Costa Rica, a country famous for its rainforests and volcanoes, can be visited with a budget of $55 to $200 a day.
My two-week trip to Costa Rica cost a total of $3,470. In this post, I share:
- 💰 Expected travel costs
- 💡 Budgeting tips
- 💵 How much cash to bring
- ✈️ My trip’s costs by category
- 📍 My trip’s costs by destination
Planning a trip? Here’s what to know about Costa Rica.
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Is Costa Rica Expensive To Travel To?
Costa Rica is the most expensive country to visit in Central America. The country’s primary industry is tourism, and the government abolished its army and redirected its funds into social programs related to education and health, leading to better standards of living and higher prices.
For those hoping to make a budget trip to Central or South America, other countries with beautiful nature that are more affordable include Nicaragua, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
For comparison, here’s my daily budget for destinations in Central and South America:
| Country | My Budget |
|---|---|
| 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | $233 |
| 🇧🇿 Belize | $186 |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | $149 |
See all my daily budgets.
How Much Is a Trip to Costa Rica?
This section covers estimated trip costs depending on your travel style. I share my actual travel expenses further below.
🎒 Budget Traveler – Costa Rica Trip Cost
Budget travelers can expect to spend approximately $55 per day or $770 for two weeks of travel in Costa Rica, excluding flights.
Here’s what a budget traveler’s cost breakdown can look like:
| Category | Cost per Day |
|---|---|
| 🏠 Accommodation | $20 |
| 🍛 Food | $15 |
| 🚙 Transportation | $10 |
| 🦥 Entertainment | $10 |
| Total | $55 |
Traveling Costa Rica on a Budget
To travel on a budget to Costa Rica, below are some things you’ll need to do.
- 🏠 Accommodation – For the cheapest options, stay at a hostel for $15 to $20 a night in popular places like La Fortuna. This can save you $10 to $30 per day compared to staying at a budget hotel.
- 🚙 Transportation – A common way to get around Costa Rica is by shuttle, which is more affordable than flying. Opt for group shuttles over private shuttles, which can more than triple the cost of a ride.
You can also try taking Costa Rica’s local buses, which are the most common public transportation. However, I found them less tourist-friendly, as they’re not always marked, and knowing a bit of Spanish is helpful.
- 🍛 Food – Eat street food and check out some of Costa Rica’s local markets. You can get meals for as cheap as $6 at “sodas,” which is what the Costa Ricans call their local, small restaurants.
The tap water in Costa Rica’s developed districts is clean and safe to drink, so bring a reusable water bottle to avoid paying for bottled water.
- 🦥 Entertainment – Many of Costa Rica’s natural attractions charge an entrance fee, and some require guided tours, but plenty of local places are free.
Costa Rica has 28 beautiful national parks, and most have an entrance fee, but they’re free to everyone every year on August 24th in celebration of National Parks Day.
- ☀️ Travel Season – The best time to travel to get the best deals on accommodations and tours is during Costa Rica’s low season, which runs from May to November. Unsurprisingly, this coincides with the rainy season.
💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Costa Rica Trip Cost
A mid-range budget traveler like myself can expect to spend approximately $200 per day or $2,800 for two weeks of travel in Costa Rica, excluding flights. I break down my trip expenses by travel category below.
About My Costa Rica Trip
To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip to Costa Rica:
- 🗓️ Two weeks – I spent two weeks in Costa Rica, visiting four places:
- La Fortuna: 7 days
- Monteverde: 2 days
- Nosara: 3 days
- Manuel Antonio: 2 days
- ☀️ High season – I went to Costa Rica in March, which is considered the peak season.
Costa Rica’s high season runs from December to April and coincides with its dry season.
- ✌️ Group travel – I traveled with one other person, so we were able to split some costs, such as housing.
- 💰 Mid-range budget – I consider myself a mid-range budget traveler, and these expenses reflect that. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m thoughtful about how and where I spend.
- 🍀 Self-funded – My trips are self-funded, so I paid for everything listed below. None of my excursions or experiences are sponsored.
- 💵 US dollars –All costs listed in this post are per person and in US dollars, converted from Costa Rica’s local currency, Costa Rican Colón.
The exchange rate was $1 USD = 522₡ at the time of writing.
