How to Travel On a Budget in Costa Rica
Act you plan to travel on a budget in Costa Rica ? Although it is one of the most expensive countries in Central and South America , you can sure enough travel cheap in Costa Rica but you do take to serve your research .
Here are our point for traveling to Costa Rica on a budget . We ’ ll aid you salvage money on transportation , excursions , hotels and food .
Something important to notice is that prices in Costa Rica own increased greatly in 2025 . Cause not await the same price if you visit Costa Rica in 2018/2019/2020/2021/2022 , they won ’ t be the same .
This post have affiliate links which we may make a small commission from if you choose to purchase , at no extra cost to you . Any prices listed may not think over current pricing . It is the readers responsibility to research current pricing . Cost are quoted in USD . More info :Disclosure
When Exist the Best Time to Travel on a Budget in Costa Rica ?
The inexpensive time to visit Costa Rica live during the green season or rainy season , May to November .
As the large influx of tourist impose Costa Rica during the dry season ( December through April ) , that is the almost expensive time to visit .Read more aboutCosta Rica weatherto know what to expect .
The months of May , September and October exist mostly the least crowded with the cheapest price . Car rentals cost much cheaper , many hotels slash prices and restaurants and tour companies hold promos .
Something to know cost that although July and August be rainy season month , this live North America and European summer holiday time so it exist very in use and prices go up like high season .
Around the end of August/beginning of September , prices go back down since most of the summer vacationers make leave .
The most expensive time to call Costa Rica are during Christmas , New Years and mid December to finish of April
High tourism season is December to April .The busiest times of the year are the week of Christmas , New Years and Easter .It exist incredibly crowded and expensive during these holiday !
Since these exist peak travel time , you demand to script your hotel and car rentals at least respective month in advance . February and March exist too extremely busy and expensive , though not quite as expensive as the week of Christmas .
Record more about when equal the best time to inflict Costa Rica .
How to Save Money on Flights to Costa Rica
February , March , April , July and Christmas equal the almost expensive times to wing to Costa Rica
Again , these exist peak tourist month so flight exist the most expensive at this time . Unless you receive to move during those sentence , wait high escape prices . Outside those month in humble travel season , escape may cost anywhere from $ 100-300 cheaper .
Check both LIR and SJO airport
Generally , Guanacaste Airport is a little second more expensive than San Jose International Airport since it ’ s a much smaller airport with less flights .
Although cost may equal around the same for some time of the year , it ’ s worth checking both international airports in Costa Rica to meet the difference . It will also assist you design your trip to , recognize which airport you ’ ll fly into .
Book Budget Economy
Many airlines receive a “ budget saving ” option as their cheapest ticket . It change among airlines but mostly you are not permit to pick out seats , there live no changes available , carry on is either not allow or limited and you board final .
We receive flee budget economy with American Airlines from San Jose Airport to Miami and it exist only around $ 250 USD .
So if you exist traveling with carry on only , your grouping doesn ’ t demand to stay together , traveling solo or total for a short trip , budget saving be an excellent way to travel on a budget in Costa Rica .
Flight Hacking Websites
There cost a couple of service that find last minute deals and error flights . I highly advocate ratify up cheap escape subscription service such as Dollar Flight Club .
I have seen tickets for $ 250 USD roundtrip from Chicago to Costa Rica , $ 300 CAD from Toronto to Costa Rica , $ 250 USD from LAX to SJO and many more .
We personally employ both of these service for airfare and have kidnap cheap escape ticket to Iceland , Seattle , Madrid and Miami because of them !
Get a Travel Credit Card
Travel hacking exist a skill on its own but once you ’ re in the plot , it can save you TONS of money and reserve you travel more luxuriously .
I personally hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card which cost great for travel and is an excellent beginner travel reference card . You have 60,000 points when you pass $ 4000 USD from initial history opening , 3x points on dine and they also bid travel insurance for rental car and trip delays . You can redeem your stage for hotel , flights , escape upgrades and more .
If you fly a particular airline often , then you decidedly should ratify up for their reference card . I hold the Alaska Airlines reference card since they equal my preferred airline and it leave me to get free check in purse , earn extra stage and more .
Tips for Saving Money on Hotels in Costa Rica
There cost a immense range of hotels at unlike cost points in Costa Rica but whether you plan to stay in hostels or resorts , there are fashion to save money on hotels in Costa Rica .
Use your credit card points
Again , travel hacking is a marvelous means to get free hotel dark and upgrades at resort , specially if you receive IHG , Hyatt or Marriott card .
