Costa Rica is a stunning country with a lot to offer visitors, from a wide range of wildlife to beautiful scenery, pristine beaches, and countless adventure opportunities. Despite being located in Central America, Costa Rica can be a bit tricky to budget for, as it tends to be pricier than its neighbors like Nicaragua. However, with a bit of planning, you can still find great deals in this tropical paradise.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that I’m a big advocate of balancing between scrimping and splurging. I don’t travel on a shoestring budget, but I also don’t splash out cash unnecessarily. It’s all about finding that balance.
My 10-Day Costa Rica Adventure
I recently spent ten days in Costa Rica, flying into San Jose and then splitting my time between the mountainous area of Monteverde and the surf town of Santa Teresa. I decided to track all of my expenses to find out exactly what it costs to travel to Costa Rica for 10 days.
Tracking Travel Spending with Trail Wallet
In the past, I’ve written everything down in a notebook, but this time I decided to try the Trail Wallet app. The app lets you set up trips, budgets, and spending categories and then easily track your expenses as you go. The trip dashboard shows your daily budget, how much you have left, and your running trip total. You can also see a pie chart breakdown of each category or a day-by-day breakdown. Since I always had my phone on me, I found it easier to add a quick entry to the app after a purchase than to write it down in a notebook.
Note: This isn’t sponsored by Trail Wallet. I discovered the app on my own and paid for the pro upgrade. I just really like it and wanted to share my method for expense tracking.
Costa Rica Travel Budget Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of my expenses in Canadian dollars:
- Accommodations: $483.88 (hostels and AirBnB)
- Transportation: $157.63 (taxis, shuttles, buses)
- Food & Drink: $302.48 (restaurants, water, snacks, alcohol)
- Activities: $342.31 (rentals, classes, tours, etc.)
- Miscellaneous: $139.76 (souvenirs, SIM card & data)
Overall: $1,426.06 / $142.61 per day
Where I Stayed
Accommodations
Overall, I spent three nights in hostel dorms and six nights in private rooms or guest houses.
- Alajuela Backpackers (San Jose): A no-frills hostel close to the airport and highway bus stop. A bed in a 6-bed female dorm with an ensuite was $19 USD per night.
- Arco Iris Lodge (Monteverde): A lovely lodge in Santa Elena. I stayed in a budget room with bunk beds and a private bathroom for $33 USD per night.
- Selina (Santa Teresa): A trendy hostel with a big pool and cool hangout spots. A bed in a 4-bed mixed dorm with an ensuite was $24 USD per night.
- Hotel Raratonga (Santa Teresa): Booked through AirBnB, this quiet guesthouse had rooms opening onto balconies overlooking the pool. A deluxe room was $58 USD per night.
- Selina (San Jose): For my last night, I booked a private room with a shared bathroom for $33 USD per night.
Getting Around Costa Rica
Transportation
Transportation in Costa Rica can be quite affordable or quite expensive, depending on the method you choose.
- Renting a Car: If you want more freedom to explore, renting a car is a good option. Expect to pay about $50 USD per day, including fees. A 4×4 is recommended for rougher roads.
- Hotel to Hotel Shuttle: Convenient but more expensive, with prices ranging from $40-$80 USD per trip. I used Interbus for a trip from Monteverde to Santa Teresa for $64 USD.
- Public Bus: A budget-friendly option. I traveled from Alajuela to Monteverde for $7 USD and from Santa Teresa to San Jose for $17 USD.
- Taxis/Uber: Official taxis are burgundy/red with a yellow triangle sticker. Uber is available in San Jose and is cheaper than taxis.
- Flights: Sansa and Nature Air fly domestic routes. These flights save time but are more expensive. Nature Air has had cancellations recently, so have a backup plan if you book with them.
Eating in Costa Rica
Food & Drink
Meals in Costa Rica can be similar in price to North America, especially in tourist-frequented restaurants. Entrees typically cost between $10-$15 USD. For a cheaper option, look for sodas, local eateries serving traditional Costa Rican food. A basic meal, called a casado, costs around $6 USD.
Fun Activities in Costa Rica
Activities
I love new experiences, so I don’t scrimp on activities. During my 10 days in Costa Rica, I went on guided hikes, tried tree climbing, had a sunset horseback ride, attended yoga classes, rented a bike, and went on a full-day snorkeling trip. Activities are priced similarly to North America.
Miscellaneous Expenses
My miscellaneous expenses included a Kölbi SIM card with 2GB of data for $20 USD and a few souvenirs, mainly 4lb of coffee and other small items.
Conclusion
My trip could have been done cheaper, but I always aim to balance budget with experience. I’m happy with how this trip turned out and hope this breakdown helps you plan your own adventure in Costa Rica!