Total Cost for a Costa Rica Trip: $3,470
My two-week trip to Costa Rica cost a total of $3,470, including flights.
See the highlights of my trip in this Costa Rica itinerary.
💰 Cost Breakdown for Costa Rica
Here’s a quick overview of my expenses by travel category:
| Category | Cost | % of Total | Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Flights | $205 | 6% | – |
| 🏠 Accommodation | $1,271 | 37% | $91 |
| 🍛 Food | $342 | 10% | $24 |
| 🚗 Transportation | $414 | 12% | $30 |
| ⭐ Entertainment | $1,237 | 36% | $88 |
| Total | $3,407 | 100% | $233 |
🗓️ Daily Budget in Costa Rica: $233
My Costa Rica trip cost $233 per day, excluding my round-trip flights from and to the United States.
| Daily Budget | |
|---|---|
| Excluding flights | $233 |
| Including flights | $248 |
A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend approximately $200 per day in Costa Rica. This generally means staying at accommodations that cost less than $100 per night, eating at primarily $ to $$ restaurants, getting around by shuttle, and paying to visit some of the country’s top attractions and activities.
✈️ Flight Cost to Costa Rica: $205
My round-trip flight from the East Coast of the United States to Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose was $205.
A round-trip flight between the US and Costa Rica that costs under $200 is considered cheap; international flights typically cost over $300.
🏠 Accommodation Cost in Costa Rica: $1,271
My average cost of accommodation in Costa Rica was $91 per night. I was able to split my accommodations with one other person at all times.
Here are the accommodations I stayed at and how much I paid for each:
| Accommodation | Total Cost | Cost per Night |
|---|---|---|
| Nosara hotel | $707 | $236 |
| La Fortuna hotel | $146 | $49 |
| La Fortuna Airbnb | $158 | $39 |
| Monteverde hotel | $115 | $57 |
| Manuel Antonio Airbnb | $147 | $73 |
Basic accommodation in Costa Rica starts at around $60 per night, so be prepared to pay over $100 per night for mid-range hotels. Luxury hotels range from $300 to $1,500 per night.
🍛 Food Cost in Costa Rica: $342
My average cost of food in Costa Rica was $24 per day.
A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend about $30 per day on food in Costa Rica.
Cheapest Meals in Costa Rica
Here are the most affordable meals I ate during my trip:
| Meal | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tamales | Soda 5 Tejas (La Fortuna) | $4 |
| Casado | Soda La Hormiga (La Fortuna) | $4 |
| Casado and soup | Soda Víquez (La Fortuna) | $5 |
Local food in Costa Rica is very affordable. You can get a full meal with a juice drink for $10 or less if you visit authentic, local restaurants called “sodas.”
Casados are among Costa Rica’s most affordable meals. They are a typical Costa Rican meal with rice, black beans, plantains, salad, and protein (chicken, beef, pork, or fish).
Most Expensive Meals in Costa Rica
Here are the most expensive meals I ate during my trip:
| Meal | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Seafood platter | La Luna (Nosara) | $39 |
| Fish and salad | Harmony Cafe (Nosara) | $25 |
| Steak and rice | Travesía (La Fortuna) | $18 |
🚙 Transportation Cost in Costa Rica: $414
My average cost of transportation in Costa Rica was $30 per day.
Here are the transportation methods I took and how much I paid for each:
| Transportation | Total Cost | Cost Per Ride |
|---|---|---|
| Taxis | $28 | $3 |
| Private shuttles | $254 | $127 |
| Group shuttles | $132 | $44 |
Budgeting Tips for Transportation in Costa Rica
There are several ways to get around Costa Rica, and the prices can drastically vary, depending on the level of inconvenience you’re willing to accept.
- Bus – Traveling by a local bus is the most budget-friendly but inconvenient option. Some public buses are also not very tourist-friendly. I took a few in Manuel Antonio, a tourist town, and despite speaking decent Spanish, I had a difficult time navigating.
- Taxis and shared shuttles – The most common ways to get around are by taxi and shared shuttle. The average price of a shared shuttle for long distances (about three hours) is $30 to $40 per person.
Shuttles are the best way to get around if you want to balance convenience and budget. I primarily took shuttles while traveling around Costa Rica.
