Costa Rica is a country in Central America so you might think life is cheap there but think again. The Costa Rica is nicknamed "little Switzerland". Indeed, it is probably the most expensive country in Central America.
Rest assured, living in Costa Rica will not cost you as much as a trip to the USA for example, but on the other hand it will will cost more than a trip to Guatemala.
I went to Costa Rica for 3 weeks and so i will you share the budget that is necessary in my opinion for such a trip.
What is the transport budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica?
First, you need to think about your budget for transportation which is not insignificant which includes several elements:
- International transport
- Internal transport : car rental or public transport
Transport budget in Costa Rica: international flight
Part of the budget that should not be underestimated is the price of airline ticket. Indeed, this is an important part. On average, if you are leaving from Paris, you will be able to find tickets between € 500 and € 900 to reach San Jose, capital of Costa Rica. The price range depends in particular on the period you want to travel to in Costa Rica.
For my part, I went on a trip to Central America by doing le Guatemala and Costa Rica and for a "multi-destination" ticket, I got it for 550 € by leaving in February from Barcelona and booking the ticket just 1 week before my departure.
So count on average 700 € for a return flight in Costa Rica.
Cost of transport in Costa Rica: car rental
L'une des most popular ways to get around Costa Rica is rent a car. Indeed, a large part of the tourists who leave to discover Costa Rica opt for this means of transport in order to make the most of it and enjoy complete freedom.
However, this means of transport is not the most economical solution. Indeed, if you choose to rent a car for your stay, it takes a certain budget of around 900 € for 15 days with a 4X4. I advise you to rent a 4X4 type car so as not to have any problems because some roads are not very well laid out and it is therefore best to take a 4X4.
To conclude, if you decide to rent a car for 3 weeks in Costa Rica, count a budget of around 1200 € to 1500 €. To this do not forget to add gasoline, which will cost you between 150 € and 250 € depending on the distance you will cover.
Transport budget in Costa Rica: by bus
Opt for public transport to get around Costa Rica is surely there most economical solution. In fact, in Costa Rica there is a relatively well-developed bus network and very affordable for travelers on a tighter budget.
For my part, traveling alone, I decided to travel by bus, and this for 3 weeks.
Obviously, traveling by bus will take you longer than by car and you will probably have to take some connections depending on where you want to go.
However, a ride will rarely cost you more than $ 20.
Here is an example of prices charged in Costa Rica by bus :
- Pòas volcano from Alajuela : about 4k ₡ round trip (around 5 €)
- Alajuela to La Fortuna : 2,6k ₡ (3,5 €)
- La Fortuna in Monteverde : About $ 20- $ 30 with private shuttles
- Monteverde to Tamarindo: 5k ₡ (7 €)
- Tamarindo to Samara: $ 45 by private shuttle
- Samara to Montezuma / Santa Teresa: around $ 10 (very long journey about 12-13 hours)
- Montezuma to San Jose: around $ 15
- San Jose to Puerto Viejo: $ 10 one way or $ 20 for the round trip
For my part, for a 3-week trip to Costa Rica my budget in transport, not counting bike rentals (about $ 5 a day), wasaround 100 €.
So count around between € 100 and € 200 for 3 weeks depending on how often you will take the bus and the distances you want to cover.
What accommodation budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica?
Another important budget to consider is the budget for housing.
I found that in Costa Rica, the price for one night in a youth hostel been close to the price you can pay when traveling in Europe as in Spain or Eastern Europe.
Indeed, count between 9 € and 18 € per night and per person with a average at 13/14 € I think in the dormitories.
For couples, count between 30 € and 70 € per night in a private room. On average, count 40 € / night.
Therefore, for a stay of 3 weeks, the budget for accommodation is around 300 € for a person traveling in a youth hostel ou about 800 € / 900 € for a couple for 21 nights.
What food budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica?
The next budget to foresee is the food budget. Obviously, this budget differs depending on your appetite.
There are mainly two types of restaurants in Costa Rica.
First, the "tourist" restaurants practicing "European" prices. Indeed, in this type of restaurant you can easily spend between € 15 and € 25.
On the other side there is the "sodas" or small local restaurants, street restaurants, which charge more local prices and cheaper. Indeed, you will be able to eat for € 4 to € 10. However, these small restaurants are rare in tourist areas. Do not hesitate to go back in small streets less busy to find some.
The food in Costa Rica is good with Mexican influences but also a very South American diet with potatoes, corn, meat etc… On the Caribbean coast, there are still different influences in their dishes.
Regarding the food budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica, count between 15 € and 25 € per person per day.
