Costa Rica is notorious for being the most expensive country in Central America. Still, if you’re traveling to Costa Rica on a budget there are ways to travel here and not totally break the bank. Costa Rica is a beautiful country you can enjoy even if you can’t afford a luxury travel experience.
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11 Tips for Saving Money in Costa Rica
The first time I traveled here I was a young nurse in my 20s and not even close to resembling rich, but I still had an amazing time! Here are my suggestions for visiting Costa Rica on a budget.
1. Eat out at restaurants called “sodas”
“Sodas” are restaurants that serve classic Costa Rican food often for a very reasonable price and well-sized portions. When you’re planning to eat meals out, it is a wonderful idea to plan to eat at a sodas. You’ll save money and also get a chance to try authentic, homemade Costa Rican food.
You might expect to spend $8-15 per person for a large plate of food and a drink. That said, exact prices will depend on the town you’re visiting and the time of year. In general, though, you can expect to spend less in a soda than a different kind of restaurant in Costa Rica.
2. Make some meals at your Airbnb
If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, think about heading to a grocery store to pick up some snacks and essentials so you have some things on hand to tide over any cravings for eating out when it’s not in the budget.
When my parents visited me here, they bought fruit, toast, and coffee and ate breakfast in their Airbnb most days. You can shave some money off your food budget if you decide to eat one meal at home at least a few times during your trip.
Plus, it can be a fun experience and a nice change of pace cooking together and enjoying a meal in the privacy of your own space!
3. If you buy groceries, buy food that is locally sourced
When you visit a grocery store in Costa Rica, you’ll notice that the items that need to be imported here are significantly more expensive than items that are grown here in Costa Rica.
You’ll notice surprisingly high prices for foods like quinoa, peanut butter, or apples. These foods are priced higher because they are imported into Costa Rica and face higher shipping costs and taxes associated with importation.
Locally sourced food like fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Costa Rica (papaya, banana, plantain, potatoes, cabbage, green beans, yuca, avocado, and all kinds of other items in the produce aisle), and staples like rice and beans will be cheaper than imported goods.
If you stick to a diet more consistent with what local people eat here, you’ll spend less money overall on your food budget.
4. Browse different platforms for the best hotel deals for your budget
There are many different hotel booking companies you can look at to compare prices and find hotels that fit your price range. Often, I’ll start by looking at a map on Google that shows me hotels in a certain area I’m interested in staying in. On that page, you’ll be able to see not only the location but also the hotel’s rating on Google, reviews, and a general price range.
When I see well-reviewed hotels in my desired location for about my price range, I do a deeper dive, looking at their website if they have one, reading reviews on other platforms (Expedia, Booking), and researching the surrounding area more thoroughly.
It takes a bit of leg work, but if you’re willing to take the time to investigate different hotel options across platforms, you’ll likely save money and be happier with your final choices.
5. Check out Vacation Rentals
You might want to look at options for Airbnbs and VRBOs if you’re the more adventurous type and you want accommodations that feel more integrated into the community.
Vacation rentals also offer the advantage of sharing space with only those directly in your party, and you’ll have access to a local host who can tell you about the area.
I love Airbnb because it provides the opportunity to live similarly to locals in the area. Usually, I choose an Airbnb or VRBO with a rating above 4.7 and over 100 reviews in my desired location and price range. You can search the map for accommodations in the area you’d like to stay that fit your specific price range.
6. Think about budget accommodations and hostels
Backpacker types and solo travelers might be interested in looking at options for budget accommodations such as shared Airbnbs or hostels. Check out the website Hostelworld to find the best hostels in a given area.
On Airbnb you can look for options with a room in a shared space. Usually, the price for this kind of accommodation is greatly reduced.
Often, these options also have shared spaces such as a kitchen where you can cook food. This is a great option for saving money, especially if you’re splitting the grocery bill with a group.
This isn’t an option that is desirable for every type of traveler, including families traveling with children. For solo travelers though, staying in shared accommodations can be a wonderful way to meet like-minded people who love travel just as much as you do!
7. Be flexible on some of the amenities
If you’re traveling to Costa Rica on a budget, you might need to sacrifice somewhat on the amenities when you’re booking accommodations. Hotels with a pool, free breakfast, a gym, and other concierge services will be pricier than hotels that just offer a great place to sleep.
Just remember that no matter where you’re resting your head, you will be in paradise! Some of the amenities won’t seem to matter as much when you’re exploring one of the most beautiful places in the world.
8. Use budget rental car companies
If you decide to rent a car in Costa Rica, you might want to think about renting with a rental car company that offers reasonable prices. Two popular rental car companies that offer cheaper prices are Adobe and Vamos.
Adobe is a great choice for visitors who want a rental car company with a lengthy history of positive reviews and a great reputation here in Costa Rica. Adobe also has locations widespread across Costa Rica and is popular among many visitors for this reason.
9. Take a shared shuttle
Some visitors might be nervous about driving in Costa Rica and choose not to rent a car. If you don’t want to drive but also want to save money by avoiding booking pricey private shuttles, think about using shared shuttles to make your way across Costa Rica.
