Getting a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica is very easy and not that expensive. We recommend getting a Costa Rica SIM card so you can have a local phone number and data which is very useful in case of emergencies.
In this article you will learn all about getting prepaid SIM cards in Costa Rica.
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Where Can I Get a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica?
You can buy a prepaid SIM card at any phone store, supermarket or computer store in Costa Rica.
At the San Jose International Airport, there is a Claro (name of the phone company) stand left of baggage claim 5 where you can purchase a SIM card.
It is open from 6 AM to 9 PM and sometimes to 11 PM on weekends. They’ll help you insert the SIM card and set up your phone to use it.
Claro offers a couple plans. 15 days for $60 USD and $30 USD for 7 days. They have a vending machine that you can just buy the card from and then you can ask the agent for assistance to insert it into your phone.
In the Country
You can go to any of the phone companies’ offices in Costa Rica. Additionally, you can get a prepaid SIM card at most cell phone or computer stores in Costa Rica.
Some supermarkets sell prepaid SIM cards that come with a prepaid plan (already have a set amount of credit on them).
Which SIM card to get in Costa Rica?
For tourists going to popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica, we recommend to get a Kolbi SIM card. Kolbi is the government cell phone network company and has the widest coverage in Costa Rica. You can buy prepaid SIM cards at any of their branches.
There are Kolbi offices throughout the country and close to the airports. Search for the closest one to you in Google Maps or Waze. Just look for the office with a big green frog on it that says Kolbi.
Do keep in mind that most offices close from 5-7 PM. If you fly into Guanacaste Airport, there is a Kolbi office in Liberia 15 minutes away by car where you can get a SIM card.
Car Rentals and SIM Cards
Our partnership with Adobe Rent a Car includes a free Costa Rican SIM card with 1000 CRC preloaded that you can put in your unlocked phone for the duration of your car rental booking.
This way, you can have a Costa Rica number in case of emergencies and you can recharge it if you need to. 1000 CRC gives you about 30 minutes of local minutes.
Requirement to get a SIM card in Costa Rica
To buy your own prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica, you must have your original passport or photo ID (passport works best) and cash.
You have to fill out a short form and present your photo ID to purchase a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica which costs around 2000 colones or (~$3.50 USD).
It is also best to pay in Costa Rican colones, not USD or credit card. When you purchase your SIM card, you can then load as much credit on there as you want.
Additionally, your smartphone must be quad band, it must use a physical SIM card and it has to be unlocked.
The type of phone doesn’t matter. It can be an iPhone or Android, Samsung, HTC, Blackberry, whichever, as long as it fits those three requirements.
Make sure you call your home provider to see if your phone it unlocked and can accept international SIM cards before you leave.
Once you purchase a SIM card in Costa Rica, you can’t return it if you find out your phone is still locked.
Prepaid SIM cards typically expire after 90 days of no use.
Costa Rica Cell Phone Companies
The 3 major phone companies in Costa Rica are: Kolbi, Liberty and Claro. With these companies you can buy the SIM card for 1-2000 colones (around $2-4 USD) and they will give you the same amount for phone credit on the SIM card itself.
Some prepaid SIM cards already have a plan and credit loaded. You will see signs like this at the supermarket for them:
This is an option if you’re not sure how much credit you want to put. However, most people like to do the pay as you go and then recharge when needed.
Our Recommendations for Costa Rica Prepaid SIM Cards
Kolbi is best for nationwide use, especially if you plan to stay in the city and main destinations. However, Claro also has good coverage nationwide, but more for rural areas.
For example, Kolbi does not have as good coverage down in the Osa Peninsula. Instead, Claro worked well there.
When we visited Pavones, Kolbi had 0 service but Claro had 3g. In Guanacaste, Liberty tends to have a teeny bit more coverage than Kolbi.
Using T-Mobile in Costa Rica
Samantha used to use her US phone with T-Mobile in Costa Rica. T-Mobile offers plans with free international data and calling/text included.
No set up required so you don’t need to switch your SIM card or take it out. Just keep your T-Mobile SIM card in your phone.
On their Go5g plan, they don’t charge roaming fees and offer high speed data abroad in over 200 countries, including Costa Rica. Depending on which Go5g plan you have, it’ll be either 5gb of high speed data or 256 kbps on the basic plan.
If you plan to use your T-Mobile plan in Costa Rica, when you land in Costa Rica, take your phone off airplane mode and turn on data, T-Mobile will send you a text message.
It’ll say something like “Welcome to Costa Rica!” and then detail what exactly is included in your plan (how fast your internet is, costs of calls, etc.) They will also include a link in case you want their International Pass for $5 USD a day.
TMobile Plans
The T-Mobile Go5g Next, Go5g Plus and Magenta MAX and Plus gives up to 5GB of high speed data, unlimited texts and calls at $.25/min. The T-Mobile Go5G, Magenta & ONE plans only gives 256Kbps.
