When moving to a foreign country, one of the biggest challenges can be where to buy the things you need. In Costa Rica, it can be especially hard if you live far from San Jose, where most of the shopping is. We’ve lived in Costa Rica for almost a decade now, but only recently bought a house. With that, came the need to find furniture, rugs, lighting, decorations, etc. In this post, we’ll give a list of home decor and furniture stores that we’ve discovered so far.
Overview
Below we give some of our favorite home decor stores in and around San Jose. There are definitely a lot more options than this, but this is a good place to start. We give a quick description of what you’ll find in each store, along with a link to their website or Facebook page. Often, stores have e-commerce websites and offer in-store pickup or delivery.
If you live far away, buying things online is a great option. We’ve bought several things with success. What’s great in Costa Rica is that you can often get stores to send you more photos of an item. Many places have an option to WhatsApp with a customer service rep. You can use this to get more pictures of whatever chair, rug, lamp, etc. you have your eye on.
Home Decor Stores in San Jose
Altea Design
Altea Design is one of our favorite spots. It’s a high-end furniture and decor store with fair prices. Has mostly contemporary/modern decor. You’ll find things like sofas, chairs, dining tables, coffee and other occasion tables, bed frames, bookshelves, lamps, rugs, mirrors, and decorative pillows. It also some smaller homewares like picture frames and decorative objects. A lot of the furniture is KARE.
Altea Design has very good sales so it’s worth following their Facebook page.
They have several locations around San Jose and in Tamarindo. Here’s a link to their site with the specific locations.
Monnry
Monnry is a big decor store in Escazu with four floors. They have a ton of options for rugs, lighting, and throw pillows (just about every color you could imagine!). Also has ceiling fans, chairs, coffee tables, side tables, small décor items, candles, bedding, and wall art. Limited selection of dining room furniture. Prices are very good for the quality.
Crate and Barrel
Crate and Barrel recently opened in Avenida Escazu. They carry a lot of the same things as in the Crate and Barrel in North America, so it’s easy to find reviews online.
The store has two floors. The first floor is mostly kitchen items like plates, bowls, glasses, bar items, kitchen wares, and smaller decor like candles and decorations. Upstairs is mostly furniture (beds, couches, coffee tables, chairs, etc.).
Prices are good – very comparable to the store’s US prices.
Cemaco
Cemaco is a large home store with lots of bedding and bathroom and kitchen essentials. It’s a good place for quality cookware, flatware, knife sets, plates, small appliances, serving ware, and even vacuum cleaners.
Cemaco has brand names like Cuisinart, Kitchen Aid, Hamilton Beach, Haus, Pyrex, Corona, and good European brands as well.
Cemaco has locations in Rohrmoser, Zapote, and Alajuela (City Mall).
La Artistica
La Artistica is a high-end furniture store. Good selection of mostly living room and bedroom furniture (including mattresses). Style is more modern, with clean lines and a lot of black. Pricing is mixed. Many of the sofa sets are $3,000+, while occasion tables, desks, and bookshelves are much more affordable.
La Artistica has locations in Rohrmoser, Curridabat, and Liberia.
Siman
Siman is huge department store in malls around San Jose. For home decor, they have lots of furniture, bedding, pillows, towels, curtains, mirrors, etc. Quality can be hit or miss, but we have found some nice things there.
Siman is located in the Multiplaza in Escazu and Curridabat as well as in City Mall Alajuela.
Ashley Furniture
This is the same Ashley Furniture you will find in the United States. It can be hard to find a comfortable couch in Costa Rica so many people buy from Ashley. The store is also popular for quality mattresses.
Ashley Furniture is located in Escazu, right off Highway 27, and in Heredia.
Aliss
Aliss is a large decor store that also has clothing, toys, baby gear, and some other miscellaneous items.
In the homewares section, you’ll find smaller things, like dishes, glasses, food storage containers, cooking utensils, and basic cookware. It’s a great place for placemats and kitchen towels. Also has a lot of bedding, towels, and bathroom essentials.
About a quarter of the store in Escazu is inexpensive decorations, basic furniture, and wall art.