Interbus is a company I’ve used that offers shared shuttles all across Costa Rica. Or, if you’re headed to the Caribean side of the country, Caribe Shuttle offers shared transfers to towns in that direction.
10. Think about public transportation
The backpacker and solo traveler types might be curious about ways to save money in Costa Rica by taking public transportation. You can take the bus to get to many of the popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica such as Jaco, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Puerto Viejo. Most bus tickets cost between $10-15 one way, making the bus the most economical option.
Even though it’s possible to take the bus to your travel destinations in Costa Rica, many travelers, especially families traveling with children might not want to. The bus can be complicated to navigate because you need to find the bus stops and terminals, figure out how to buy tickets, and then communicate with the drivers in Spanish.
If you’re a savvy solo traveler and comfortable with speaking Spanish, taking public transportation might be a good way to save money on your trip to Costa Rica.
11. Skip the tour guide
It can be amazing to visit the national parks of Costa Rica accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide who can help you spot animals and tell you about history, ecology, and conservation efforts in Costa Rica. There are some national parks where a tour guide is a must in my opinion, including Manuel Antonio Park and the Arenal Volcano National Park.
However, if you love hiking and simply want to get out into nature without doing a guided tour, you can explore some of the national parks on a self-guided hike. At the reception desk, they can provide you with information about where to walk, how much time the hike will take, and approximate difficulty and elevation changes.
Some of my favorite parks to explore self-guided are the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Cahuita National Park, Irazu Volcano National Park, and La Rincon de La Vieja National Park.
Know Before You Go: Costa Rica Currency
- Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
- Conversion Rate: $1 is currently worth 534 CRC but this changes daily so be sure to check the conversion rate before your trip!
- Credit Cards: Most businesses in Costa Rica will accept Visa and Mastercard, and some will also accept American Express. I’ll say in recent years American Express has become more widespread, but it isn’t as widely accepted here as Visa and Mastercard.
- ATMs: In most major tourist destinations, you will find banks with ATMs or freestanding ATMs where you can take out cash either in USD or CRC. If you’re visiting remote towns in Costa Rica far away from familiar tourist hubs, you might want to have some cash on hand in advance in the event you can’t find an ATM.
Before you leave for your vacation to Costa Rica, check with your bank or credit card carrier to determine if they have international fees associated with using your card or withdrawing money from an ATM. Also, notify your bank if they require notification for international travel to avoid hassle and disruption if your card is declined.
A last thing to keep in mind is that many places do accept US dollars (USD). If you’re paying somewhere in USD ask what exchange rate they use. Compare that with the daily conversion rate recognized by the national bank to be sure you’re not getting ripped off.
Costa Rica on a Budget FAQs
- Is Costa Rica expensive?
Compared to its Central American neighbors, Costa Rica is on the pricier side. That said, it’s also recognized as one of the safer countries for tourists to travel to, which is a big reason tourists are drawn here year after year. I think it’s possible to do a trip to Costa Rica without going completely broke. It just involves some planning ahead!
- When is the best time to visit Costa Rica on a budget?
The Costa Rica rainy season is between May and November and is the cheapest time to book tours and accommodations in Costa Rica. The downside is – it’s the rainy season!
If you’re someone who wants to have a beach vacation relaxing in the sun all day, this is not the ideal time to visit Costa Rica. If you don’t mind doing activities in the rain and you want to save money, the rainy season can be a good time to visit. Personally, I love the lush, green landscapes during the rainy season.
For a little bit of the best of both worlds, you could go at the very beginning or tail end of the rainy season to try to get cheaper prices and the chance for some sun (but no guarantees!).
- Where are the cheapest places to visit in Costa Rica?
The cheapest places to visit in Costa Rica will be towns that aren’t as commonly frequented by tourists (for example, Jaco, Tamarindo, La Fortuna, and Monteverde can be pricer areas). Look at towns like Santa Teresa, Uvita, Puerto Viejo, and Nosara to branch out from the most common tourist towns!
- How much cash should I bring to Costa Rica?
The amount of cash you bring depends on the length of your trip, the activities you have planned (some prefer cash payment), whether or not you are renting a car (you might need cash on hand for a taxi), your bank’s restrictions around taking out cash from international ATMs, and your personal preferences about how much cash you feel comfortable carrying with you at any given time.
On a 2-week trip, I personally don’t feel comfortable carrying more than $100 or so in cash. Most places will accept credit cards and my bank has no fees for international ATM withdrawals so it’s no sweat for me to stop and get cash out. Again, everyone’s situation will be different so do your best to plan in advance!
Costa Rica on a Budget Recap
My biggest advice to anyone traveling to Costa Rica on a budget is to plan ahead so you’re not caught off guard by unexpected costs. Know in advance which tours you are doing, what transportation you are using, and your daily budget for food. Build in a little buffer in your budget just in case you go over.
If you plan well in advance and factor in a small spending buffer, you should be on track to save for your Costa Rica vacation and enjoy your trip worry-free!
