How Much Does a Trip to Costa Rica Cost? Real 2026 Budget by Travel Style

Short answer: excluding international flights, a week in Costa Rica costs roughly $700 to $1,050 per person on a budget, $1,600 to $2,400 per person mid-range and $4,500 or more per person for luxury, based on two people traveling together. Costa Rica is more expensive than its Central American neighbors and closer to US prices in tourist areas, but you can lower the cost considerably by traveling in the green season, eating at local sodas and choosing fewer destinations.

We are ISA Travel, a Costa Rican tour operator that has been organizing trips since 2014. These figures come from the trips we plan every week, and they match the budgets in our other guides. All prices are in US dollars, as of November 2026.

Table of Contents

• Costa Rica Trip Cost at a Glance
• Accommodation Costs
• Food and Drink Costs
• Transportation Costs
• Park Fees, Tours and Activities
• Sample Budgets for a 7-Day Trip
• Hidden Costs Many Visitors Forget
• How to Save Money in Costa Rica
• Is Costa Rica Worth the Price?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts

Costa Rica Trip Cost at a Glance

Per person, excluding international flights, based on two people traveling together. December to April and July carry a premium.

	Budget	Mid-range	Luxury
Accommodation	$30 to $50 / night	$110 to $180 / night	$400 to $900+ / night
Meals	$20 to $30 / day	$50 to $75 / day	$130 to $250 / day
Transport (week)	$120 to $180	$350 to $550	$900 to $1,600
Parks, guides, tours (week)	$150 to $250	$400 to $600	$1,200 to $2,500
Week total	$700 to $1,050	$1,600 to $2,400	$4,500 to $9,000+

Mid-range is where most first-time visitors land, and where you get the most value for your money.

Accommodation Costs

• Budget ($30 to $50 per night): hostels, simple cabins and family-run guesthouses, usually with a private bathroom.
• Mid-range ($110 to $180 per night): comfortable boutique hotels and eco-lodges, often with breakfast, a pool or garden, and some with volcano or ocean views.
• Luxury ($400 to $900+ per night): resorts, high-end lodges and hotels with private hot springs or beachfront villas.

Prices rise sharply at Christmas, New Year and Easter. For those dates, book six to nine months ahead.

Food and Drink Costs

Eating well in Costa Rica does not have to be expensive. A casado, the classic lunch plate of rice, beans, salad, plantains and a protein, costs roughly ₡4,000 to ₡5,500 ($8 to $11) at a local soda. Tourist restaurants charge much more, closer to US prices.

• Budget ($20 to $30 per day): sodas, supermarkets and street fruit.
• Mid-range ($50 to $75 per day): a mix of sodas and sit-down restaurants.
• Luxury ($130 to $250 per day): hotel restaurants and fine dining.

Important: restaurant bills add a 10% service charge and 13% VAT (IVA). When a menu says impuestos no incluidos (taxes not included), expect to pay about 23% more than the listed price.

Transportation Costs

• Public bus: the cheapest option, a few dollars per trip. San José to La Fortuna costs around $5 to $6.
• Shared shuttle: typically $55 to $70 per person per leg between the main destinations.
• Private transfer: charged per vehicle, not per person. On the main routes from San José, our fares are around $220 to $250 per vehicle for 1 to 4 passengers, plus 13% VAT, with USD 10 per additional passenger from the fifth. For a family of four, that is often cheaper than four shuttle seats. See the exact price of each route on our transfers page.
• Rental car: a very low online rate (around $12 a day) often becomes $50 to $70 a day at the counter once mandatory insurance is added, plus fuel and parking.
• Domestic flights: the most expensive per person, but they save hours on long routes.

Our guide How to Get Around Costa Rica compares every option in detail.

Park Fees, Tours and Activities

These are the fixed costs almost every visitor pays. Prices are per adult, for foreign visitors:

Activity	Approximate price
Arenal Volcano National Park	$15 plus tax
La Fortuna Waterfall	$18
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve (circuit)	About $29
Manuel Antonio National Park	$18.08
Tortuguero National Park	$15 plus tax
Hot springs day pass	$30 to $110
Certified naturalist guide	$25 to $40
Zipline / canopy tour	$50 to $90
Canyoning	$110 to $140

Full-day tours from San José that include transport, guide, entrance fees and meals usually cost more, but they save you the logistics. Our day tours show their price per person on each page.