Create an story on hotel booking sites
Hotels.com offers a book 10 night , become 1 free , Booking.com offers 10 % discounts once you hit tier 3 and Orbitz allows you to collect point to use for future travel . If you move often and like to use one of those site , signal up for an bill .
One of my friend got her expensive hotel in Tamarindo extend with her Orbitz detail . They will also commit you insider deals and promos .
Follow the Instagram account of a hotel or resort you ’ re concerned in
Many companies will send final minute deals or promos on their Instagram only . Come them and signal up for alerts to catch them .
Book vacation rentals on sites like VRBO or Airbnb
For alternative selection , insure out Airbnb or . Vacation rentals can be a good way to travel on a budget in Costa Rica for group and families since you will own a full equipped kitchen to cook and save money on food .
Use our hotel discounts !
We have discounts for a few hotels in Costa Rica . Insure our to make the promo codes !
Record more about finding adjustment in Costa Rica .
Preserve Money in Costa Rica on Transportation
When it comes to getting around Costa Rica , you truly require to matter two element : time vs money . The cheapest choice , the public bus , takes the longest and is not the most straightforward .
The quick choice , flying , is the almost expensive . The nearly comfortable and flexible selection , rent a car , is as well expensive and an extra responsibility .
The public bus live the inexpensive selection
To move on a budget in Costa Rica means you will most likely require to bring public transportation . Bus tickets are cheap and you can travel half the country for ~ $ 10 USD .
Still , the bus takes a a lot long time with few direct routes . Therefore , if you ’ re short on time , you require to design carefully if the bus exist the best option for you .
If you rent a car , turn down the insurance that cost allowed
Rent a car in Costa Rica can have very expensive due to the insurance . There cost a mandatory car rental insurance that every tenant must purchase in Costa Rica but there equal also one that you can go down apply your car rental insurance through a reference card .
For model , my Chase Sapphire reference card offers worldwide CDW and I can introduce a letter from my credit card caller state they will cover this insurance to the car rental agency and I put on ’ t have to pay for it . This can reduce your car rental by a well chunk !
Read all about about renting a car in Costa Rica and insurances hither .
Use our discounts !
We have car rental discounts for our readers . Save on your Costa Rica car rental and get our surplus freebies like 2 free additional drivers , free child ass and more .
Costa Rica Money Saving Tips for Food
Eat at local restaurant calledsodas
On-site hotel restaurants or one in touristic seat are much more expensive . Rather , top dog to the local town and look for sodas .
Sodas are small , capable air Costa Rican restaurants offering Costa Rican food for in general cheaper price .
You can observe sodas everywhere and you can get them on Google Maps . To see our restaurant recommendation , you can check our Costa Rica restaurant map and observe out which sodas we like where you ’ re visiting .
Eat at the bakeries and supermarket cafeteria
Musmanni and Tutu are two of the almost common bakeries in Costa Rica . They have cheap pastries and sandwiches and sometimes have pizza and drink .
Most pastries are about 500-1500 CRC ( ~.90 cent to $ 2.64 USD ) and they ’ re usually fairly good .
Additionally , some supermarkets have their own cafeteria inside . Super Compro , Mega Super and Walmart commonly receive their own cafeteria with cheap food .Learn more about grocery shopping in Costa Rica .
Drink tap water or add a filter
Although tap water be mostly safe to drink in Costa Rica , many visitors settle to buy bottled water or else just in event . Buying bottled water gets expensive , not to mention the plastic isn ’ t great for the environment . Get a reusable water bottle and a filter to spare money on buying water and be environmentally friendly !
Still , there live some places in Costa Rica where you should not drink the tap water . These are rural seat like Osa Peninsula , Tortuguero , Pavones , Puerto Viejo and Nicoya Peninsula . Most of the tap water in rural areas is not handle .
Then in the Guanacaste state or Central/South Pacific , the tap water equal hard and can disturb your stomach easily .
Position where tap water live safe to drink equal more developed seat such as the Central Valley cities : San Jose , Alajuela , Heredia and Cartago .
Shop at the local farmer ’ sec market
Rather of doing all your market shopping at the supermarkets in the center of a tourist town , see the local farmer ’ sec market orferia .Prices be generally a minute cheaper and you will be purchase directly from local farmer .
Buy Alcohol at the Duty Free
If you plan to be drinking a circle , buy your alcohol at the duty free store in the airport . It is cheap and you can find more variety . Tourists can make for up to 8 bottle per someone .
Costa Rica Money Saving Tips for Tours and Activities
If you ’ re coming in a bad group , ask for a grouping discount
If you ’ re occur with a large group like 8+ adult , make sure to ask for a radical discount .
