Costa Rica money matters

The official currency of Costa Rica is the Colón (CRC). There are notes of 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and various coins. For reference, 1,000CRC is worth roughly £1.50.

US dollars are also accepted almost everywhere, although you may have problems spending the bigger notes (e.g. $50, $100).

If you’ve booked your holiday with Rickshaw then your accommodation, transport and pre-booked tours will have been paid for in advance. Breakfast will be included almost everywhere you stay, as well as your other meals too in the more remote lodges.

However, you’ll still need to be prepared for everyday spending.

Every family is different, of course, and costs can vary depending where you are in the country. Therefore, daily spending is difficult to predict. But to give you some idea, here’s what to expect for some of your most common expenditures.

Adult meal in a typical tourist restaurant – £10-20

Kids meal in a typical tourist restaurant – £7-12

Meal in a local “soda” restaurant – £4-8

1 litre bottle of water – £1

Big bag of crisps – £1-2

Fresh fruit juice – £2-3

Bottled beer – £1.50-3

Glass of imported wine – £4-8

Full tank of petrol – £50-70

1. Use the mercados – You’ll find well-stocked shops and even supermarkets in most Costa Rican towns, so it helps to stock up on kids snacks, drinks, and other essentials when you arrive somewhere. If you get caught short in a popular tourist area or are constantly buying food in your hotel, you should expect to pay more than you could have elsewhere.
2. Buy water in bulk – You’ll often find that a 5 litre bottle costs almost the same as 1 litre, so buy big and make sure you pack you refillable water bottles. Better for your wallet and the environment!
3. Keep it local – You won’t see many Costa Ricans in tourist restaurants – you’ll find them dining in local restaurants known as “sodas”. These are often roadside restaurants where you can get a tasty local meal for a fraction of what you’d pay in a tourist restaurant, and they’ll usually offer traditional Coast Rican dishes alongside some more western options (in case your kids are still in the fussy phase!). You can usually be well-fed for £4-8 per person in one of these eateries.

Most restaurants will include a service charge and you shouldn’t feel pressure to give more. However, if you’ve had great service then a small tip is appreciated. Similarly, if a tour guide or driver has helped you have a great experience then a few dollars tip will put a smile on their face. In general, local taxis won’t expect a tip.

Although Costa Rica doesn’t have an intense haggling culture like you might find in other parts of the world, you may find that local sellers at markets are willing to negotiate. Just bear in mind that these people may be surviving on a low income.