How Much Does Costa Rica Cost? All Costs & Budget for 2026
Costa Rica is expensive. You hear it everywhere, and after six weeks of traveling we can only confirm it. But how much does Costa Rica cost exactly? So in this blog we list all the costs for Costa Rica: flights, rental car, hotels, food, national parks and tours. With our own prices from 2026, supplemented with current indicative prices. That way you know exactly what you will spend. A true ‘Let Us Stay For A Day’ recommendation… and a hefty piggy bank.
Are you also looking for the route? Then first read our complete 3 to 4 week Costa Rica itinerary.
How much does Costa Rica cost? The short version
- Budget per person per day: as a backpacker $51–74, mid-range $125–182, with rental car $160–251, comfortable $251–410.
- Biggest expenses: rental car, accommodation and tours.
- Currency: the colón. In February 2026 a dollar was about 520 colones, for example. Dollars are also accepted almost everywhere. All amounts in this blog are in US dollars and rounded.
- Tax: many prices also have 13% VAT added on top. So check carefully whether it is already included.
- Cheapest period: the green season (May to November), because it is quieter. Hotels are often 25–40% cheaper then.
Flights to Costa Rica
We flew with KLM from Amsterdam to San José ourselves, because that was the most convenient connection. Little legroom, but great staff. How much does Costa Rica cost in airfare? That varies. The price of a round trip depends heavily on the season and how early you book. Around Christmas, Easter and in the summer vacation you pay the most, though. So book in time and compare flights with and without a layover. Liberia (in the north) is also sometimes a handy alternative if you mainly want to go to Guanacaste.
Rental car: the biggest expense
How much does Costa Rica cost if you drive yourself? A rental car is the easiest option. But it is also expensive, because the price you see online is often not the price you pay. A mandatory insurance is added on top.
| Type of car (high season) | Price per day |
|---|---|
| Small sedan (not recommended) | $46–74 |
| Compact 4×4 | $74–114 |
| Mid-size 4×4 (e.g. RAV4) | $97–137 |
| Large 4×4 | $125–182 |
On top of that comes the mandatory liability insurance (SLI/TPL), often around $13–21 per day, plus a deposit of $1,026 to $2,052 (sometimes more) on your credit card. Booking last-minute in high season can be 30–50% more expensive.
Gas: we filled our jeep completely for around $46, for example. All gas stations are full-service and prices are the same everywhere, because the government sets them.
👉 Read everything about insurance, deposits and the roads in our blog Renting a car in Costa Rica.
🚗 Rental car: compare prices for a rental car in Costa Rica with Economybookings.
Accommodation: how much does a hotel in Costa Rica cost?
| Destination | Mid-range hotel per night (high season) |
|---|---|
| La Fortuna | $125–171 |
| Monteverde | $114–160 |
| Puerto Viejo | $91–137 |
| Tamarindo | $125–182 |
| Manuel Antonio | $137–182 |
| Uvita | $114–160 |
How much does Costa Rica cost for backpackers? A dorm bed costs around $23–34, for example. A simple double room with a shared bathroom costs $46–74 on top of that.
Our tip: choose accommodation with a kitchen. In Monteverde and Santa Teresa we regularly cooked ourselves. That saves a lot, although the supermarket is not cheap either.
Food and drink
How much does Costa Rica cost when it comes to food? This is where you can save the most. Eat at a soda: a local restaurant with rice, beans, chicken or fish, salad and fried banana. Plenty of food for little money, because you eat what the locals eat. In tourist restaurants and beach clubs, on the other hand, you quickly pay European prices or more.
| What | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Casado at a soda | $7–11 |
| Breakfast with gallo pinto | $5–7 |
| Main course in a tourist restaurant | $18–28 |
| Pizza or pasta | $15–21 |
| Beer (Imperial) in a bar | $3–5 |
| Cocktail | $7–13 |
| Taco in Tamarindo on taco Monday or Tuesday | $3 |
What we paid in the supermarket
How much does Costa Rica cost in the supermarket? We got quite a shock in Santa Teresa. Take out an extra mortgage on your house before you go:
| Product | Price (April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Local beer (Imperial) | $2 |
| Bread | $6 |
| Toothpaste | $10 |
| Bar of local chocolate | $11 |
| Small piece of cheese | $11 |
| Jar of Nutella | $17 |
Sunscreen is almost unaffordable. So bring plenty from home! That also makes a big difference in how much Costa Rica costs you in the end.
National parks: how much does Costa Rica cost in entrance fees?
