Last Updated: November 27, 2025
Traveling to Costa Rica may cost more than you think. A lot of people expect that because Costa Rica is in Central America, it will be inexpensive. While the price of some things is low compared to what you’re probably used to paying back home, lots of other things are about the same. But don’t fret. If you’re on a budget, it is still possible to visit Costa Rica without making too many sacrifices. In this post, we’ll break down the different types of expenses you’ll have on your trip to help you estimate the cost of traveling in Costa Rica. We’ll also give some tips for easy ways to find accommodations and save money.
Accommodations
Costa Rica’s infrastructure for tourism is very developed, which should be no surprise since tourism is the country’s number one industry.
In major tourist destinations, you’ll sometimes find 50 if not more than 100 different hotels. From backpacker hostels, eco-lodges, treehouse lodges, and surf camps to modern bungalows and luxury resorts, Costa Rica has something for everyone when it comes to accommodations.
Hotel Costs
Here’s what you can expect to pay for accommodations in a major tourist destination. Prices are based on double occupancy (two people).
Hostel
At a hostel, the cost is around $10-25 for a bed in a shared dorm.
Budget Hotel
At a budget hotel, plan on spending $50-100 for a simple, but clean and comfortable, room. For this price, you typically get a private bathroom, air-conditioning, and hot water for the shower (sometimes via an electric, on-demand hot water heater).
Note: Most hotels in Costa Rica, even budget options, include breakfast in the nightly rate, which is a huge perk. The breakfast is often made-to-order and hearty, not a basic continental breakfast.
Mid-range Hotel
Mid-range hotels are around $100-200 for a room with more space and amenities. For this price, you will have all the basics like A/C, hot water, TV, and Wi-Fi, as well as additional amenities like a mini-fridge and coffee maker. The property is also likely to be nicely landscaped and have a view and pool.
High-end Hotel
High-end hotels in Costa Rica start around $250/night. This gets you a well-appointed room with all the amenities, usually a pool, and nice ocean or jungle views.
Costa Rica has a range of high-end hotels. Some are more classic, large hotels with resort-like amenities (multiple restaurants and pools, fitness center, game room for kids, etc.). Others are boutique-style and may have less than 10 rooms, each uniquely designed with an eye for style and comfort.
High-end hotels average around $250-350/night. Costa Rica also has many luxury hotels with prices ranging from $500-$1,000+ per night.
If you’re still searching for the perfect hotel, check out our hotel guides to popular destinations in Costa Rica. We give options for all budgets. If you’re traveling with kids, we also have a guide on the best hotels for families.
Ways to Save Money on Lodging in Costa Rica
Travel During Low Season
Rates for hotels are the lowest during the rainy season (May through November). You may even be able to find a special 3×2 rate if you stay in a hotel for more than two nights during this time of year.
If you do travel during the busier months, try to avoid dates around Christmas, New Years, and Easter. This is when locals take their vacations and more foreigners are traveling due to holiday breaks. You will find peak season prices during these times.
Visit Less Touristy Areas
Prices are highest in well-established tourist towns. This includes many beach towns like Tamarindo, Flamingo, Nosara, Santa Teresa, and Manuel Antonio, as well as popular towns in the mountains like La Fortuna/Arenal and Monteverde. Lesser-known areas tend to be cheaper because the locals want the business.
Here’s a link to our post Off-the-Beaten Path Destinations in Costa Rica to give you some ideas.
Look for Homestay-type Lodging
Locals who live in tourism hubs are starting to open up their doors to travelers in an effort to make a little money on the side. If you’re looking for the best deal in town, a homestay is the way to go. People often have completely separate spaces that they rent out too, so you’ll have plenty of privacy.
Back in our backpacking days, we did a homestay in Drake Bay with a local family and saved a ton of money. It was a great cultural experience too.
AirBnb and VRBO
Vacation rental homes are located throughout Costa Rica and can be a great way to save money. Our family stays in vacation rentals quite regularly to have more space and the price is almost always lower than staying in a traditional hotel.
Here’s the link to our post on Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica with some tips and key things to look out for.
Best Way to Find Lodging in Costa Rica
Hotels in Costa Rica are listed on a variety of booking sites but the one we like the best and use ourselves is Booking.com.
Booking.com has the largest selection of hotels and is very user-friendly. Just put in your search parameters like where you’re going and your travel dates, and a list of available hotels pops up, ranked by customer satisfaction. You can also narrow your search based on your budget and there’s a map. This is great for figuring out how far a hotel is from a town center or tourist attraction.
