Costa Rica is a fantastic 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. In fact, with that reputation comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has change into fairly expensive in comparison with its neighboring international locations, however it’s nonetheless low-cost in comparison with in style vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of occasions and touring by a variety of completely different means, we predict we have now a good suggestion of the particular prices of journey in Costa Rica. Heck, we even have good associates who moved down there and are loving it, in addition to different associates who owned and ran a lodge in Costa Rica for years. That is first-hand data.
So, how a lot cash do it is advisable journey to Costa Rica, and is funds journey within the nation even potential? Let’s dive into the funds breakdown for a Costa Rica vacation.
Is It Costly To Go to Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is form of an costly nation to go to. It’s costlier than different Central American international locations, however it’s nonetheless usually inexpensive in comparison with the USA and Western Europe. When you’re coming from a rustic with a excessive price of dwelling, 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 purpose to draw as many English-speaking guests as potential have particular costs for vacationers and cost them 3 times as a lot as they do locals. If there’s not 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 high of that, it will likely be considerably cheaper to go to the nation within the low season. Plan a visit between Might 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.
Frequent 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 lodge properly, 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 common price of a visit to Costa Rica is $800-1,300 USD for mid-range vacationers. It’s potential to journey to the nation with a smaller funds 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 not less than $1,200 for seven days in Costa Rica with lodging and a return flight (from the US). Though the nation might be explored on a smaller funds, it’s not fairly as gratifying 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 night time. Whether or not you wish to journey low-cost or reside it up, you’ll find loads of choices in your worth vary.
Finances vacationers are most probably to remain at personal flats, hostels, or low-cost accommodations. The common Costa Rican hostel costs $20 for a dormitory mattress, so the weekly funds for lodging in Costa Rica might be as little as $120. I’ll say that if you happen to’re touring with one other individual, renting an condominium might be the very best budget-friendly possibility.
For about $350-400 per week, you’ll be able to lease a spacious one-bedroom condominium 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 cook dinner most of your meals and save fairly a bit of cash on meals. And that’s on a funds of $170-200 per individual for a whole week.
A mid-range funds in Costa Rica means you’ll be able to keep in nearly each kind of lodging within the nation, barring a elaborate beachfront resort with all-inclusive service. With a funds of $70-100 per night time, you’ll be able to afford the majority of the lodging within the nation.
This incredible five-star lodge is simply $150 per night time for 2, and this beautiful cabin within the mountains is even cheaper. That’s a funds of $400-700 per individual for a whole week.
Luxurious vacationers may select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re plentiful in Costa Rica, however their price varies fairly a bit relying on the placement. An all-inclusive resort with direct seashore entry will typically run you $400-500 per night time per individual. However select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay practically half that quantity for a similar stage of service. Generally, count on five-star accommodations and all-inclusive resorts to price $300-500 per night time, per individual, 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 inexpensive than the Pacific coast, largely as a result of the cities there aren’t fairly as in style with vacationers.
When you’re simply searching for a spot the place you’ll be able to have a relaxed trip, Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast is an equally good possibility. There are many accommodations and resorts the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in 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.
One other factor to remember is that when is simply as necessary as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Might or June, and also you’ll get the very 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. Motels are sometimes as much as 50% cheaper within the low season.
Finances:
Finances vacationers can discover lodging in Costa Rica for as little as $10 per night time. That’s if you wish to camp in a tent on the grounds of a hostel; if you happen to favor to have a mattress in a room and entry to a shared rest room, you’ll have to spend not less than $20-25 per night time. Double rooms in funds accommodations and personal flats are $50-100 per night time, and a number of the accommodations I’ve seen that provide double rooms for $80-100 per night time are simply within the mid-range class.
Mid-Vary:
The choices for mid-range vacationers vary from secluded mountain cabins to five-star accommodations. When you can funds about $600 per individual for lodging for the week, you’ll have your decide of accommodations and flats throughout Costa Rica.
Luxurious:
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 night time for 2 vacationers, with many choices that exceed the nightly price of $1,000.
Value of Transportation
When you’re not pressed for time and like to save cash, I say keep away from the vacationer shuttles in any respect prices and persist with good previous public transportation. Certain, they’re a bit sooner 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 barely an hour faster, so it’s usually not value it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly if you happen to’re making an attempt to go to Costa Rica on a funds.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most popular to taxis. Native taxi drivers are generally sketchy and may attempt to rip you off; Uber is way safer as you conform to a worth beforehand. Uber can be a great possibility for transfers between two cities which might be comparatively shut to 1 one other, as it may be considerably sooner than the bus however not extraordinarily costly.
So, what must you funds for transportation?
It actually will depend on your journey fashion. When you don’t plan to spend an excessive amount of time outdoors your resort, you then simply have to funds for the switch to and from the airport.
A tough every day funds for Costa Rica could be $15 for funds 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 sooner or later to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day enjoyable on the seashore.
Additionally, if you happen to plan to go on guided excursions to nationwide parks, cut up the price of the exercise between the funds for leisure and transportation. When you can arrange the tour by yourself, it will likely be rather a lot cheaper, however it’s comprehensible if you happen to favor to have a information with you in another country.
The cities and cities in Costa Rica are usually walkable, so that you don’t have to funds a lot to discover the vacationer points of interest. When 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.