I used to have the Go5g Next plan that has up to 5gb of high speed data. The high data works decently in the cities, but in more rural areas, it’s sometimes OK, sometimes only 3g and slow.
It worked well enough for simple emails, Whatsapp texts and Google Maps/Waze but anything more like downloading/uploading or streaming on Youtube, opening heavy websites (surfing the web) or watching videos on Instagram, it was pretty slow.
If you need high speed Internet throughout your whole trip, I recommend to get their International Pass or rent a wifi hot spot.
ur partnership with Adobe Rent a Car gives an extra benefit for wifi hot spots, get more details here about our Costa Rica car rental discount and benefits.
How to Recharge Your prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica
You can recharge your prepaid SIM card at the supermarket, convenience store, cell phone stores or the phone company’s office.
Business will have a sign with the phone company’s logo to indicate they can recharge SIM cards.
To add more credit, you must pay in cash in local currency (Costa Rican colones). Just tell the cashier Me puedo recargar mi X (Kolbi/Libery/Claro/etc.) and tell them how much or give them the cash.
Or just hold out your phone and say the name of the company.
You will also need to give them your phone number. Your phone number will be on your original receipt. There’s a good chance you’ll throw it away so I recommend taking a photo of your phone number.
How Much Credit Should I Put On My SIM Card in Costa Rica?
This depends on what you plan to use it for and how long you’re in Costa Rica. For one week in Costa Rica, we recommend to put 5000 colones on your prepaid SIM card (~$10 USD) at first and then you can recharge it later if need be.
This is usually a good amount to start with for those just using it for email and occasionally surfing the web.
Remember that uploading and watching videos will suck up your data on your SIM card fast so do that on Wi-Fi only.
If you plan to be uploading and using Instagram and Youtube a lot, I recommend to add more than 5000 colones to begin with because those apps suck up a lot of data.
With Kolbi, if your SIM card has not been used, recharged or have any activity, the card will expire after 90 days.
How to Check Your Balance (Kolbi)
For Kolbi customers, type *888# and then select option 1 to check your balance. You can also send a text to 888 with the word SALDO.
eSIM
Many of the latest phones have eSIM which you can use in Costa Rica. eSIMs are actually very practical and convenient as you do not have to have a physical SIM card anymore.
The app will present you options of various international packages that you can choose from. Once you choose the package you want and purchase it, they’ll show you the steps on how to activate the eSIM which is fairly simple.
Then you can upgrade your package, purchase another one or modify it right within the app. There is no need to purchase any physical SIM card for eSIMs.
Our iPhone 14s uses eSIMS. We have used two different eSIM providers when we travel abroad. Both of them have plans in Costa Rica: Airalo and Holafly.
Get 10% off your Airalo eSIM package with our promo code “mytanfeet” and use our promo code MYTANFEET to get 5% off Holafly. Holafly has plans with calls, text and data. Airalo is mostly data only.
Get ready for Costa Rica with these other posts!
Guide to finding accommodation in Costa Rica
Immigration and customs in SJO and LIR Airport
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Katherine says
Do the Walmart’s sell Kölbi SIM cards?
Sammi says
It may vary between Walmarts but I don’t think so (though I’m not 100% sure).
Angela says
Great comprehensive article. How do I check for the Kolbi balance on an iPhone?
Thanks, Angela
Sammi says
type *888# to check your balance.
Austin says
Google maps is showing a Kolbi Cell Phone Store in the SJO airport (named “Tienda Kolbi Aeropuerto“).
Is this store active? I was hoping to get a SIM card with just cell data. ~5GBs or so preferred (but I can get by with 50 mb if necessary). Do you know how much this SIM card would cost?
Sammi says
Unfortunately no, the stores inside the airport have closed down.
Chris says
Three weeks ago I purchased a movistar sim card at a corner store in San Jose. The seller did not ask for my passport but simply registered it using his own cedula. I learned this in a movistar office a few hours later. The sim card worked very well all the time in Costa Rica (San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Jaco). They advised me to by a plan because its cheaper than “pay as you go” which I did. It just means sending a text to a movistar number and they deduct the cost of the plan from your saldo.
They also told me that I could use the sim card in some other countries in Central America but only data, no calls and no recharge or buying plans is possible there!
Len says
I unfortunately have a bad experience with Movistar. I could not make it work and I am close to the town of Fortuna.
Len says
Update:
Apparently it is just my location in La Fortuna. Movistar is excellent in Monteverde.
Rebecca says
Hi
Thanks for the SIM update. You’ve said you can get a prepaid SIM in Tortuguero. Please can you give some more details about where this is as I could’t find any details about this else where. We will be flying into San Jose in the evening and have a transfer to Tortuguero in the morning so this will be our first opportunity to get a SIM
Sammi says
hi Rebecca, if you go to the Kolbi website (Kolbi is the telecommunications company) and google Kolbi sucursal Tortuguero, you will see a map of where their office is in Tortuguero town. But since you are flying into San Jose, you can also go to any of the Kolbi/Movistar/Claro stores in San Jose and get a sim card.
