Here is all you need to know about handling money in Costa Rica when it comes to local Costa Rican currency, exchanging money and using USD in Costa Rica.
We will go into more details below and we will also talk about how to pay for things if you are Canadian.
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Costa Rica Currency
The Costa Rica currency is the colon (colones plural), named after Christopher Columbus. The Costa Rican currency symbol is ₡, a c with two lines across.
Costa Rica Colon to USD Exchange Rates
The Costa Rica currency exchange rate changes constantly and it can change day to day. What was the exchange rate yesterday, may not be the rate it is used today.
What the exchange rate was this morning, may not be what it is in the evening!
The exchange rate is approximately 500 CRC to 1 USD.
Additionally, the exchange rate is not the same in every bank or financial institution since the colón is not bound to the Central Bank of Costa Rica devaluations.
Since 2006, exchange rates posted by the Central Bank are used as a reference. Costa Rica money exchange rates change daily due to this reason.
Costa Rican Currency Bills and Coins
Colones bills come in 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000. The coins come in 5, 10, 25, 50 100 and 500.
Interesting fact: The 1000 colones bill (red) has the national animal which is the white-tailed deer.
Now bills are all made of plastic substrate, cotton bills are no longer accepted in circulation.
Is USD accepted in Costa Rica?
First thing to know is that US dollars are readily accepted in Costa Rica. This is because Costa Rica is a touristic country with United States citizens as their main tourists and many American companies have headquarters in Costa Rica.
For this reason, tours and hotels are quoted in USD. Some restaurant menus even list prices in USD (common in touristic areas).
Because of this, you do not absolutely have to exchange money before traveling to Costa Rica if you already have US dollars. However, there are some exceptions which I will talk about below.
How Much Cash Should I Bring to Costa Rica?
This depends on how long you will be in Costa Rica, what you plan to do in Costa Rica and where you are going in Costa Rica.
Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere in Costa Rica so you don’t have to bring a ton of cash. However, you do need to have some cash with you.
This is because there are many businesses that don’t accept credit cards. Common places where credit cards may not be accepted are Osa Peninsula, Tortuguero, Drake Bay, Bijagua, Santa Teresa, Samara and Tamarindo.
For a one week Costa Rica trip, I recommend to bring around $300 dollars in US dollars cash per person to begin with. Then, exchange about $100 USD to Costa Rican colones when you first arrive at the bank or supermarket.
If you need to exchange more, you can do it later on because you don’t necessarily need to go to a bank to exchange money in Costa Rica.
To get more cash, you can go to any ATM to withdraw cash.
Our personal recommendation for using US dollars in Costa Rica: Bring small bills
Bring fives, tens and twentys bills only. It is very hard, almost impossible to break 50s and 100s USD in Costa Rica unless you go to the bank or a casino.
Also make sure all the bills are in perfect condition – no rips, tears, misprints, stains, super wrinkled bills.
Costa Rica is very strict on this and they will not accept any bill with a flaw. I once received a $20 bill from the Costa Rican bank ATM that had a tiny folding misprint and no one would take it except the bank… even though I got it from an ATM IN Costa Rica.
Where Can I Exchange Money in Costa Rica?
For the best exchanges rates in Costa Rica, go to the bank. You can exchange currency in Costa Rica at any of the banks like Banco Nacional, BCR, Scotiabank, etc.
To exchange money in Costa Rica, it is required to bring your original passport.
You can also exchange currency at the airport in Costa Rica. Both the Guanacaste and San Jose International Airport have a currency exchange after immigration. They take other currencies than USD such as Euro and CAD. The exchange rate is so poor though. If you can wait until the bank or supermarket, I definitely would.
Hotels can also exchange Costa Rica currency for you. However this is not every hotel. Usually only the big chain hotels like Marriotts or Hiltons can exchange USD.
You can exchange Costa Rican currency at the supermarket, gas stations or restaurants. If you pay in USD, they will give you your change back in colones. Just make sure to check the exchange rate as they should post a sign somewhere the exchange rate they use.
Should I Use Dollars or Colones in Costa Rica?
