and residences throughout Costa Rica.
Luxury:
All-inclusive beachfront resorts are the epitome of luxurious in Costa Rica. Spend your days enjoyable on the seashore 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 price 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 costlier. A vacationer shuttle from Monteverde to San Jose is roughly $50-70, whereas the general public bus is simply $7. The shuttle is simply an hour faster, so it’s usually not value it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly for those who’re attempting to go to Costa Rica on a price range.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most well-liked to taxis. Local taxi drivers are generally sketchy and would possibly attempt to rip you off; Uber is way safer as you comply with a worth beforehand. Uber can also be an excellent possibility for transfers between two cities which are 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 depends upon 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 day by 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 day-after-day of your keep; take in the future to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day enjoyable on the seashore.
Also, for those who plan to go on guided excursions to nationwide parks, cut up the price of the exercise between the price range for leisure and transportation. If you may manage the tour by yourself, it is going to be rather a lot cheaper, nevertheless it’s comprehensible for those who want to have a information with you abroad.
The cities and cities in Costa Rica are usually 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 have the ability to stroll to each main attraction within the metropolis. I simply wouldn’t suggest strolling alone after darkish, as a result of some areas of the town is usually a bit sketchy within the night.
Car Rental In Costa Rica
Renting a automobile 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, automobile rental is by far the most cost effective possibility for getting across the nation.
Car rental is $55-60 per day, together with fuel and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per particular person, and for those who’re touring with a couple of different particular person, it’s a no brainer. Having a automobile in Costa Rica additionally offers you the last word freedom to discover the nation and permits you to skip guided excursions as you don’t want to fret about transportation. Plus, you don’t want it each single day; lease a automobile 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 secure, and the primary roads are in good situation. Roads off the overwhelmed path usually are not fairly as clean; typically, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes will be fairly large. If you’re contemplating automobile rental only for simple transfers between cities, you’ll be tremendous with smaller autos. But if you wish to discover nature and go to nationwide parks, you’ll encounter rougher roads, and I counsel a car with a excessive floor clearance. These are often 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 may often get an excellent deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airlines gives round-trip flights from Miami which are beneath $200 per particular person, which is dirt-cheap in comparison with the price of flying out of Europe.
The least expensive round-trip flights from Europe I’ve seen have been round $700, and people have been uncommon. The common value of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you would possibly have the ability to get a greater deal for those who journey within the low season.
Cost of Food
Eating out in Costa Rica will be dear for those who aren’t accustomed to the native methods. The 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 worth would point out.
While $30 for a important course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the typical value of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is nearly a luxurious deal with at an excellent 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 often don’t actually have a menu in English. It’s the place all of the locals eat, and you may often have a very nice meal for simply $10. You get to eat one of the 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 costlier than within the smaller cities. Destinations off the overwhelmed path will provide higher offers each for lodging and meals, and it’s another excuse why you must take into account 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 below are some meals that you must goal to attempt, even when it means it’s a must to splurge:
Casado is a Costa Rican dish consisting of rice, plantain, black beans, tortilla, salad, and optionally meat. It’s often $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 often prices 3,500-4,500 CRC ($7-9).
Arroz con leche is to Costa Rica what Tiramisu is to Italy. It’s one of the best native dessert that you’ll find in nearly each restaurant, and it’s so scrumptious that you just’ll wish to eat it after each meal. The candy rice pudding is often 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 amount of cash for those who store for groceries and prepare dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Local grocery shops in Costa Rica are plentiful in reasonably priced recent fruit and greens, and you may typically get nice offers from locals promoting produce at stalls on the aspect of the street. Even simply 1,000 CRC ($2) goes a great distance in Costa Rica and is sufficient for a home-cooked meal. Pineapple is absolutely low cost in Costa Rica, and you may often 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 a web-based store the place you may take a look at 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 often priced at 2,000-3,000 CRC ($4-6), and the parts are very beneficiant. It received’t be the tastiest meals you eat in Costa Rica, however it would preserve 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 occasions can simply get by with a price range of $50 per week. Eating a number of vegetarian meals will likely be even cheaper, as recent produce is mostly very reasonably priced in Costa Rica.
Mid-range vacationers would possibly 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 slightly extra, however that amount of cash ought to be sufficient to cowl all meals and drinks in Costa Rica.
Luxury vacationers usually tend to eat for each meal until they’re staying in all-inclusive lodging. Fancy eating places in Costa Rica are fairly costly, and the worth of 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 might simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals for those who needed.
But say you eat breakfast on the lodge, go to a extra reasonably priced 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 whilst you’re in Costa Rica? That largely depends upon what you love to do; there are numerous free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you might simply discover an excellent chunk of the nation with out spending something. Discover the mountaineering 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 preferred place like Arenal Volcano National 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 wish to expertise these bucket listing adventures. The latter goes to be the pricier different, however value 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 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 all the things 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 one of the best factor about Costa Rica. If you may handle a weekly price range of $100 for leisure, you may even squeeze in one of many pricier experiences like ziplining in Monteverde or La Fortuna’s hanging bridges.
Mid-range vacationers will in all probability wish to do one thing enjoyable day-after-day of their keep. A weekly price range of $150-200 ought to be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable your entire time.
Luxury vacationers are most definitely to spring for dear actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. If you’re doing one thing that prices $100 day-after-day, you may 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 complete week, not together with the return flight. And have in mind I’ve allotted a better price range for meals and actions; for those who 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 might 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 not 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 one of the best expertise. Luxury vacationers are more likely to spend not less than $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is unquestionably one among our favorite international locations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter if you’re a backpacker on a price range or somebody on the lookout for luxurious; you’re assured to have a tremendous journey. While it’s true that Costa Rica is just not the most cost effective vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it would break the financial institution both. If you observe our solutions above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica realizing that you may preserve your price range the place you want it and have a good time as nicely.