The national parks are managed by SINAC. For some parks, such as Manuel Antonio, Poás and Corcovado, you have to buy your ticket online in advance. Indicative prices for foreign adults (excluding 13% VAT):
| Park | Entrance |
|---|---|
| Manuel Antonio | $16 |
| Tortuguero | $15 |
| Arenal Volcano National Park | $15 |
| Corcovado (with guide only) | $15 |
| Poás Volcano | $15 |
| Carara | $10 |
| Marino Ballena (Whale Tail, Uvita) | $6 |
| Cahuita (Playa Blanca entrance) | Free, donation appreciated |
Prices can also change without notice. So check the current price just before your trip.
Private parks are more expensive. We paid $40 per person for the hanging bridges at Arenal. We found that too much for what you see, though. Ficus La Raíz in Monteverde cost us just a $2 donation.
Tours and activities: how much does Costa Rica cost?
| Tour | Indicative price per person |
|---|---|
| Night tour (spotting wildlife) | $46–68 |
| Half day with a guide in Manuel Antonio | $74–114 |
| Guided hike in the Monteverde cloud forest | $57–74 |
| Ziplining in Monteverde | $68–91 |
| Whale watching in Uvita (3 hours) | $85–114 |
| Turtle tour Tortuguero (at night) | $46–63 |
| Corcovado day tour from Drake Bay | $137–194 |
Our experience: a guide is well worth the money. In Cahuita our guide Eduardo spotted animals we would never have seen ourselves. Do watch out at the entrance of Manuel Antonio, though: our ‘private tour’ turned out to be a group of 14.
👉 Guided tours we recommend (highly rated with lots of reviews):
👉 Popular tours in Costa Rica:
Sample budget: 3 weeks in Costa Rica for two people
So how much does Costa Rica really cost for a trip? An example in the mid-range, with a 4×4 and nice hotels. Amounts in US dollars, flights not included:
| Cost item | Total for 2 people |
|---|---|
| 4×4 rental car, 21 days, incl. mandatory insurance | $2,337–3,363 |
| Gas | $353–513 |
| Hotels, 20 nights ($114–182 per night) | $2,280–3,591 |
| Food and drink ($80–125 per day) | $1,767–2,565 |
| Parks, tours and activities | $616–1,026 |
| Total | $7,296–11,058 |
Flights come on top of that. So how much does Costa Rica cost for a trip like this? Quite a lot, but there are ways to spend less. Want it cheaper anyway? Travel in the green season, eat at sodas, cook yourself and choose shuttles instead of a car.
📱 Stay connected: an Airalo eSIM for Costa Rica works as soon as you land, so you can skip the SIM card hassle.
10 tips to save money in Costa Rica
- Eat at sodas. Lots of tasty food for little money, so your budget lasts longer.
- Choose accommodation with a kitchen. For example, cook yourself a few evenings.
- Preferably travel in the green season. Hotels and cars are a lot cheaper then.
- Book your car 4–6 weeks in advance and read carefully what is included in the price.
- Bring sunscreen and toiletries from home, because they are much cheaper there.
- Watch out for ‘free’ sun loungers. We paid $189 for a lunch because the loungers were only free if you ordered something. At Elizabeth in Manuel Antonio we later paid 10,000 colones for two loungers, with no obligations.
- Also take the local bus. In Manuel Antonio you go to the beach for 370 colones, for example.
- Choose cheap taco days. In Tamarindo $3 per taco on Monday and Tuesday.
- Choose free nature. Cahuita National Park (Playa Blanca entrance) and the beaches cost nothing, for example.
- Also pay in the right currency. Small amounts are easiest to pay in colones.
FAQ: how much does Costa Rica cost?
For two people in the mid-range, with a 4×4 and nice hotels, you will spend around $7,182 to $11,286, excluding flights. Backpackers can manage on $51–74 per person per day.
For many things, yes. Supermarket products, tourist restaurants, tours and entrance fees are often at or above European price levels. Local sodas are cheap, though.
Yes, dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Small purchases, the bus and sodas are easiest to pay in colones. Paying by debit or credit card works almost everywhere.
In the green season, from May to November. Hotels are often 25–40% cheaper then and rental cars are also cheaper. Around Christmas and Easter it is most expensive.
A compact 4×4 costs around $74–114 per day in high season, plus mandatory liability insurance of about $13–21 per day.
Is Costa Rica worth the money?
Absolutely. So how much does Costa Rica cost? A lot, but it is worth every dollar. Where else do you see sloths, volcanoes, cloud forests, macaws and two oceans in one trip? So save a little extra and enjoy. Pura Vida!
Also read: 3 to 4 week Costa Rica itinerary, Costa Rica in 2 weeks and Spotting wildlife in Costa Rica.
Sources for the indicative prices: our own experience (March–April 2026), SINAC and current price overviews from travel blogs from 2026. Prices may change.
On our website Let Us Stay For A Day we use affiliate links. These send you to partners we work with.
