A monthly pass costs $49.56. That may sound expensive, but remember, Costa Rica has some of the best coffee in the world. When I arrived in Costa Rica, I used Uber to get to my first destination of La Fortuna, Costa Rica. A Toyota Corolla or a similar vehicle is about $25,000. Flexibility while traveling is key to saving money. And when you need to take a taxi, expect to spend $1.87 per mile, plus a $1.07 base fare. One of the most variable numbers in your budget will be the cost of international airfare to get there (see tips on saving). There’s a lot to love about this spot in Central America. If you live conservatively, it’s possible to get by on $1,000 or less per month. The combination of breath-taking white-sand beaches, sweeping mountain views and an ideal tropical climate has made Guanacaste one of Costa Rica’s most popular regions. Mistakes can be very costly so, Nickle and Dime. Boy this pandemic has been interesting. The upper price ranges above include a beer or glass of wine with a meal, but if you’re going to spend an entire afternoon sipping $16 Piña Coladas under a palm tree or order $200 bottles of wine then increase your budget accordingly. For those who enjoy cooking at home, groceries run the price gamut, and depend heavily on whether you consume imported or local goods. That was for two people (my boyfriend and myself). ). If you’re not flying from one of the cities with direct service you’ll pay an additional $100-$200 for the first leg of your flight so anything under $500 round trip to SJO and anything under $550 round trip to LIR from cities like New York or Chicago is a great deal. Typically we tell people to figure on $600 to $800 a month. Cost of living in San Jose, Costa Rica is 16% more expensive than in Mexico City. Move up to a private room and a hot water shower ($50-$150 double), a guide with a spotting scope to point out the birds while you’re hiking in the National Park ($25 to $40 pp), a couple of days with a 4×4 rental ($45-$80 per day depending on location, duration time of year and insurance options) to check out an off the beaten path destination and a white water rafting trip ($60-$100) and you’ve about doubled the money again. For some travel related items the tax will phase it at 4% for 2020, 8% for 2021 and 13% for 2022. Best, and Safest, Places to Live, or Retire, In Mexico! Costa Rica may be more expensive than some other Central American countries, but you can certainly experience the country on a backpacker’s budget if you take the time to investigate low-cost sleeping options like camping, hostels and small eco guest houses. That being said, Costa Rica is still pretty safe when compared to some of its more violent neighbors. With rent costing 60% less than rent in the United States, it’s an excellent way for expats, especially retirees, to get the best bang for their buck. It’s that time of the year when I look back and analyze the costs of living in my home/office and see if I actually made any money this year. Share. The rate is determined when you make payments, not when you travel so consider saving with reservations well in advance. For those that prefer to cook at home, you can expect to pay $0.96 for a one-pound bag of potatoes, $0.89 for one pound of rice, and $3.55 for one pound of chicken breast. If you’d like to try a canopy tour ($70), rent a surf board ($15), take a hike through a National Park ($7-$25 entrance + $25 to $40 pp for a guide), add a couple of beers ($2-$4) with your evening meal ($8-$15 to step up from rice and beans) and hop on the public bus ($4-16) to check out a few different areas you should double your budget to at least $50 per person per day. Here is our detailed guide to the cost of traveling in Costa Rica from food, activities, transportation, lodging and more. Even if you love planning and want to make all of your own reservations and arrangements it’s worth talking to someone who knows the country and can help you avoid mistakes like signing up for a week at an All Inclusive resort six hours away from the cloud forest you want to see. You can buy a local one-way ticket for a mere $0.66. What are the Most Expensive Countries in the World to Live In? $630 to $1,050 ground costs per person  for 7 days  plus airfare. NOTE: July 1, 2019 – Costa Rica imposed a new 13% value added tax. Pineapples can be bought for $1-$2, bananas are between 10 and 17 cents each usually, and papaya, mango, watermelon, coconuts, cucumbers, onions, … Because it’s so easy for individuals to find their own airfare bargains, travel packages almost never include airfare. Even though the country has universal healthcare, many citizens and expats opt for private health insurance in Costa Rica. International Retirement: The Best Places to Retire Abroad Expat? The average per day costs include food, lodging, activities and transportation within Costa Rica. This post will give you an in-depth look and a well rounded idea of your Costa Rica travel expenses but remember, much of it also depends on the type of vacation you’re looking for. Rent in Costa Rica … The roads and traffic in Costa Rica are notorious, so if you do plan on driving in the city, practice defensive driving and make safety your top concern. Double your budget one more time and you’ve bought yourself luxurious surroundings and pampering, a day of deep sea fishing or scuba diving to add to your activities and a domestic flight to give you an extra day on the beach instead of in the car. You could definitely do it a lot cheaper by cooking your own meals and staying in dorms or other shared accommodation. Many hotels and lodges in this price range accept reservations and you may be able to find some VRBO or other rental houses or condos that are affordable if you have 3-4 people in your group. I told people about 2 weeks before this started that it may be a good idea to take some of the profit in stocks and diversify! If you can live without it you can save a lot. We’ve written a separate article on family budgets for Costa Rica vacations that will help provide an accurate estimate. International Retirement: The Best Places to Retire Abroad. That breaks down to a median monthly expense of $1,500 per month for an individual retiree or $36,000 