How much money should I take to Costa Rica for a week?

A week of vacation in Costa Rica costs between $850 and $1,450 for an average traveler in mid-priced hotels, lodges or rental houses and doing standard tours (assuming double occupancy). Beachfront accommodations and high dollar activities like deep sea fishing will quickly push the budget over $2,500.

How much money do I bring to Costa Rica?

Budget travelers can survive on around $30 – $50 USD per day. Costa Rica's unit of currency is the Colon (520 – 550 colones / $1 USD). While US dollars are widely accepted, changing your currency to colones is recommended to avoid overpaying for things in dollars.

How much spending money do you need for Costa Rica?

You should plan to spend around ₡47,705 ($69) per day on your vacation in Costa Rica, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, ₡10,129 ($15) on meals for one day and ₡10,706 ($15) on local transportation.

How much money do tourists spend in Costa Rica?

In 2020, international tourists in Costa Rica spent more than 1.3 thousand U.S. dollars per trip on average. This figure was the highest per capita spend recorded in the Central American country. In that year, the highest number of foreign visitors in Costa Rica was from North America.

Should I take cash to Costa Rica?

Using US Cash

US dollars are widely accepted in Costa Rica. Bring smaller bills like $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills. The bills will need to be in good condition as they will not be accepted if they are ripped or torn. The larger the bill, the more perfect it needs to be.

Costa Rica on a budget. Detailed travel cost break down and full itinerary | Two weeks trip

Should I use my credit card in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is a card-friendly country, so you'll have no problem using your credit card there. You can also pay with US dollars in some places in San José, but paying in local currency will help you avoid conversion fees.

Can I use my debit card in Costa Rica?

Bank or debit cards in an ATM are the recommended way to access your funds while traveling in Costa Rica. Except a few remote beach and wilderness areas ATMs are easy to find.

Why you shouldn't go to Costa Rica?

In Central America and The Caribbean overall, Costa Rica is ranked the number one most peaceful country in the region out of 12. However, the homicide rate increased from 11.9 homicides per 100,000 people to 12.3 in the last year, and crime is still a significant threat to travelers in Costa Rica.

Can I use US dollars in Costa Rica?

U.S. Dollars are Accepted in Costa Rica

For visitors from the U.S. there's no reason to change money in advance because dollars are commonly used in Costa Rica. The taxis out in front of the airport, the restaurants and hotels all accept dollars.

Is the US dollar strong in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica, though on the pricier end of Central American countries, has relatively low fares from the United States thanks to service from low-cost airlines. The dollar has seen a strong exchange rate since 2010, and hotel and food expenses can be kept under $50 per day.

Are things expensive in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica can be expensive. At least, it can feel expensive to Westerners who expect to be able to have the same buying power as in places like India or Thailand. Costa Rica is ranked as the most expensive country in Central America and the sixth most expensive in North America and the Caribbean (2015).

Is Costa Rica expensive to eat?

Eating out in Costa Rica will cost more than you might think, and has become even more expensive over the past few years. Main dishes start at around $10 in San Jose, and can be double that in popular coastal towns.

What does a beer cost in Costa Rica?

How Much Does Beer Cost in Costa Rica? One beer from the grocery store costs about 720 Colones or $1.25 US. If you want to have a beer at a restaurant or bar, you can pay between 1,000 Colones ($1.75) and 2,000 Colones ($3.50) for Imperial beer which is the local Costa Rican light beer.

Are groceries expensive in Costa Rica?

For 2 people living in a touristic area of Costa Rica, groceries are usually the biggest chunk of our monthly budget. Our average monthly budget for groceries in Costa Rica is around $500 USD for 2 people and 2 large dogs. Prices are always quoted in Costa Rican colones at the supermarket.

Are there drug cartels in Costa Rica?

Colombian and Mexican drug cartels, which have been using Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador as drug-trafficking transit points, have added Costa Rica, according to The Wall Street Journal.

What should I avoid in Costa Rica?

Can you drink the water in Costa Rica?

The short answer is yes. You can drink the tap water in Costa Rica safely in most every part of the country. In some rural areas, including the Caribbean and in non-touristy places, you may want to stick with bottled water.

Will my cell phone work in Costa Rica?

The type of phone doesn't matter. It can be an iPhone or Android, Samsung, HTC, Blackberry, whichever, as long as it fits those three requirements. Make sure you call your home provider to see if your phone it unlocked and can accept international SIM cards before you leave.

Do Most restaurants take credit cards Costa Rica?

MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted credit cards in Costa Rica, followed by American Express. Most hotels and restaurants accept them, especially in touristy areas.

What US banks are in Costa Rica?

Citibank and Bank of America have a presence in Costa Rica, but no branches or ATMs. Scotiabank is one of the larger international banks in Costa Rica, though you'll find more branches and ATMs with a national bank.