Quality is not as good but it’s a great option for simple things or if you’re on a budget. Some people compare Aliss to Ikea.
Aliss has 12 locations around San Jose. Here is a map link with all the stores.
Bali Home Center
If you’re looking for exterior items, this is Bali Home Center’s specialty. They have a wide selection of patio sets, loungers, swing chairs, umbrellas, and even decking, Jacuzzis, grills, and pizza ovens.
Bali Home also has an interior line, with modern-style tables, bed frames, coffee tables, etc.
It’s one of the only places in Costa Rica where we’ve seen furniture for kids and teens.
Bali Home Center is location right off highway 27 in Santa Ana and also in Liberia (Guanacaste).
El Bodegon de Asia
El Bodegon de Asia’s flagship store is just north of Jaco, but now they have a location in Escazu too.
At El Bodegon, you’ll find Balinese-inspired furniture and decor. Lots of ratan and furniture made from natural fibers, pieces made from reclaimed wood, and unique lamps, vases, and decorations. They also have a fairly big selection of inexpensive wall art.
Custom Furniture
Keep in mind that it’s also easy to get wood furniture made in Costa Rica if you can’t find what you’re looking for or just want to go local.
We’ve had many pieces made very affordably, including console tables, desks, and chairs. The town of Sarchi, just outside San Jose, has some amazing shops where you can see the work of local artisans.
[pic our chair?]
Conclusion
We hope our list of home decor stores has helped narrow your search for furniture and decorations for your house in Costa Rica. If you have a favorite store that we’ve left out, please let us know in the comments below.
Have a question about home shopping in San Jose? Ask us in the comments below.
Looking for more information about living in Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Renovating a House in Costa Rica: Our experience with contractors, managing the project, finding supplies, and more.
Buying a House in Costa Rica: Learn the steps to go through when buying a new home, including escrow.
Building a House in Costa Rica: We interviewed a local builder to get the inside scoop on what’s involved when you build a house in Costa Rica.
I love Aliss! Reminds me a little of Target, good quality stuff for a good price. We also had success at Bali, glad that was part of your list. EPA has a home store in Escazu, we found some good lighting and outdoor decor there. Thanks as always!
This is so helpful. We are moving to Costa Rica in about 10 days to an unfurnished rental and I had no idea where to begin. Thank you!!
You’re welcome, Jenny! Glad it was helpful.
I purchased a studio condo at the Croc Resort in Jaco. I need a loveseat with a comfortable foldout bed. Space is an issue.
Ben
Hi Ben, We’d check Ashley Furniture. They have options for pull out couches (called sofa camas here).
I’ve had trouble finding an upscale coffee maker (not espresso). Is this something that just isn’t the same down there? Or have you seen any?
Hi Mandi, We brought a nice coffee maker down from the US. It does look like Cemaco has a nice Kitchen Aid one and Cuisinart too if you go to the Electrodomésticos Pequeños section of their site. Siman might have some too. They also have a good website. Good luck!
Altea design was great found our sofa there. What about walllpaper preferably the peel and stick. Available near San Jose or Jaco? Thanks
Hi Lori, We’ve never seen wallpaper here. Maybe do some research to make sure it will hold up in this climate. There is a Facebook group on Interior Design in Costa Rica. You could search that to see if anyone has talked about wallpaper. Here’s the link to the page. Hope that helps!
Wow I didn’t know Ashley Furniture was also in Costa Rica, that company is much larger than I thought it was… How are the prices there?
Hi Tony, Ashley’s prices are good by Costa Rica standards. More than in the US, but fair.
Hi, we are looking for a king size platform bed frame – wood, basic that we can add our own posts to. We want to buy online and have the item delivered to us via the bus system. I’ve heard of this but not sure how to go about getting this accomplished. Any info would be appreciated!
Hi Tammy, Each store will have its own delivery options. Don Colchon has some basic options and they do offer delivery. Altea Design has more upscale options. Or you could get a local woodworker to make it for you. Best of luck!
It looks like the only one of these stores in your list that has a location in Liberia is the Bali store. We are furnishing a home in Samara. Do you have suggestions for places in Liberia area for furnishings?
