Costa Rica is an exquisite nation to go to, particularly if you happen to’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 motive. In fact, with that reputation comes a rise in costs. Costa Rica has grow to be fairly dear in comparison with its neighboring nations, however it’s nonetheless low cost in comparison with well-liked vacationer locations in North America and even Western Europe.
After visiting the nation a number of occasions and touring by plenty of completely different means, we predict now we have 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. That is first-hand info.
So, how a lot cash do you might want to 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 dearer than different Central American nations, however it’s nonetheless typically inexpensive in comparison with the US and Western Europe. Should you’re coming from a rustic with a excessive value of residing, I doubt you’ll discover Costa Rica very costly.
Additionally, there are tons of the way 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 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 must be straightforward 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 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.
Widespread Questions About Visiting Costa Rica
Is Costa Rica Costly For Holidays?
Costa Rica is an costly vacation vacation spot in comparison with different nations in Central America. However if you happen to select your lodge properly, benefit from the free sights, 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 Price of a Journey to Costa Rica?
The typical 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 A lot Does An Common Meal Price in Costa Rica?
A mean 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 will be explored on a smaller price range, it’s not fairly as fulfilling if you happen to miss out on enjoyable actions for the sake of saving cash.
Price Of Lodging
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 or not you need to journey low cost or stay it up, you will discover loads of choices in your value vary.
Funds vacationers are most certainly to remain at personal flats, hostels, or low cost resorts. The typical Costa Rican hostel costs $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 if you happen to’re touring with one other particular person, renting an condo might be one of the best budget-friendly possibility.
For about $350-400 per week, you’ll be able to lease a spacious one-bedroom condo for 2, the place you should have a personal lavatory 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 flowery 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 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 whole week.
Luxurious vacationers may select to remain in an all-inclusive resort. They’re ample in Costa Rica, however their value varies fairly a bit relying on the placement. An all-inclusive resort with direct seashore entry will usually run you $400-500 per evening per particular person. However select a resort with out direct seashore entry, and also you’ll pay practically half that quantity for a similar degree of service. Normally, count on five-star resorts 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 inexpensive than the Pacific coast, largely as a result of the cities there aren’t fairly as well-liked with vacationers.
Should 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 possibility. There are many resorts 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 bear in mind is that when is simply as essential as the place. Journey to Costa Rica in Might 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. Accommodations are sometimes as much as 50% cheaper within the low season.
Funds:
Funds 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 lavatory, you’ll must spend not less than $20-25 per evening. Double rooms in price range resorts and personal flats are $50-100 per evening, and among the resorts I’ve seen that supply 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 resorts. Should you can price range about $600 per particular person for lodging for the week, you’ll have your choose of resorts and flats throughout Costa Rica.
Luxurious:
All-inclusive beachfront resorts are the epitome of luxurious in Costa Rica. Spend your days stress-free 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.
Price of Transportation
Should you’re not pressed for time and like to economize, I say keep away from the vacationer shuttles in any respect prices and keep on with good outdated public transportation. Positive, they’re a bit sooner than the native buses, however they’re additionally considerably dearer. 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 typically not price it to spring for this mode of transport, particularly if you happen to’re attempting to go to Costa Rica on a price range.
For shorter journeys, Uber is most popular to taxis. Native taxi drivers are generally sketchy and may attempt to rip you off; Uber is far safer as you conform to a value beforehand. Uber can be an excellent possibility for transfers between two cities which are comparatively shut to at least one one other, as it may be considerably sooner than the bus however not extraordinarily costly.
So, what do you have to price range for transportation?
It actually is dependent upon your journey model. Should 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 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 really want to go someplace far day-after-day of your keep; take at some point to stroll across the metropolis, or spend a day stress-free 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 price range for leisure and transportation. Should you can arrange the tour by yourself, will probably be so much cheaper, however it’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 must price range a lot to discover the vacationer sights. Should you keep in downtown San Jose, you’ll be capable of 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 generally is a bit sketchy within the night.
Automotive Rental In Costa Rica
Renting a automobile is usually not a price range journey tip, however it could possibly prevent fairly a bit of cash in Costa Rica. Should 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.
Automotive rental is $55-60 per day, together with fuel and insurance coverage. That’s cheaper than the vacationer shuttle per particular person, and if you happen to’re touring with a couple of different particular person, it’s a no brainer. Having a automobile in Costa Rica additionally provides you the last 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 automobile for 4 days of every week’s keep, and that comes out to a transportation price range of $18 per particular person for the complete week.
