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Costa Rica 2026 pricing update

Costa Rica 2026 pricing update

Updated for February 2026

This is our annual price update. We publish it in February after our January circuit — the trip when we gather the most current pricing across the widest range of categories and destinations. The numbers here come from receipts, not estimates. Where we have cross-referenced with reader-submitted data, we note it.

Exchange rate for all calculations: 520 CRC/USD (Banco Central de Costa Rica rate, February 2026).

The 2023 version of this post is still available for historical comparison. The trajectory since 2018: consistent, significant increase across all categories.

Accommodation

Budget tier (hostel dorm or basic private)

  • Dorm bed, major destinations (La Fortuna, Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio): $22-32 per person per night
  • Basic private room (shared bath, no AC): $45-75 per night for two
  • Airbnb room in local home: $35-65 per night

Mid-range (independent hotel or boutique guesthouse)

  • La Fortuna, mid-range hotel with volcano view, breakfast included: $120-165 per night
  • Monteverde, mid-range cloud forest lodge: $110-155 per night
  • Manuel Antonio, mid-range hotel, walking distance to park: $130-175 per night
  • Tamarindo, mid-range beachfront or near-beach hotel: $120-180 per night
  • Puerto Viejo, boutique Caribbean guesthouse: $90-130 per night
  • Uvita, boutique lodge near Marino Ballena: $115-160 per night
  • Drake Bay, lodge with meals included: $200-280 per night per person (all-inclusive structure common)

Luxury and eco-lodge tier

  • Nayara Springs (Arenal area): $650-900 per night
  • Tabacón Resort and Spa (Arenal): $380-520 per night
  • Lapa Rios (Osa Peninsula): $600-850 per night per person including meals
  • Pacuare Lodge (Turrialba): $750-950 per night per person including meals and activities
  • Four Seasons Papagayo: $900-1,600+ per night

All prices are approximate for high season (December through April). Green season (May through November) typically runs 25-40% lower at independent properties; large resort chains vary less.

Rental cars

Car rental remains the most unpredictable cost category — prices fluctuate significantly by booking lead time, availability, and season. Our current benchmarks, booked 4-6 weeks in advance:

  • Economy/compact sedan (NOT recommended for most itineraries): $45-70 per day
  • Compact 4WD (Suzuki Jimny class): $75-110 per day
  • Mid-size 4WD (Toyota RAV4 class): $95-135 per day
  • Full-size 4WD (Toyota Prado or equivalent): $120-175 per day

All prices exclude the mandatory liability insurance (approximately $12-18 per day, required by law) and the additional Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) that most travelers purchase for $15-25 per day. Full coverage (CDW + liability + theft) typically adds $30-45 per day.

Our advice: budget a full-size 4WD and full coverage for any itinerary that includes Monteverde, the Osa Peninsula, or secondary roads. The difference between the cheapest car and the right car is about $30-40 per day; the difference in peace of mind and capability is significant.

Costa Rica: private transportation service

Transport alternatives

Shared shuttles

  • San José to La Fortuna: $50-60 per person
  • San José to Manuel Antonio: $45-55 per person
  • San José to Monteverde: $45-55 per person
  • La Fortuna to Monteverde (lake crossing): $30-40 per person
  • San José to Puerto Viejo: $55-70 per person
  • San José to Tamarindo: $55-65 per person

Private transfers (full vehicle, regardless of passenger count)

  • SJO airport to La Fortuna: $180-240
  • SJO airport to Manuel Antonio: $160-220
  • SJO airport to Tamarindo: $240-320
  • SJO airport to Monteverde: $175-235

Domestic flights (Sansa, approximate one-way)

  • SJO to Drake Bay: $115-145
  • SJO to Tambor (Nicoya): $95-120
  • SJO to Puerto Jiménez: $110-140

Puntarenas-Paquera ferry (vehicle)

  • Standard sedan: $22-25 per vehicle each way
  • Larger 4WD: $25-30 per vehicle
  • Passengers: $2 per person

National park fees (foreign visitors, per person per day)

  • Manuel Antonio National Park: $22
  • Corcovado National Park: $15 (plus mandatory certified guide $25-80 per person)
  • Marino Ballena National Park: $8
  • Rincón de la Vieja National Park: $20
  • Arenal Volcano National Park: $18
  • Tortuguero National Park: $20
  • Poás Volcano National Park: $22 (advance reservation required)
  • Irazú Volcano National Park: $17
  • Cahuita National Park (Kelly Creek): donation-based
  • Tenorio Volcano National Park (Río Celeste): $18

Tours

Wildlife and nature tours

  • Half-day naturalist guide, Manuel Antonio: $75-110 per person
  • Hanging bridges tour, Místico Park Arenal: $55-70 per person
  • Night wildlife walk, various destinations: $45-65 per person
  • Corcovado day tour from Drake Bay (guide + boat + park entry): $130-185 per person
  • Tortuguero turtle nesting night tour: $45-60 per person
  • Monteverde cloud forest guided hike: $55-75 per person

Activity tours

  • Arenal hot springs day pass (Eco Termales): $80-95 per person
  • Arenal hot springs day pass (Tabacón): $125-155 per person
  • White-water rafting, Sarapiquí Class II-III (half day): $65-85 per person
  • White-water rafting, Pacuare Class III-IV (full day): $95-130 per person
  • Zip-line tour, Monteverde (standard): $65-90 per person
  • ATV tour (half day): $75-120 per person
  • Whale watching boat, Uvita (3 hours): $85-110 per person
  • Snorkeling, Caño Island from Uvita: $120-160 per person
La Fortuna: Místico Arenal hanging bridges admission ticket

Food

Budget eating (sodas and local markets)

  • Casado at a soda (rice, beans, protein, sides, drink): $7-11
  • Gallo pinto breakfast: $4-7
  • Fresh juice at market: $2-4
  • Supermarket groceries (weekly, two people): $95-130

Mid-range restaurants

  • Main course at a tourist-area restaurant: $18-28
  • Pizza, pasta at a casual restaurant: $14-20
  • Fish of the day at a beachfront restaurant: $22-32
  • Beer (local, Imperial or Pilsen): $3-5
  • Mixed drinks / cocktails: $7-12

Specialty and fine dining

  • Tasting menu at a destination restaurant: $60-100 per person
  • Wine list markup: consistent 200-300% over retail

The honest daily budget summary

Backpacker (dorm, sodas, public bus, no tours): $50-75 per person per day Mid-range independent (private room, mixed restaurants, shared shuttle, 1-2 tours per week): $120-180 per person per day Mid-range with car rental (same as above but car share between two people adds $50-70 per day): $160-240 per person per day Comfortable (boutique hotel, good restaurants, private transfers, guided activities): $250-400 per person per day Luxury (eco-lodge with meals, private guide, premium experiences): $500-900+ per person per day

Year-on-year comparison summary

Since our 2018 baseline, across all major categories:

  • Accommodation: up approximately 60-70% in peak destinations
  • Car rental: up approximately 80-90%
  • Park fees: up approximately 40-50%
  • Tours: up approximately 45-60%
  • Food at sodas: up approximately 30-40%
  • Mid-range restaurants: up approximately 50-65%

Costa Rica is a significantly more expensive destination than it was five to seven years ago. This is documented, consistent, and unlikely to reverse. The appropriate response is accurate budgeting — not avoiding the country.

For the best value, see our post on shoulder season.

For historical context, read our 2023 affordability comparison.