Hi Paula, Some of the places in San Jose have locations in Liberia as well. We’d check out Zen Designs, Bali, Casa y Mas, and La Artistica. El Bodegon de Asia has a location near Liberia too. There’s also Mr. Outlet, which gets seconds from Target.
I am looking for real wood floating shelves and a night table in San Jose.
Hi Sita, For wooden floating shelves, we would use a local woodworker. Nightstands are fairly easy to find. Altea Design has some nice ones or any of the furniture stores on our list should have some options.
I’ve been looking for a good quality, super comfortable sectional in Guanacaste and haven’t had much luck with finding one at a reasonable price. Ashley Furniture looks like it may have some decent options. Generally, how has the quality been there for sofas/ sectionals?
Hi Yvette, We’ve had two sectionals from Ashley that are very comfortable and have held up well. People also talk about Altea Design as having nice couches but we’ve never owned one ourselves.
Hello! We will be furnishing our house just outside of Tamarindo this November. We’re wondering if IKEA from San Jose delivers?
Hi Marianna, Unfortunately, there are no IKEAs in Costa Rica. Tamarindo/Liberia does have a good amount of options for stores, though. Altea Design, Zen, La Artistica, Bodegon de Asia, etc.
Dear friends, thank you so much for your generous post & for all the equally wonderful replies & comments. I will be retiring in Costa Rica & plan on moving down to San Jose (as a starting point) in mid June ’24. You have made it that much easier for someone like me who knows nothing about San José, & where to look… Thanks !
Dear Matt & Jenn,
Please, can you offer a post about grocery Shopping in CR ?
Like in San José for example, what are some of the good Supermarkets?
Is it better to go to like an open air / Street / Farmer’s Market , & when (best time of the week). Every one, please feel free to share your experience. Grateful, Sal Aridi
Hi Sal, That’s a good idea for a post. In the meantime, yes, ferias (farmers markets) are the best for fresh, affordable local produce. Many towns in Costa Rica have them. They have a set schedule, usually once a week. For grocery shopping, Auto Mercado is a very nice all-around grocery store. And Pricesmart is good for stocking up on certain things like olive oil, cheese, etc.
Refurnishing my house in Heredia for AirBnB. Where can I find decently priced or even second hand kitchen appliances like a stove or washer and dryer?
Hi Liz, We would try Facebook Marketplace for used appliances.
Dear friends Matt & Jenn, Good day & thanks very much for your response regarding Supermarkets/ food in San Jose. I’m happy that you are suggesting Farmers’ Markets for fresh produce, etc. I heed your advice & grateful for your sharing! Sal .
Love this blog! We recently purchases a condo in Playa Hermosa (south of Jaco), and will need to furnish, our goal date is to arrive in June and stay for a month while getting the apartment in order. Thank you for all the store suggestions, but I am still unclear about delivery?? Will these stores deliver furniture and appliances from San Jose? Is there a long wait time? If delivery is available what usually is the charge? Thank you in advance.
Hi Desiree, Yes, most will help with delivery. Sometimes they have their own trucks, other times they will use a third party. For the Jaco area, it will cost around $200 on average I’d say. Typically, we have waited anywhere from a week to a month for delivery.
Hi Matt & Jenn, your story and experience influenced me to get set up in Costa Rica, I have followed your story and can’t believe it’s 10 years already. Thank you for your suggestions. I’ve found Salotti Sabana Oeste. https://salotticr.com/. I’ve purchased several items from them. But agree that Sarchi for custom-made furniture has been amazing. I’ve also purchased my appliances at Golfito great appliances and they gave discounts when paying in cash, this is a Tax Free Zone,.
Hi James, Thanks for the kind message. We appreciate it. That’s exciting that you’re living in Costa Rica as well.
That store looks great, beautiful leather sofas. We’ll have to check it out if we’re in Curridabat or Rorhmoser. Pura vida!
Also Matt and Jenn I forgot to add that I’m also from BOSTON!!! GO RED SOX, CELTICS, PATRIOTS y BRUINS!!!