- Private shuttles and local airlines – The most expensive and convenient ways to get around are by private shuttles and local airlines, which generally cost more than $100 per trip.
Several of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist destinations, like La Fortuna and Nosara, have small airports, so you can take a small plane to travel around the country.
- Rental car – A rental car will average about $40 per day, not including gas.
🦥 Entertainment Cost in Costa Rica: $1,237
My average cost for activities and guided tours in Costa Rica was $88 per day. This total includes a 10% to 15% tip at certain places.
A typical mid-range traveler in Costa Rica can expect to spend about $50 a day on entertainment.
Here are all the activities and attractions I paid for and how much each cost:
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shopping (Nosara, Monteverde, La Fortuna) | $161 |
| Massages (4x in Nosara & La Fortuna) | $147 |
| Ziplining & whitewater rafting combo tour (La Fortuna) | $134 |
| All-day ATV guided tour (Nosara) | $110 |
| Ziplining & sloth combo tour (Monteverde) | $94 |
| Hanging Bridges guided tour (La Fortuna) | $91 |
| La Fortuna Waterfall guided tour (La Fortuna) | $83 |
| Arenal Volcano horseback riding tour (La Fortuna) | $75 |
| Ecotermales hot spring package (La Fortuna) | $72 |
| Sky Tram tickets (La Fortuna) | $68 |
| Monteverde Cloud Forest guided tour (Monteverde) | $60 |
| Coffee and chocolate guided tour (La Fortuna) | $44 |
| Yoga (2x in Nosara) | $35 |
| Wildlife Refuge night walk guided tour (Monteverde) | $31 |
| Manuel Antonio Park entrance fee (Manuel Antonio) | $18 |
| Los Lagos hot spring (La Fortuna) | $17 |
Tourism is Costa Rica’s biggest industry, so almost all activities are included in a tour package. Most packages include the attraction’s entrance fee (if there is one) and transportation to and from your accommodation. When assessing the price of a tour, you should account for these costs to determine whether it’s worth it.
Cost Breakdown by Destination in Costa Rica
Below are my trip expense breakdowns for La Fortuna, Monteverde, Nosara, and Manuel Antonio. These are major locations that are often featured in first-timers’ travel itineraries.
🌋 La Fortuna Trip’s Total Cost: $1,173
During my seven-day trip to La Fortuna, I averaged $1,173 in daily travel expenses.
La Fortuna was easily one of my favorite places because of all the quintessential Costa Rican activities. Some of my favorites were horseback riding in Arenal Volcano National Park, taking a coffee tour, and relaxing at hot springs.
| Category | Total Cost | Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accommodation | $303 | $43 |
| 🍛 Food | $101 | $14 |
| 🚙 Transportation | $51 | $7 |
| 🦥 Entertainment | $717 | $102 |
See all the great things to do in La Fortuna.
La Fortuna is one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations. Even though it attracts a lot of tourists, the small town still has a lot of locals. La Fortuna guided tours will not be cheap, but you can save money by staying at nearby Airbnbs and eating at sodas.
⛅️ Monteverde Trip’s Total Cost: $544
During my two-day trip to Monteverde, I averaged $272 in daily travel expenses.
I stayed at a hotel overlooking a valley and did several guided tours of the cloud forests, which helped me spot animals.
| Category | Total Cost | Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accommodation | $115 | $57 |
| 🍛 Food | $59 | $29 |
| 🚙 Transportation | $126 | $63 |
| 🦥 Entertainment | $245 | $123 |
See how to spend two days in Monteverde.
Monteverde is another of Costa Rica’s most visited destinations and is famous for its cloud forests, so expect to do a few $50 to $90 tours related to its forests.
🏄♀️ Nosara Trip’s Total Cost: $1,227
During my three-day trip to Nosara, I averaged $409 in daily travel expenses.
I stayed at a nice resort, spent a bit on a private shuttle to get to Nosara, took a few yoga lessons, and went on an all-day ATV tour through rivers and waterfalls.
| Category | Total Cost | Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accommodation | $707 | $236 |
| 🍛 Food | $126 | $42 |
| 🚙 Transportation | $138 | $46 |
| 🦥 Entertainment | $258 | $86 |
See great things to do in Nosara.
