Is it better to pay in colones or usd in Costa Rica?

What is the best currency to take to Costa Rica? We suggest you take dollars, but if you can grab some colones at your bank, it will make the beginning of your trip much more manageable.



In 2026, it is generally better to pay in colones (C) for small, everyday purchases in Costa Rica. While US Dollars are widely accepted in tourist hubs, hotels, and for large tours, using local currency for "sodas" (local diners), public buses, and supermarkets ensures you get the fairest price. When you pay in USD at a local shop, the merchant often uses a "simplified" exchange rate that is 5-10% worse than the official bank rate, and you will almost always receive your change in colones at that disadvantageous rate. For 2026 travelers, the best strategy is to pay for your accommodation and car rental in USD (using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees) but use colones for everything else. ATMs throughout the country allow you to withdraw both currencies; just be sure to choose the "Colon" option for daily spending to avoid the "tourist tax" hidden in arbitrary exchange rates offered by street-side vendors.

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U.S. Dollars are Accepted in Costa Rica For visitors from the U.S. there's no reason to change money in advance because dollars are commonly used in Costa Rica. The taxis out in front of the airport, the restaurants and hotels all accept dollars.

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A dinner meal such as a decent steak or fresh fish with a couple sides will cost around 5,000 colones (around $10). There are also restaurants that cater to tourists.

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It's completely safe to drink the tap water over the majority of the country. That includes your luxury vacation rentals in Guanacaste! Costa Rica is quite notable in Latin America as 92.5% of the population has access to drinking water.

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Most restaurants will indicate impuestos incluidos (“taxes included”) somewhere on the bottom of their menus. You're free to add something extra if you think it's warranted, but if you calculate your tip as a percentage of the entire bill, you'll be tipping on the 23% already added for taxes and service.

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Your luggage will be scanned and in some cases hand searched. Please be aware you may not bring plants, seeds, vegetables, or fruits into Costa Rica. 4. Exit the building and you will see your driver with a sign with your name and our Logo.

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Be very cautious when you go into any body of water in the country as tides and rip currents can be strong. Also, as much of the country is considered the rainforest, the weather can change dramatically on very short notice.

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Costa Rica has an open container law designed to keep public spaces clean and safe for everyone. In Jaco Beach, it is technically prohibited to consume alcoholic beverages on public roads or beaches. If you're caught violating these laws, you could face hefty fines or even arrest by local authorities.

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U.S. Dollars are Accepted in Costa Rica The taxis out in front of the airport, the restaurants and hotels all accept dollars. Bring $20 bills or smaller (larger denominations are harder to spend because there problems with counterfeit 50s and 100s) and make sure they are in good condition with no tears.

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If you want to translate, pura vida, it means ?simple life? or ?pure life,? but here in Costa Rica, it is more than just a saying?it is a way of life. Costa Ricans (Ticos) use this term to say hello, goodbye, everything's great, and everything's cool, or even the things that are not cool, but happened.

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