Even though US dollars are accepted in the touristic destinations in Costa Rica, there are some instances where it is more favorable to use one or the other.
Pay in USD when things are quoted in USD. These are things like tours, private/shared shuttles, hotels, etc. Usually the more expensive products in tourism. This is the best currency to use in Costa Rica for these kinds of things.
Use Costa Rican colones for smaller priced items quoted in colones. These are supermarkets, souvenir stores, farmers markets, street vendors, taxis, buses, gas stations and toll booths.
That way you don’t need to worry about losing out on the exchange rate or having to calculate to the exact colon if you use US dollars.
But like mentioned earlier, you can pay in US dollars at big supermarkets or gas stations and they will give you back Costa Rican colones.
If visiting anywhere outside main tourist destinations, use CRC.
And lastly, if you visit during low season like September or October, some businesses will give extra discounts if you pay in cash.
Other Places to Pay in Colones
Public buses: the buses that you pay when you get on in San Jose do not accept any currency except Costa Rican colones.
Cross country public buses like San Jose to Liberia or Puerto Viejo have to be paid in advance via credit card or cash (USD or CRC) at the bus station.
Toll booths: Use colones as it’s quoted in colones. They accept US dollars but they do not use a good exchange rate.
Tipping: You can tip in either colones or dollars. Local currency preferred.
Can I Pay in Colones for Something Quoted in US Dollars if I Want to?
Sometimes. It depends on the company. Some may, some may not. You will need to ask. However, the standard currency in tourism is the USD.
To check the official exchange rate of the day, it is called “tipo de cambio” and you can check official exchange rates in the link.
Can I Use Canadian Dollars or Euros in Costa Rica?
Canadian dollars, Euros, or any other sort of foreign currency besides USD are not accepted in Costa Rica.
Not all banks accept or exchange Canadian dollars or Euros either, very few do. Scotiabank and sometimes Banco Nacional usually are able e to exchange currencies other than USD.
When you are in Costa Rica, pay with credit card for as many things quoted in CRC so then it will convert directly from CRC – CAD using the exchange rate from the Central Bank of Canada. Make sure you have a credit card (Visa is the most widely accepted) that doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees.
ATM Use
You can find ATMs throughout Costa Rica. They are in English and Spanish and you can withdraw both Costa Rican currency and USD.
All banks have an ATM and they are available 24/7. We recommend to withdraw money during the day and be cautious of people hovering about.
Take great care of protecting your PIN and do not forget to remove your card when finished.
What Credit Cards are Accepted in Costa Rica?
These major credit cards are accepted in Costa Rica: Visa, Mastercard and American Express. The exception is American Express which is accepted only in certain places, so make sure to have a Visa handy.
Visa is the most widely accepted credit card in Costa Rica. Discover card is not accepted in Costa Rica, I have never seen any business establishment accept it.
Important Things to Look Out For When Paying with Credit Card
ALWAYS know which currency you are paying in when using credit/debit card! Why? Sometimes the vendor will ask you which currency you want to pay in: Costa Rican colones or USD.
Make sure to tell them which currency and check the machine before entering your PIN number or pressing the yes button.
However, not all vendors will ask you. The vendor may instead enter the amount to charge in colones instead of USD and that’s a HUGE difference.
So instead of being charged $10 USD, they charge you 10,000 Costa Rican colones which is ~$20 USD. Always ask and make sure you know which currency you’re being charged in!
Debit Cards in Costa Rica
I used my debit card for a couple of years in Costa Rica. However, I don’t recommend it since there isn’t as much protection for debit cards as there is for credit cards.
Furthermore, car rental companies don’t normally take debit cards since the deposit takes 1-3 months to return compared to 72 hours for credit card.
If they do accept it, they’ll have you sign a waiver saying you understand that the using debit card requires a longer time to return the deposit as it’s a “real cash transaction.”
Credit cards offer more security and protection in case it gets stolen, so I recommend to use a credit card in Costa Rica.
Read more Costa Rica travel tips below!