Sample Budgets for a 7-Day Trip

Per person, excluding international flights:

• Backpacker ($700 to $1,050): hostels, sodas, buses and shuttles, two or three paid parks and one adventure activity.
• Mid-range couple ($1,600 to $2,400 each): boutique hotels, a mix of restaurants, private transfers or shuttles between regions, guided visits and a couple of tours. That is about $3,200 to $4,800 for two people.
• Luxury ($4,500 and up): high-end lodges, private transfers and guides throughout, spa and premium experiences.

As a reference, our 7-day packages start from about $1,684 to $2,531 per person, with accommodation, transfers and the main activities included, depending on the route.

Hidden Costs Many Visitors Forget

• Taxes and service: 13% VAT on most tourist services, plus 10% service in restaurants.
• Rental car insurance: mandatory and not covered by credit cards.
• Tips: the restaurant service charge is the tip. For guides and drivers, about 10% is customary.
• Travel insurance: strongly recommended, because private hospitals usually require payment up front.
• Cash: cards work almost everywhere, but carry about $100 in small bills for parking, tips and rural stops. Change for a $100 bill can be hard to find.

How to Save Money in Costa Rica

• Travel in the green season. September and October are the cheapest months; May, June and November also offer good discounts. Our month-by-month guide explains the trade-offs.
• Eat at sodas. A casado costs a fraction of a tourist restaurant meal.
• Choose fewer destinations. Every transfer costs money and time. Three regions in a week is plenty.
• Share private transport. Because transfers are priced per vehicle, a group of four pays much less per person.
• Prioritize a few guided experiences. One good guide is worth more than several unguided visits where you see little wildlife.
• Book holidays early. Last-minute prices at Christmas and Easter are the highest of the year.

Is Costa Rica Worth the Price?

Costa Rica costs more than Guatemala or Nicaragua, and we will never pretend otherwise. What you pay for is well-protected nature, trained guides, safe tap water in most of the country, reliable services and the ability to see volcanoes, cloud forest and beaches in a single week. Our guide Why Visit Costa Rica? compares it honestly with other destinations in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a week in Costa Rica cost?

Excluding international flights, roughly $700 to $1,050 per person on a budget, $1,600 to $2,400 per person mid-range and $4,500 or more per person for luxury, based on two people traveling together.

How much money do I need per day in Costa Rica?

Roughly $100 to $150 per person per day on a budget, $230 to $340 mid-range and $650 or more for luxury, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Is Costa Rica expensive?

It is one of the most expensive countries in Central America for travelers, with tourist-area prices close to those in the United States. Local sodas, buses and green-season travel make it much more affordable.

What is the cheapest time to visit Costa Rica?

September and October, when hotel rates are at their lowest. May, June and November also offer good discounts. Avoid Christmas, New Year and Easter if you are on a budget.

Do I need to tip in Costa Rica?

Restaurants already add a 10% service charge, which is the tip. For guides and drivers, about 10% of the service price is customary if you are happy with the service.

Should I use dollars or colones?

Both work. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, and cards are accepted almost everywhere. Colones are useful for buses, sodas and small purchases, and you will often get change in colones.

How much is a private transfer in Costa Rica?

It depends on the route and is charged per vehicle. On the main routes from San José, ISA Travel fares are around $220 to $250 for 1 to 4 passengers, plus 13% VAT, with USD 10 per additional passenger from the fifth.

How much are national park fees?

Many national parks charge foreign adults between $15 and $20: for example, $18.08 for Manuel Antonio and $15 plus tax for Arenal Volcano and Tortuguero. Private reserves, such as Monteverde, charge around $29.

Is a package tour cheaper than planning on my own?

Not always cheaper, but often similar in price once you add transfers, entrance fees and guides, and it saves a lot of planning time. A package also gives you local support if something changes during the trip.

Final Thoughts

Costa Rica rewards travelers who plan with realistic numbers. Set your budget by travel style, choose fewer destinations, invest in a few great guided experiences and leave room for the unexpected. The country is not the cheapest in the region, but it delivers some of the best value in nature travel anywhere.

Want a trip that fits your budget? ISA Travel designs Costa Rica itineraries with private transfers, hand-picked hotels and local guides, priced in advance with no surprises. → See our packages