per year for a couple. Alcohol and a few other things we haven’t included because they’re unpredictable or optional. Local meals and drinks, domestic bus fares, taxis and small purchases should be paid for in … The country make more earnings from tourism then all three main exports: coffee, bananas, and pineapples. Costa Rica is administratively divided into seven provinces which are subdivided into 82 cantons, and these are further subdivided into districts.Cantons are the only administrative division in Costa Rica that possess local government in the form of municipalities.Each municipality has its own mayor and several representatives, all of them chosen via municipal elections every four years. If you choose a more remote environment, rent can be more than half the price of a comparable apartment in San Jose. Expense Estimated Cost Meals $5 to $10 - inexpensive meal (more expensive in San Jose) $25 to $45 - date at … Estimates below assume at least double occupancy so if you’re a solo traveler adjust accordingly. $220 – $420 per person ground costs for 8 to 10 days after adding minimal transportation from airport to beach. Backpackers do a bit better in Costa Rica but five bucks won’t get you through the first couple of hours of an average day. Costa Rica has a universal government-run healthcare system for citizens and permanent residents (you can apply to be a permanent resident after three years of temporary residency). Accommodation Budget in Costa Rica. A week-long vacation in Costa Rica can cost anything from $1400 to over $2500 per person. And it’s not just great for retirees; young people flock to Costa Rica for its unbelievable weather, beautiful beaches, and welcoming community. Let’s talk nat… How much does it cost to travel to Costa Rica? How much does it cost to travel in Costa Rica? Cost of Living in Costa Rica The cost of living in Costa Rica is $874, which is 1.19 times more expensive than the world average. Need International Health Insurance? But this should include EVERYTHING except your furniture, including your swimming pool, driveway, landscaping; you will have a turnkey house. How To Empty Your Bowels Each Morning (1 min Routine) Watch later. Cell phone. Expatriate Resources, 18 Shipyard Drive, Hingham, MA 02043, USA | info@internationalcitizens.com. Check this out!---Good to see this photo function!! Otherwise there are, Rental Car Insurance and damage waivers. If you decide to live outside of the capital, rent prices decrease dramatically. We’ve seen round trip tickets priced from $250 to $850 from these gateway cities to the main airport in San José Costa Rica (SJO) for 2019. [custom_script adID=149] I keep a record of every single dime, cent and Costa Rican colone that has been spent living in great comfort here in Escazú, in Costa Rica. How much is health insurance in Costa Rica? The costs per person per day or per week do NOT include airfare (see why) and do NOT include alcohol or other incidentals. I spent exactly 14 days in Costa Rica and spent a total of 672,773.99 Colones or roughly $1,175.24 USD. Increased convenience, reliability, and efficiency are all included in the higher price ranges. Getting a reasonably good deal on airfare (less than $750 per person) will push to the grand total to $1,900 to $2,500 per person double occupancy for a superior class Costa Rica vacation. Food costs in Costa Rica largely depend on personal preferences. With private insurance, policyholders receive quicker access to care and a more extensive selection of doctors. Healthcare in Costa Rica consistently ranks among the best in the world and often places higher than the United States. On the other end of the spectrum, backpackers can spend as little as $250 a week for a dorm room and plate of beans. #5 Best Value in Costa Rica that matches your filters “ The positives- beautiful grounds, ample pools (hot and cool), great animal exhibits, excellent poolside bar (with great food and drinks), a/c worked great in our large room , breakfast buffet was terrific, comfy beds. This price range requires public buses, dormitories or hostels and grocery stores or fast food. Twelve doses of antibiotics cost about $40. Flying into the other international airport outside Liberia (LIR) near the northwest beaches of Guanacaste is used to be more expensive but now prices are similar. Outside of tourist areas, locals pay a little less. A gallon of gas will cost you $3.91. Local fruits and veggies – at most farmer’s markets or fruit and veggie stands, you can get a BIG bag of fruits and veg for under $20. But in many ways Costa Rica is much more affordable than back home. In a supermarket, that same beer costs just $2.69. Like all countries, the cost of living in Costa Rica depends on when you live. Le Costa Rica a défini six régions socio-économiques, ou régions fonctionnelles, déterminées par le décret exécutif n ° 7944 du 26 janvier 1978, en liaison avec la planification économique … Costa Rica is consistently recognized as one of the best places to retire. Little costs can add up to between $50 and $600 per couple (airport taxi or car service $80 x2, public transport to airport $8 x 4, airport parking $120 per week, one checked bag each RT $50 x 4, one carry-on each $25 x 4, seat assignment $25 x 4, wi-fi $5 x 4 hours etc. These are average prices and you can probably expect to spend about 5-10% less in low season (May-Nov), 5-10% more in high season (Dec-April) and up to 50% more for the peak travel times around Christmas, Easter and New Years. Most expats in Costa Rica can live comfortably on $1,000 to $1,500 USD per month. You could also do it for A LOT … Here is a breakdown of your Costa Rica travel budget. How Much Does Costa Rica Cost? Using airport ATMs and paying international transaction fees could add up to 10% to your total cost so we recommend. Resources for International Citizens and Expatriates. Regardless of where you settle down, the overall cost of living is relatively low when compared to the United States and much of Europe. This price range requires public buses, dormitories or hostels and grocery stores or fast food. If you prefer a larger place in the heart of San Jose, you can rent a three-bedroom apartment for about $940 each month.