Tips for traveling in Costa Rica on a budget
1 week Costa Rica travel expenses wrap up
How much things cost in Costa Rica
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.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Michael Kato says
Thank you Mytanfeet! Hands down the most informative spot to get much of what you need to know when traveling in Costa Rica both in the blog and via their Youtube vids. I booked a rental car from a local company (Adobe Rent A Car) through Mytanfeet and was super easy and convenient. Both the rental company and the Mytanfeet team were wonderful ppl to deal with. Can’t say that about any other major airport rental company I’ve dealt with in the past.
Sammi says
Hi Michael, you are very welcome and we’re glad you had a good experience with Adobe and we hope oyu had a great time in Costa Rica!
Henrietta de Veer says
We are hiking El Camino de Costa Rica from 1/21/25 to 2/5/25. We are in a small group led by Urritrek. Urritrek recommends bringing $450 but in colones since we will not have access to ATMS or banks for 15 days. We are extremely concerned about carrying the reams of colones required once converted from dollars and have no idea what denominations are appropriate on the trail. The trek is paid for in terms of where we are staying and meals, and the cash is meant for sundries, any extras and tips. What would you recommend?
Sammi says
Hi Henrietta, I would get a variety of denominations but try to get mostly 10 and 5 denominations. You can get a few 20s. To get the 5s and smaller deoniminations, you will need to go to a bank as the ATM will give you 20s mostly. 20s can work too if you make a bigger purchase, but for tips and sundries, it is best to have small denominations.
Mark says
We are going to Costa Rica for the first time. We will be staying for 3 weeks in Monteverde, La Fortuna, Montezuema and Manuel Antonio.
What is the best way to get cash (colones) so we don’t have to carry a large amount of US $ in cash the entire time?
Can we bring travelers checks and exchange at banks?
Sammi says
You can go to the bank to take out cash (bring your original passport)
Kassay says
I understand the USD bills need to be in almost perfect condition, does the same go for colones? Thank you!
Sammi says
Yes the same as well, no rips, tears, etc. etc. And now they are not accepting the old cotton bills, only the new plastic ones (just in case you have the old bills)
Susan says
Just adding that we have “discovered” that Discover is not accepted here in Costa Rica. That is my daughter’s credit card and she can’t use it – no one takes it.
Taka says
Are there pros/cons to using cash (in colones) versus Credit Card? I was planning on using a credit card as much as possible (Visa) for convenience, but not sure if it would typically cost more or less that way versus using cash in colones.
Sammi says
Make sure you have a credit card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, right now the CRC is actually stronger than the USD but you would have to see what exchange rate your bank uses if they have to convert CRC – USD. Some places may give a discount for paying in cash versus credit card, because with cash, they don’t have to pay the credit card fee.
Elly says
I am Canadian. I am getting a USD canadian credit card. Is it better to use the Canadian currency credit card or USD
Sammi says
It will be better to use USD as USD is accepted here, Canadian currency is not accepted here but if you’re paying with credit card you can tell them to charge you in local currency (CRC) as I believe the exchange rate is better than going CAD – USD
Tom says
Hi,
Great blog, thanks for all the info!
We were very pleasantly surprised/impressed with the level of card acceptance in CR.
We prefer to pay all-digital and I can share our 3 Weeks’ travel experience (San Jose, la Fortuna, Coco, Monteverde, Jaco, Quesos): we initially exchanged 20 USD to colones, prepared to having to use more cash throughout the trip – but it wasnt the case, we just donated the remaining change at SJO. We managed to pay literally everywhere by credit card (Amex/Mastercard): hotels, restaurants, shops, trips, tickets, tours, toll booths, car rental etc. Even the random Sodas along the road all accepted card, so did all mini markets. One notable exception: the road toll booth getting to SJO airport (c 275 in cash).
Cheers,
Tom
Theresa Holmes says
Thanks for the info. It’s always a good idea to research the various countries in which one will be traveling .
Richard says
Hi Sammi,
Great advice here. I have a comment regarding Apple Pay which is now available in CR. This would be the safest way to pay in CR – using your phone to tap and pay instead of handing over the Credit/debit card. Is this common practice now in Costa Rica?
Sammi says
No, Apple pay is only really available in San Jose and only in some places, you won’t really find it outside the capital city.