We like how the reviews on Booking.com are verified and based on actual stays. On TripAdvisor and Google Maps, anyone can leave a review whether they have stayed at the property or not.
Transportation
The main ways to get around in Costa Rica are by public bus, rental car, shared or private shuttle van, and small plane.
Public Bus
The bus is by far the cheapest way to get around and can get you almost anywhere in the country. You can expect to pay from $2 to go from one town to the next or up to $20 to go across the entire country.
When we first traveled in Costa Rica as tourists, we often took the bus. It was a great way to interact with the locals and very budget-friendly.
Rental Cars
The cost to rent a car is often higher than travelers expect.
It’s more expensive than in the US and some other countries. One of the reasons is that the cars themselves are more expensive due to high import taxes. The other reason is because of a mandatory insurance. By law in Costa Rica, you have to pay for mandatory liability insurance when you rent a car. Our post on Renting a Car in Costa Rica has more information.
Expect to pay around $500-1,000 per week for a mid-size SUV with four-wheel drive and $300-700 per week for a four-door sedan. Prices are lowest during the rainy season (May-Nov.) and tend to go down the longer you have the car.
If you’re renting a car, be sure to check out this special discount for our readers to save 10% or more and get free extras.
Shared Shuttle Vans
If you’re not renting a car, most people take shuttles to get around.
A few companies offer shared service in air-conditioned vans that hold between 8 and 19 passengers. A shared shuttle costs between $50-100 per person depending on how far you’re traveling.
Private Shuttle Vans
Private shuttle vans are a good option for families or groups who don’t want to rent a car. Rates vary significantly depending on your itinerary. You can search routes and book through our Private Shuttle Van page.
Small Planes
Small planes connect remote destinations like Drake Bay, Puerto Jimenez, and Tortuguero. We currently aren’t recommending them due to safety and reliability concerns. Our post on Domestic Flights explains more.
For lots more information on getting around in Costa Rica, read our Transportation Guide.
Restaurants
Cost
Like lodging, eating out in major tourist destinations will be more expensive than in lesser-known towns with mostly locals.
At a mid-range restaurant, you can expect to pay around $10-20 per person for lunch and $15-25 per person for dinner (including tax and service).
While the price for food is comparable to the US, luckily, drinks are a lot cheaper. Many restaurants, especially in beach towns, run 2×1 happy hour specials on cocktails and local beers are just $3 a bottle.
Eating Local
A great money-saving option that will also give you insight into the local culture are sodas.
Sodas are the name for local mom-and-pop restaurants that serve traditional Costa Rican cuisine. They’re a bargain compared to the restaurants that cater to tourists so you’ll definitely want to follow the locals to the busiest one if you’re on a budget. Expect to pay $8-10 for a big plate of food, like the one below, and a fresh fruit smoothie.
Tours and Activities
The cost for tours depends on the activity, but here are some examples to give you a sense. Keep in mind that most tours include transportation (pick up and drop off at your hotel) and a snack or meal.
To price out specific activities, visit our Tours page. We offer tours all around Costa Rica, including La Fortuna/Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and Tamarindo.
Also be sure to check out our Travel Discounts page to save on ziplining, hanging bridges, hot springs, catamaran tours, and lots more.
Zip-line tour: $50-85 per person
Whitewater Rafting tour: $70-130 per person
Kayak tour: $50-75 per person
Snorkel or dive tour: Snorkel- $80-100 per person. Dive- $120-150 per person
Coffee or chocolate tour: $25-45 per person
Guided tour of national park or reserve: $55-65 per person
National park or reserve (self-guided): $10-25 per person
*Traveling with Kids: Note that if you’re traveling with kids, they often get a discounted rate. It varies by tour company, but generally, children ages 5-11 pay 30-50% off the adult rate. Kids under 5 are usually free.
Conclusion
We hope that these estimates help you budget for your trip. Costa Rica may be more expensive than some other Central American countries but don’t let that deter you. If you are like many travelers, one visit will have you coming back again and again.
For more money-saving tips, check out our post How to Save on Travel in Costa Rica.
Have a question about something that we didn’t cover? Ask it below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip? Check out these posts:
Money: View all our articles about handling money on your trip. We cover the currency, exchange rate, and using ATMs and credit cards.
Packing for Costa Rica: Get a list of essentials to bring.
Why You Should Get Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is a good idea in case your plans change or anyone needs medical attention. Read our post for more info and recommendations for travel insurance companies.
Practical Travel: These articles will help you with lots more basic travel info, like weather, safety, what gear to bring, and lots more.