Automotive Rental In Costa Rica
Renting a automotive is mostly not a funds journey tip, however it may possibly prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. When you’re planning to go to the nationwide parks and journey to extra secluded locations, automotive rental is by far the most cost effective possibility 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 individual, and if you happen to’re touring with multiple different individual, it’s a no brainer. Having a automotive in Costa Rica additionally provides 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 every week’s keep, and that comes out to a transportation funds of $18 per individual for your complete week.
Driving in Costa Rica is mostly very protected, and the principle roads are in good situation. Roads off the crushed path aren’t fairly as clean; typically, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes might be fairly large. When you’re contemplating automotive rental only for simple transfers between cities, you may be positive with smaller automobiles. However if you wish to discover nature and go to nationwide parks, you’ll encounter rougher roads, and I recommend a car with a excessive floor clearance. These are often priced at $75-85 per day.
Flights to Costa Rica
The majority of your funds for transportation in Costa Rica will likely be allotted in direction of the flight to the nation. When you’re coming from the USA, you’ll be able to often get a great deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways affords round-trip flights from Miami which might be beneath $200 per individual, which is dirt-cheap in comparison with the price of flying out of Europe.
The most affordable round-trip flights from Europe I’ve seen had been round $700, and people had been uncommon. The common price of a return flight from Europe to Costa Rica was $850, though you may have the ability to get a greater deal if you happen to journey within the low season.
Value of Meals
Consuming out in Costa Rica might be expensive if you happen to aren’t acquainted with the native tips. The principle 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 worth would point out.
Whereas $30 for a essential course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the common price of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is sort of a luxurious deal with at a great 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 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’ll often 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 funds.
Additionally, it’s necessary to understand that consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is mostly costlier than within the smaller cities. Locations off the crushed path will supply 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 below are some meals that you need to purpose to attempt, even when it means you must 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 primarily based on beans and rice. It’s 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 the very best native dessert that yow will discover in nearly each restaurant, and it’s so scrumptious that you simply’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 Buying In Costa Rica
Finances vacationers are unlikely to eat out for each meal in Costa Rica. It can save you a good amount of cash if you happen to store for groceries and cook dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Native grocery shops in Costa Rica are plentiful 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 good distance in Costa Rica and is sufficient for a home-cooked meal. Pineapple is absolutely low-cost in Costa Rica, and you’ll often get three items for about $2.
A weekly funds 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 a web based store the place you’ll be able to try the costs and availability of substances within the closest store to you.
Additionally, 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 gained’t be the tastiest meals you eat in Costa Rica, however it’ll maintain you full, and it’s cheaper than consuming out.
How A lot To Finances For Meals In Costa Rica
Finances vacationers who store for groceries and eat out solely a few occasions can simply get by with a funds of $50 per week. Consuming a number of vegetarian meals will likely 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 persist with sodas, a funds of $100-150 per week for one individual needs to be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend just a little extra, however that amount of cash 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 worth of essential programs ranges from $25-40. A tasting menu in San Jose’s fanciest restaurant is round $110 per individual with out wine pairings, so you might simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals if you happen to wished.
However say you eat breakfast on the lodge, go to a extra inexpensive place for lunch, and splurge for dinner. That’s a funds 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 will depend on what you love to do; there are a lot of free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you might simply discover a great chunk of the nation with out spending something. Uncover the 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 take pleasure in a day of deep-sea fishing, the prices shortly add up. I like how Costa Rica is nice each for vacationers preferring to discover the free actions and for many who wish to expertise these bucket record adventures. The latter goes to be the pricier various, however value it for the expertise.
One factor to notice is that lots 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.
Finances vacationers are prone to persist with free actions and revel in 2-3 paid excursions throughout their keep. A tough funds of $20 per exercise provides you all kinds of choices, because it covers all the things from kayaking to nationwide park entrances and entry to waterfalls. A weekly funds may very well 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. When you can handle a weekly funds 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 wish to do one thing enjoyable day-after-day of their keep. A weekly funds of $150-200 needs to be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable your complete time.
Luxurious vacationers are most probably to spring for expensive actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. When you’re doing one thing that prices $100 day-after-day, you’ll be able to simply spend $600-700 for every week in Costa Rica.
Finances For 1 Week in Costa Rica
Right here’s a breakdown of a mid-range funds 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 individual for a whole week, not together with the return flight. And take into account I’ve allotted the next funds for meals and actions; if you happen to had been to spend a few days having fun with the free issues to do in Costa Rica and eat out much less incessantly, you might simply get by with a funds of $1,000 per week.
Finances vacationers can expertise Costa Rica for $400-500 in every 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 funds for meals and drinks.
Finances For two Weeks in Costa Rica
A two-week funds for a mid-range traveler in Costa Rica is just about simply double the weekly funds:
$1,200 for lodging
$300 meals
$500 for transportation
$400 for actions
$200 (US) – $850 (Europe) for flights
Finances 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 prone to spend not less than $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is unquestionably one in every of our favorite international locations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter if you’re a backpacker on a funds or somebody searching for luxurious; you might be assured to have a tremendous journey. Whereas it’s true that Costa Rica just isn’t the most cost effective vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it’ll break the financial institution both. When you comply with our options above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica understanding you could maintain your funds the place you want it and have a good time as properly.