Driving in Costa Rica is usually very secure, and the primary roads are in good situation. Roads off the overwhelmed path should not fairly as clean; usually, there’s no asphalt, and the potholes will be fairly massive. Should you’re contemplating automobile rental only for straightforward transfers between cities, you can be wonderful with smaller automobiles. However if you wish to discover nature and go to nationwide parks, you’ll encounter rougher roads, and I counsel a automobile with a excessive floor clearance. These are often priced at $75-85 per day.
Flights to Costa Rica
The majority of your price range for transportation in Costa Rica can be allotted in direction of the flight to the nation. Should you’re coming from the US, you’ll be able to often get an excellent deal on return flights to Costa Rica. Spirit Airways provides round-trip flights from Miami which are underneath $200 per particular person, 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 typical value 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.
Price of Meals
Consuming out in Costa Rica will be dear if you happen to aren’t accustomed to the native methods. The principle factor to know is that many eating places have menus in Spanish and English, with increased costs on their English menus. These eating places are vacationer traps, and the meals isn’t pretty much as good as the worth would point out.
Whereas $30 for a important course isn’t an outrageous quantity, it’s costly in Costa Rica, the place the common value of a restaurant meal is $10-20. A $30 meal is sort of a luxurious deal with at an excellent 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 also 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 one of the best native meals and pay the identical costs because the locals, which is vital for Costa Rica on a price range.
Additionally, it’s essential to remember the fact that consuming out in San Jose, Tamarindo, and La Fortuna is usually dearer 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 it’s best to think about staying in a city that’s not included in all of the vacationer guides for Central and South America.
Irrespective 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 it’s best to goal 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 often $6-10 in a restaurant, relying on whether or not it consists of 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 one of the 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 often priced at 1,300-2,000 CRC, which is roughly $3-4.
Grocery Buying In Costa Rica
Funds 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 prepare dinner meals, particularly on longer journeys. Native grocery shops in Costa Rica are ample in inexpensive recent fruit and greens, and you’ll usually 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 de facto low cost in Costa Rica, and you’ll 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 greatest to buy at native supermarkets; Maxi Pali even has a web-based store the place you’ll be able to take a look at the costs and availability of elements 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’s going to preserve you full, and it’s cheaper than consuming out.
How A lot To Funds For Meals In Costa Rica
Funds vacationers who store for groceries and eat out solely a few occasions can simply get by with a price range of $50 per week. Consuming just a few vegetarian meals can be even cheaper, as recent produce is usually 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 must be sufficient. Some days, you’ll spend rather less, and others, you’ll spend just a little extra, however that amount of cash must 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 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 would simply spend north of $1,000 simply on meals if you happen to needed.
However say you eat breakfast on the lodge, 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.
Price of Actions
How a lot cash will you spend on sightseeing and actions when you’re in Costa Rica? That largely is dependent upon what you love to do; there are lots of free issues to do in Costa Rica, and you would simply discover an excellent 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 take pleasure in 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 many 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.
Funds 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 provides you all kinds of choices, because it covers every thing from kayaking to nationwide park entrances and entry to waterfalls. A weekly price range may very well 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. Should 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 in all probability need to do one thing enjoyable day-after-day of their keep. A weekly price range of $150-200 must be sufficient to find Costa Rica’s pure magnificence and have enjoyable the complete time.
Luxurious vacationers are most certainly to spring for dear actions like scuba diving or white water rafting. Should 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.
Funds 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 remember I’ve allotted a better price range 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 regularly, you would simply get by with a price range of $1,000 per week.
Funds 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 price range for meals and drinks.
Funds 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
Funds 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. Luxurious vacationers are more likely to spend not less than $5,000 for an all-inclusive two-week trip in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica is certainly one in all our favorite nations in Latin America. It doesn’t actually matter if you’re a backpacker on a price range or somebody in search of luxurious; you might be assured to have a tremendous journey. Whereas it’s true that Costa Rica will not be the most cost effective vacation spot in Central America, that doesn’t imply it’s going to break the financial institution both. Should you observe our recommendations above, it is possible for you to to journey Costa Rica figuring out that you would be able to preserve your price range the place you want it and have a good time as effectively.