Rebecca says
Thanks the hours seem to suggest the they are closed at the weekend is this true?
Sammi says
It depends on the branch, they will have different hours as some open on weekends, some only on Saturdays or some not at all on weekends.
Rocky says
You wrote “Pro tip: For Kolbi customers, type *1150# to check your balance.”
This has not been the case for a long time.
For the onscreen way to get the balances etc you dial *888#
Or if you want voice just dial 8888. There is an English option (2)
Actually *1150# gave me my phone number.
Please try and then update.
Sammi says
Thanks, just updated it.
Sarah says
Where do I go to find a SIM card now that the airport locations have closed? I am flying into LIR, can I get one in the town of Liberia? Do I just go to a grocery store or does it have to be an official Kölbi ICE store?
yeison says
Hello Sarah,
Unfortunately Kolbi closed their stores at both airports we hope that Kolbi or any other company opens a store soon, for now you can go to any cell phone store, some supermarkets also sell sim cards we see them all the time. As you mentioned you can go to the Kolbi store in Liberia downtown and get one.
Ann says
I chatted online today with a Kolbi rep who said that their kiosk in the arrival area, near baggage claim 2 , is open. He said that the one in the departure area is closed.
Sammi says
Hi Ann, actually they are closed… we called the main Kolbi office and the airport staff and they confirmed they are officially closed in both airports unfortunately. We actually just flew into Liberia Airport last week and it was no longer there. They still have it on their website that the airports are a location but both airport locations just very recently closed sadly.
renzhen says
First of all, thank you for the useful information. I am planning to have only a few days in CR, so plan to use my Verizon phone with international plans (I know it is a bad price!). In that case, I was wondering how do I make phone calls to 911 just in case of emergency? Do I call like +506 911? Also, could you let me know how to call OIJ police and/or tourist police? Thanks.
Sammi says
Him you can just dial 911 like normal and it’ll call the emergency number.
Donna Hall says
Hello! Love your website, so much wonderful information, thank you!
Long story short, we bought property in Costa Rica (Playa Flamingo area) and will be coming down occasionally. We brought an old unlocked phone this time to try the phone cards here.
The Kolbi kiosk is no longer at the Liberia airport so we bought one in Huaco at a small store. The girl said just put the SIM card in and call the number on the package to activate. But all that happens is I get a message that says no service or out of service area. I am probably doing something wrong but can not figure it out, any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
Sammi says
You may need to change the network settings on your phone, I’m not sure which phone you have but usually it’s under mobile networks and you need to reset it so it switches to the Kolbi network.
Thank you for the nice comments about the blog!
Jonathan Pierce says
The Kolbi booth in the baggage area at the San Jose airport was boarded up when we arrived tonight. Does anybody know to where it might have wandered? That was such a handy location.
Sammi says
What time did you arrive? We flew into SJO Airport in May and they were told us they were open until 1015 PM, hopefully they are still there. We will check again since the one in Liberia Airport did close.
Jonathan Pierce says
Where it used to be was all boarded-up and it wasn’t in the next room with the car rental companies.
Sammi says
Hmm yea there is a very big possibility they are closing it because the one in Liberia Airport has officially closed :/ THanks for the update, we’ll check on it!
pam says
I have always had bad luck with phone service in costa rica …both AT&T and Verizon International plans. If I purchase a SIM card can I use it for long distance calls and texts?
Sammi says
You can but it will take away the credit from the balance you have on your sim card and long distance calls are expensive here so it’ll eat up your credit fast.
Adonias Tafa says
hello i am leaving in costa rica now above 2 years and i have been using kolbi sim card but now i cant use it because it says the sim card is locked, please how can i get solution or do i need to buy another sim card?
Sammi says
You need the pin from your Kolbi sim card or you have to call/go to their office to unlock it if you don’t know what it is
Matt K. says
Hello,
I think I found the answer to my question, but I’d like to ask just to be sure. I’m coming from the U.S. If I bring my sprint cell phone and rent the WiFi hotspot with adobe, do I need to get a sim card if I just plan on leaving my phone in airplane mode? Can I just get away with leaving it in airplane mode for the entire trip with the WiFi on and not purchase a sim card? I don’t think I will be making any phone calls other than possibly on whatsapp. By the way…Kick-ass website you run here!!!
Sammi says
Hi Matt, if you connect your phone to the Wi-Fi hot spot and leave your airplane mode, you don’t necessarily need a sim card. The difference is that with a sim card, you will have a local Costa Rican phone number. If you use a wi-fi hot spot, you will only have Internet, you will not have a Costa Rican phone number.