Costs of Budget Travel in Costa Rica in 2018
I think every traveler has heard that Costa Rica is a very expensive country, probably the most expensive country in Central America.
I certainly heard that over and over again by other travelers who had just visited or were about to visit. I read the same thing in all the guidebooks and travel blogs that I read during my research before arriving in Costa Rica.
By the time I actually arrived in late January, 2018, I was pretty nervous about how I was going to afford such an expensive country. Since I’d been assigned to visit 80 luxury and boutique hotels around the country, I was going to be there at least three months. How would I manage that?
at the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua
Indeed, when I first arrived to Liberia city in northwestern Costa Rica, on a bus from Nicaragua, it seemed that my worries were well-founded.
Not only were the cheapest beds in hostels priced at $12-15 US, but meals at the very cheapest of local restaurants (called ‘sodas’ in Costa Rica) cost $4-5 US. That’s the absolute cheapest. Most meals at most restaurants cost even more.
During my first week I also discovered that the price of nearly all groceries, including most fruits, vegetables, meats and other foods cost the same as in the USA – or higher! Or higher! In fact, many foods are double to triple US prices, including cheeses, yogurts, many fruits and vegetables.
In addition, all daily needs, home needs, toiletries, pharmaceuticals, appliances, clothes, shoes…well, virtually everything, has US prices as well!
Considering that Costa Rica is still a developing country and that the price of groceries and daily needs in all other countries of Central America are considerably cheaper, it’s hard to fathom how and why the prices in Costa Rica are so very high. What’s up with that?!
Moreover, how do locals even manage to make ends meet? To eat, clothe themselves, pay for housing? I’m sure their wages are considerably lower than US wages, yet the daily costs of living are at the same level as the US. How is it possible? And why?
So during my first week in Costa Rica I was pretty nervous about how I was going to afford traveling there for so long.
Quite luckily, I quickly learned how to cut costs. Primarily that was by buying all my groceries (carefully) and cooking all my own meals. By doing that, I was able to keep my daily food costs down to $5-6 US on average, over the time I was there.
I stuck to the less expensive vegetables and fruits, avoided the expensive ones, cooked a lot of pasta, and managed to eat a decent amount of chicken and meat dishes as well. I never skimped on meals. I ate a lot, and well.
Hermosa Beach – with hillside condos overlooking the bay
I also learned to cut my housing expenses by camping on beaches several times, asking for discounts when staying one week or more in the same place, and carefully shopping around for accommodation in each place, since prices do vary a lot.
Much to my great surprise, when I tallied up my monthly costs at the end of my first month, I discovered that I had not spent any more in Costa Rica than I had in Nicaragua (supposedly the cheapest country in Central America – not!). In fact, I had spent less in one month in Costa Rica than in many other neighboring countries!
My first full month in Costa Rica I spent a total of only $530 US! That’s lower than Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala!
Quite happily, my monthly costs remained low during the next three months of travels around the country. And accommodation costs certainly decreased as high travel season came to an end in April.
My monthly average during 4 ½ months of travel around Costa Rica was $575 US. That’s also lower than my monthly costs in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala!
boutique-like Isa’s Hostel in Jaco Beach
Notes on Accommodation Costs in Costa Rica
While prices for dorm beds in January and February (high season), particularly in Costa Rica’s northwestern Guanacaste Province beaches, cost $12-15 US…I was very surprised to discover that prices in some of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist destinations are considerably cheaper, even in high season.
I quite easily found $10 beds in La Fortuna, $6 beds in Monteverde, $10 private room in Montezuma and $7-8 beds in San Juan, the capital city. Those are all equivalent prices – or lower – for dorm beds in all other Central American countries.
So, in truth, accommodation in Costa Rica is only expensive at certain places, while it’s pretty cheap in other destinations. Prices are higher during high season then drop significantly during low season.
Soda in Costa Rica
Notes on Food Costs in Costa Rica
As I already mentioned, eating out at restaurants in Costa Rica is quite expensive for a Central American country. Expect to pay at least $4-5 US at the very cheapest places.
The only way to keep food costs down in CR is to buy groceries carefully and cook all your own meals. You’ll also be eating much healthier, as the Costa Rican meals are practically devoid of vegetables and fruits, very hefty on the heavy carbs.
One thing that also keeps food costs down is that it’s perfectly safe to drink the tap water in most place in Costa Rica. No water costs whatsoever! However, DO NOT drink the tap water anywhere on the Caribbean coast, including Bocas del Toro, Portobelo, Colon or other Caribbean destinations.
buses in Costa Rica
Notes on Other Costs in Costa Rica
The only thing in Costa Rica that is universally cheap is public transportation. Public buses are super cheap, clean, modern, comfortable and go to most destinations in the country. I’m talking $1-3 US for most overland trips.
Anything else you might need, be it toothpaste, a new shirt or shoes, some basic medicines or electronics, is going to cost you as much as in the US or Europe. For anyone on a tight budget, I strongly suggest you buy everything you will need before arriving in Costa Rica.
Uvita Beach
Notes on keeping costs low in Costa Rica
I’m going to write an entire post on how to keep costs low while traveling in Costa Rica. So stayed tuned!
But in brief, it’s quite easy to travel around Costa Rica on a backpacker’s budget (under $600 US per month) by cooking for yourself instead of eating out, selecting accommodation and destinations carefully, skipping Costa Rica’s super expensive tours & adventures, enjoying free natural destinations like the country’s gorgeous beaches, using public transportation and by not buying any personal goods in the country.
By doing that, anyone can travel through Costa Rica at the same budget as in every other country of Central America! I just did it. I spent no more in Costa Rica than in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador or even Mexico!
Lash at thermal Tabacon River – Arenal – Costa Rica
My Average Monthly Costs for Budget Travel in Costa Rica during 4 ½ months of travel
Following are my total monthly costs as well as daily averages for rooms, food and daily totals. Note that my daily food costs are all due to cooking all my own food.
I think you’re going to be surprised at how inexpensive Costa Rica can be if you travel carefully.
Average Monthly Costs during 4 ½ months of travel: $575 US
By Month:
February – (Liberia and various beaches in Guanacast Province)
Total Monthly Costs: $530 US
Daily average: $18.80
Daily food average: $5.85
Daily room/bed average: $11
Price range of bed/room: $5.35 – $13.40
Usual meal cost by cooking for myself: $1-3 US
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March – (Monteverde – La Fortuna/Volcan Arenal – Montezuma – Puntarenas)
Total Monthly Costs: $618
Daily average: $21.66
Daily food average: $6.05
Daily room/bed average: $11.54
Price range of bed/room: $6.25-15.25
Usual meal cost by cooking for myself: $1-3 US
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April (San Jose – Border Run to Nicaragua )
Total Monthly Costs: $538
Daily average: $18
Daily food average: $5.00
Daily room/bed average: $7.90
Price range of bed/room: $7-10
Usual meal cost by cooking for myself: $1-3 US
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May (Central Pacific Coast beaches)
Total Monthly Costs: $615
Daily average: $19.83
Daily food average: $6.93
Daily room/bed average: $9.90
Price range of bed/room: $9-15
Usual meal cost by cooking for myself: $1-3 US
at ARenal del Mar Resort near Manuel Antonio
Summary
Although Costa Rica has a strong reputation as a very expensive country to travel through, it’s actually very easy to travel in CR on a tight budget. In fact, Costa Rica is no more expensive than any other Central American country if you’re careful about your food and accommodation costs.
As noted, I just traveled around Costa Rica for more than four months for an average monthly cost of just $575 US. You can easily do the same.
Happy travels!
cheers, Lash
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
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