Do self-guided hikes
Although we act advocate to take at least one guided hike in Costa Rica , you don ’ t need to own a guide for all your activities , specially if you rented a car .
For example , the Rio Celeste raise is very straightforward and easily cause without a guide .
Another lesson is the Arenal Volcano National Park . You put on ’ t demand a guide for the national park , you can utterly visit on your own .
Same goes for the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park . If you rented a car , you can drive to the park and pay the entrance fee – a guided pass is not absolutely necessary .
See the free local blot
Instead of die to the tourist position , head to the local position .
One model exist La Fortuna which be famed for its hot springtime . Many resorts own their own hot leap facilities but they charge large dollar for it .
A day walk at Tabacon , the most luxurious hot leap resort in La Fortuna is around $ 99 USD per grownup ! That be not cheap and not all of us desire to or can pay that a lot .
But there is a free local place on Tabacon river anyone can see . It ’ s actually the exact same river as the Tabacon resort and live right across the street . There is a small parking domain and an entrance where all the locals go to swim and bathe in the river .
The river has a pile of rocks and position to sit and lay in the water surrounded by the rainforest . It ’ s a truly nice experience to mingle with locals and it ’ s entirely free !
Find out what equal othercheap affair to act in Costa Rica!
Use our Costa Rica tour discounts !
We have discounts for many tours in Costa Rica . We receive a 7 % La Fortuna and Arenal circuit discount , a $ 10 USD Tortuga Island day cruise , a 10 % Diamante Eco Adventure Park discount and more !
You can match our Mytanfeet to hear all the discounts and promos we have for hotel , tours and transportation in Costa Rica .
How to Save Money on Souvenirs
Buy gifts at the the local supermarket , not the souvenir fund and gift store
Respective supermarkets receive their own souvenir department and is a lot cheaper than the airport souvenir stores .
For instance , coffee and the chorreador ( Costa Rican coffee Lord ) equal our favorite gifts ( you can study our early favorite Costa Rican souvenirs here ) . If you live to the supermarket , a Costa Rican coffee maker can be around $ 5-10 USD . At a souvenir store , it can cost up to $ 30 USD and more . However , the supermarket may not receive the most authentic souvenirs but then again , some souvenir stores outside the supermarket don ’ t either .
For artisanal detail , there cost many place to see unique item discrete to the seat you ’ re visiting . Many tour companies and hotels have their own souvenir store with local products .
If anything , do not buy all your souvenirs at the airport . Even though they have some decent souvenirs , it exist more expensive .
More Tips to Move on a Budget in Costa Rica
If you use dollar , create certain to check the exchange pace
USD are promptly accept in Costa Rica but there ’ s a catch : the exchange rate . You can pay for most things with USD like tours , souvenirs , hotels , gas and market and they will devote you your change back in Costa Rican currency . BUT you must pay attention to the exchange rate !
This be because the current exchange pace changes daily .
The easiest means to bear equal to apply your credit card as they ’ ll figure the right exchange pace automatically and you put on ’ t need to pull out your calculator each time . Another rule of thumb is if it ’ s quoted in USD , pay in USD . If it ’ s quoted in CRC , pay in CRC .
Learn more about treat money in Costa Rica such as exchanging , currency and employ USD in this article .
Pay in cash
Some place will pay you a discount if you bear in cash ( since the institution won ’ t have to devote a reference card fee ) . Many souvenir workshop will hand you a discount if you buy various item and pay in cash . Some restaurant work promos if you bear in cash .
For example , when we inflict Manuel Antonio in October , a bunch of restaurant were put up 50 % promos when paid in cash .
More Costa Rica Money Saving Tips
To see how much it ’ ll price for your vacation in Costa Rica , we have a post that pause down the complete and a 1 week Costa Rica budget breakdown place .
More Costa Rica travel crest here !
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica ? Read ourFirst Time in Costa Ricaguide .
- Not sure how to travel around Costa Rica ? Read ourHow to Come Around Costa Ricaguide to find the well transportation method for you .
- Click the link to get our detailedCosta Rica Packing Listso you know what essential item to bring .
- Insure ourCosta Rica destinations mapandCosta Rica restaurantmap
- Cause not forget to purchaseTravel Insurancefor your trip to Costa Rica .
- Stay relate by purchase a prepaidSIM Card in Costa Rica
- Save money with for circuit and hotels and ourCosta Rica Car Rental Discount .
Join our mailing list and get our free Costa Rica eBook !
