Costa Rica may not be low cost, but it is affordable if you’re on a bit of a budget. A daily budget of $30 – $40 USD would be advised to cover the following additional expenses.
Soda bars offer fantastic local food at reasonable prices. For example, you can expect a hearty meal for around $10. A mid-range meal for two may be around $50. Most restaurants include a 10% gratuity fee on the bill.
In urban areas, taxis are around $1-2 for the first km and just under $2 for each additional km. Costs may be less in rural areas.
For example, entrance into national parks, World Heritage Sites and optional excursions you choose to do in your free time.
Other costs you may incur on your travels in Costa Rica include donations to temples and sacred sites, souvenirs, and incidental items such as medicine or phone SIM cards.
Tipping in Costa Rica is quite different to the US, and while there are no specific ‘rules’ on how much to tip and when, there are a few general customs that you could adhere to. And if you see a tip jar on the counter, it is always well received and much appreciated if you drop in a couple of coins. Tipping as a custom is still relatively new in Costa Rica, having only become part of their culture a few decades ago. That said, tipping is mainly only expected from tourists – it is very unlikely that you will see any locals offering a tip.
At restaurants, a 10% service charge is usually included on your bill, so there is no need for a further tip. If the food and service was exceptional however, feel free to leave a couple of extra coins.
It is standard to leave $1 USD per drink for the hotel bartenders. Also, leave around $1 per day for the maids and at least $1 per bag if anyone has helped with your luggage, depending on how far they carried it.
It is customary to tip the taxi driver around $5 depending on the distance. For short journeys, it is perfectly fine to round up or tell the driver that they can keep the change.
You should always tip any tour guides for their service, especially if they did a good job. The size of the group will depend on how much you would tip. The total tip amount for an average to large group tour is around $5 per person. For a small group tour, expect to give a tip of $10 per person, and for a private tour, tip around $20 per person.
Haggling in Costa Rica can be fun, but should never be disrespectful. First, don’t ever try to haggle over prices in supermarkets or large stores! There are certain places where it is acceptable to bargain with the merchant or ask for a discount, such as on street stalls and souvenir shops, but you must do it the Tico way! Remember, Costa Ricans live the ‘pura vida’ way, so stating in a firm voice “, I will give you $20 for this” when the price is $40, will not go down very well!
Ticos are generally a polite people, who will most likely be offended with such a harsh tone. If you would like a discount on a product, consider making small conversation with the merchant first, throw in a ‘pura vida’ or two into conversation and they will be more willing to give you a discount. And if you ask in Spanish, it’s even more likely. “Me podria hacer algún descuento por favor?” means “can you give me a discount please?”. It might sound a little odd to ask, but here it is very common. You will also often see additional, discounted prices if you pay in cash, so it’s always worth asking.
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