Nosara is an expensive beach town, so the cost is generally higher. Across Costa Rica, you can generally find cheap, local meals and budget $20 for food per day, but I found that difficult in Nosara.
🏖️ Manuel Antonio Trip’s Total Cost: $327
During my two-day trip to Manuel Antonio, I averaged $160 in daily travel expenses.
I stayed at an Airbnb, enjoyed some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful beaches, and explored Manuel Antonio National Park, one of its most famous national parks.
| Category | Total Cost | Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Accommodation | $147 | $73 |
| 🍛 Food | $56 | $28 |
| 🚙 Transportation | $100 | $50 |
| 🦥 Entertainment | $18 | $9 |
Do You Need Cash in Costa Rica?
Although Costa Rica has a great credit card infrastructure, some areas are still based on cash transactions. This is especially true once you wander outside the touristy areas, so make sure to bring some cash.
Below are tips on bringing and using cash in Costa Rica.
💵 1. USD is widely accepted in Costa Rica.
The US dollar and Costa Rican Colón are widely used in Costa Rica, so you can withdraw cash in either currency.
If you use USD, expect to receive change in Costa Rican Colón, and be aware that you may not get a favorable exchange rate.
🏧 2. Carry about $20 to $30 worth of cash per day in Costa Rica.
On a typical day, a mid-range budget traveler in Costa Rica will need at least $20 in cash to cover food, transportation, and attractions. A daily cash expense breakdown can look like this:
- $10 at a small, local restaurant
- $10 to tip drivers, tour guides, and other service providers
- $2 to $5 at a juice stand or bar for a drink
I keep my cash in my crossbody bag, but if you want extra protection against pickpocketing, carry it in a hidden money belt instead.
💵 3. Certain places in Costa Rica are cash-only.
While credit cards are commonly used in Costa Rica, I still had to use cash many times during my two-week trip. These are the places where I couldn’t use my credit card in Costa Rica:
- Tipping – Tour guides and drivers only take cash, as tipping by credit card is not typically an option.
- Local restaurants and grocery stores – Small restaurants and shops, especially those in La Fortuna and Monteverde, were cash-only.
- Fruit and juice stands – Any stand by the side of the road won’t have a portable credit card scanner.
- Souvenir shops – These are common stops during a long tour or shuttle ride; in my experience, most are cash-only.
💰 4. Tipping is customary in Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica, a 10% tip is customary and standard. You can also tip 15% for exceptional service.
- Dining out – Many restaurants in Costa Rica automatically add a 10% service charge to the bill, and locals generally do not leave additional tips. That said, if you think the service was above average, an additional 5% to 10% tip will be very appreciated.
- Tour guides and drivers – Tipping drivers and tour guides 10% to 15% is not mandatory in Costa Rica, but it’s commonly expected from tourists.
- Hotels – It’s also common for tourists to leave a few dollars for hotel cleaners.
See other essential travel tips for Costa Rica before visiting.
Costa Rica Trip Planner
To make your travel planning easier, download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.
The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free.
Thoughts? Questions? Leave a comment below.
Costa Rica Travel Guides
- 🇨🇷 Planning a Trip to Costa Rica: 11 Practical Things To Know
- 🦥 10 Amazing Days in Costa Rica: 2 Efficient Itineraries
- 💰 My 2024 Costa Rica Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown
- 🌋 La Fortuna Guide: Top Things To Do + 3-5 Day Itinerary
- 🌳 Monteverde Guide: 2-3 Day Itinerary + 7 Great Things To Do
- 🏄🏻♀️ Nosara Travel Guide: 8 Best Things To Do + Itinerary
🧋 Support Lukiih
Lists by Lukiih is a humble website that I fund with my own savings. If you find my tips helpful, I appreciate you saying thanks with a bubble tea!
Lukiih, this is some really great work. wow. A lot of time and energy into making this detailed travel guide.
You Are Amazing!!!
I have never seen better work by an amateur traveler.
I averaged $65/Day this winter in Costa Rica over 110 days, staying in 11 different areas. All private rooms, only two shared bathrooms, often had a kitchen where I could cook. But I do not do many activities that aren’t free.
That’s incredible. I do think a lot of countries can be traveled on a budget with advanced planning, research and/or know knowledge.