Laurie says
If 4 of us are traveling for 2 weeks, at $300/week per person – we’d be bringing almost $2500 in cash. In small bills, that’s a lot of bills! Do you recommend breaking the “stash” into smaller portions and literally stashing these throughout our luggage, etc.??
Thank you!!
Sammi says
You don’t have to bring all of it at once, you can take cash out of the bank/atm as you go.
Shelley says
Thanks for putting this together. A lot of good information in one place.
Mr Rajan David says
I’ve read another helpful blog of yours’s, thanks!
Just to give you an idea of places we will be visiting; San Jose – La Fortuna – Quepos – Drake peninsula – Jaco – San Jose.
My credit cards are MasterCard, will I’ve problems using it? Should I get a Visa card?
Do gas stations accept credit card payments?
How expensive is Gas?
Sammi says
You can read about Costa Rica gas stations in our post and most places takes Mastercard but the most commonly accepted is Visa. I’d still get cash though, especially for Drake.
Haydn says
Hi, Thanks for this article, and for your entire blog! 🙂 I have a question please – if I have a lot of Colones left over when I’m leaving CR (flying from San Jose to Houston) can I exchange them back to USD? Is it easier/better to do this in San Jose or in USA?
Sammi says
Yes you can do it in Costa Rica as in the US, I’m not sure if it’s common for banks to carry CRC
Edna says
Will any bank exchange colones for USD?
Sammi says
Yes
Edna says
Thank you
Alanna says
I love your blog, is so inclusive and informative!
I was wondering if there was a recommended bank to exchange money in Liberia. I looked but all of them seem..not highly recommended based on the reviews. Or between the Liberia airport and La Fortuna.
Thanks 🙂
Sammi says
You can go to any of the local banks like BCR, Banco Nacional, or there is a Scotia bank
Tara says
Can you give advice about tipping? What is reasonable to tip taxis, car service, and at restaurants?
Sammi says
Sure, please check this post: how much to tip in Costa Rica.
Molly McRae says
Do most grocery stores/ restaurants/shops that accept credit cards accept debit cards as well?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Yes
Isabella says
Hii, thanks for this info it’s super useful! I read on another blog you can withdraw USD from Costa Rican ATMS, but this sounds a bit strange considering their currency is Colones. Is this true?
Thanks in advance for your intel!
Sammi says
That is correct, you can choose to take out USD or CRC because USD is readily accepted and used in Costa Rica
sammy says
Hello, I have booked some accommodation and tours online using a Visa Debit card that I wasn’t planning on taking on holiday with me. Would this be an issue?
Would I need to prove pre-payment showing them the card I have paid with?
Thank you for your help!
Sammy
Sammi says
Yes most places will ask you to present the card you used to pay for the reservation.
Bruce Campbell says
You mentioned that they are phasing out paper currency in 2022. We are spending 2 weeks in Costa Rica in February 2022. I was planing on taking some paper Colones with me. Will they still be accepted?
Sammi says
It will depend which ones you have, they’re going to phase out the bigger bills first like the 20,000 but you can go to the bank and exchange your paper for the plastic ones
Josh says
There are some banks in San Jose that will exchange the old bills. Also, for now it is only the paper 20 mil bill that has been removed from circulation.
Two_4_Exploring says
Great blog.
One thing to watch out for is if you are using your credit card and you are given the option to pay in USD rather than the foreign currency. You can be hit with a currency conversion fee and they are separate from foreign transaction fees which are often waived by premium credit cards, but not so with the currency conversion fee. The currency conversion fee is “justified” as a service fee for making your life easier by presenting the cost in your native currency. And usually it will note something like “exchange base + 4%” which means they are charging you 4% to convert the local currency into USD. Technically the vendor is required to inform you of this charge.
Jeff Crookston says
My Citi Costco Visa credit card does not charge a foreign transaction fee. If the exchange rate is around ¢620 and a restaurant tells me that the cost of a meal is either ¢6.200 or $10 and then gives me the option to run the card in colones or dollars, why would it matter which I choose?