You can round between € 300 and € 600 per person depending on the type of restaurant you choose.
What activities budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica?
The last budget to remember is the budget for all the activities you can do in Costa Rica.
It would be a shame to come to the end of the world in a country as magnificent as Costa Rica without enjoying it a little by taking part in some of its flagship activities.
Know that the activities in Costa Rica are not given, almost all entries in national parks will cost you around $ 15-20 for example.
Here is a price list of activities you could participate in:
- Le Poas volcano : 15$
- Arenal National Park : 15$
- Hot Springs : some are free otherwise count around 40$
- Tenorio National Park: $ 12
- Monteverde Reserve: $ 25
- Ziplines in Monteverde: $ 45
- Suspension bridges in Monteverde: $ 30- $ 35
- The night marches to observe animals in Monteverde: 15 $ -20 $
- Diving: $ 115 (2 dives)
- Manuel Antonio National Park: $ 16
- Tortuguero National Park: $ 15
- Corcovado National Park: $ 15
- The parks of Cabo Banco / Cahuita / Manzanillo: on donation
Your budget will therefore depend on activities you want to do and the circuit that you will borrow. You can count around 150 € -200 € if you want to treat yourself.
Your total budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica
To recap, when preparing your budget for 3 weeks in Costa Rica en trying to keep a tight budget, count:
- Budget internal transport : 1300 € if you rent a car or about 100 € / 200 € per person by bus
- Accommodation budget: around 300 € / person in a youth hostel ou 800 € / 900 € for a couple
- Food budget: between € 300 and € 600 per person. Let us take an average at 450€
- Budget activities: about 200€
- Souvenir budget: 100 €
Or a total budget of:
- € 1 for one person traveling by bus and in a youth hostel
- € 3 for a couple (i.e. € 800 / person) in a car and in a private room
This is obviously an approximate budget.
This budget will require add the price of the plane ticket per person.
For my part, I went to Costa Rica for 3 weeks, traveling by bus and sleeping in a youth hostel, I got out for 1 €. To this must be added the price of my plane ticket which was 550 € (multi-destination ticket with which I also did Guatemala). A total of € 1550.
Similar items
There are many possibilities available to you for getting around Costa Rica.
It is essential not to forget certain things when packing your suitcase for Costa Rica.
For more information on the Costa Rica, do not hesitate to consult the following articles:
French
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Hello
Thank you for this super useful and super filled article.
I haven't found your travel dates 🙂
I want to go there in January 2021!
Little question, did you take a sleeping bag?
thanks again
See you soon
Hi Hélène,
Thank you for your comment. I went to Costa Rica in February / March 2020 (just at the right time before the Coronavirus ..)
I had taken with me a bag of meat and a mini sleeping bag. But from memory the down I haven't used it too much 🙂
Hello
Congratulations on your blogspot and your advice
I plan, I hope, from 23/6 to 17 or 20/7.
I started to think about my itinerary. Being all, it's either by bus or private shuttle.
San José (night in Alajuela), Poas volcano, Arenal volcano, Monteverde *. Go to San José to fly to Puerto Guttierez. Stay several days in Corcovado / Bahia Drake.
Departure for San Gerardo de Rivas (Chirropo NP).
Departure for Sarapiqui (rafting). Then Tortuguero. Maybe, Cahuita if I have the time
And finish the trip with playa Coco, in the Gulf of Papagayo (diving with Summer Salt dc)
Do the AR for Rio Celeste.
What do you think ? Where did you do two dives? What are the airlines?
I leave you my email:[email protected]
thank you in advance for your help
FRED
* the diving club that I contacted told me that we could go down the river by boat to reach Monteverde. That is true ?
Hi Margaux,
I would like to leave this summer all in Costa Rica too. Would it be possible to discuss security issues?
Have you ever felt unsafe? Are there places to avoid?
Thank you very much for your return.
Camille
Hello Camille,
Honestly in Costa Rica I felt pretty safe everywhere. Already it is a fairly touristic country, the locals are adorable. Really at no time did I feel in danger. Afterwards I did not go to the capital. Obviously, like everywhere, you have to be careful and above all I would advise you not to walk alone in the evening in the small streets etc. But these are tips to apply everywhere when you travel…
Hello,
I'm going in January with my boyfriend for 3 weeks. we do it a bit at the last moment and suddenly everything is expensive, especially the car budget.
I see on your blog that you had no difficulty getting around by bus … but the question I ask myself is why we are advised to use a 4X4 if for example you were able to go to Monteverde by bus …
thank you to enlighten me