Sammi says
In that case if there’s no foreign transaction fee or exchange rate fee, it’s really up to you but if you charge in dollars just check they’re using the correct exchange rate if the menu prices are in colones.
Stewart says
That’s right. People can be scammed when asked if they want to pay in dollars or colones for that very reason.
The best CC I have found are those issued by Pen Fed credit union. No transaction fees and no cash advance fees when using ATM’s in CR(at least at BNCR) where I usually go.
Sandy O says
Hello, We are Canadian so would it be better to have credit card transactions charged in colones? I am wondering if we asked to be charged in USD if that would mean we would be paying the conversion fee from colones to USD – and then again from USD to Canadian $$? thank you
Sammi says
You can ask them to charge you card in Costa Rican colones.
Katie Agren says
So if my hotel asks me to pay in colones vs US dollars for my bill. Which is the better deal, or will they make it even either way? I will be paying with credit card.
Sammi says
If you are from the US, USD is better, that way you won’t get charged an exchange rate or international fee (if your credit card has these) and if the hotel quotes you in USD, its better in USD.
Jenny says
This blog is my go-to for planning my trip to CR. Thanks. We usually get local currency from airport ATMs when traveling. Is there any advantage or disadvantage to getting CR currency from the ATM vs exchanging money at the bank?
Sammi says
Not to my knowledge, you could do either but ATMS do have limits and in some areas, the ATM may not always have money.
Bennett Marcel says
Hi there, this is an awesome place for information. Am I correct to assume that using a visa in Costa Rica and paying in USD would not cause an international currency fee? My chase visa charges 3% but my discover charges 0%. If the original transaction is in USD I would think there would be no fee.
Thanks is advance
Sammi says
My visa credit cards doesn’t charge any international fees or exchange rates, not sure about Discover. I would use your Visa as much as possible anyways since Discover is not readily accepted compared to visa in Costa Rica.
Dianne L Callahan says
Also watch the old currency. We were given a 2000 Colones bill in change. We gave it to a musician as a tip. He wouldn’t take it saying it wasn’t worth anything!
Karen says
Im going to meet a friend in CR and want to confirm the rate before I go. She paid $160 USD for 67,000. Is this good?
Sammi says
67,000 colones and $160 USD? That is too much USD. 67,000 colones is around $117 USD.
Thomas Keith says
No, not that good. You bought 419 CRC for each US dollar. The current exchange rate according to Morningstar is 613 CRC for each US dollar. But it is rare to find a place to exchange for the rate as posted according to Morningstar. For many years the rate has routinely been greater than 500 CRC for each dollar, but currently, Banco de Costa Rica in Costa Rica is 606 CRC for each dollar. Other banks (looking at it another way) are buying USD for 609 CRC. CXI Currency Exchange which is a US company with brick and mortar locations will sell you 557 CRC for each US dollar.
Abhishek Yada says
Nice, was it an easy process at the bank. Did you have to wait in long lines or was it challenging to communicate in English with bank officials.
Sammi says
Not all bank tellers know English so when you go, you can ask if there is an English speaking teller.
Chris says
Three weeks ago I exchanged euros without any problems.
The money changer at the airport in Jan Jose gave me – as expected – a lousy rate of 534 colones per euro. Next day I went into the first bank around the corner of my hotel which happened to be a Scotiabank and they gave me 617 colones per euro, which was almost the advertised offical exchange rate by the National Bank of Costa Rica of 619 colones per euro for that day.
Barb says
Is there an ATM in or near Montezuma? We’re spending a week there in March… I haven’t been to CR in more than 20 years. I spent several months there that time, but this info has helped me prepare for how different it will be! (Last time I had travelers checks… that’s how long it’s been)
Sammi says
I would go to the bank and ATM in Cobano, the main town near Montezuma. I have heard that the ATM in Montezuma is commonly out of money.
Stephen Yourth says
Is the exchange rate from the ATM the same as the exchange rate of the bank @ the time u get ur cash?
yeison says
Hello Stephen,
Thank you for your comments, yes the exchange rate of any ATM machine is the official one by the bank.
Dan says
I went to a bank’s atm machine to get 20000 colones from my Canadian bank account and the fees were outrageous. In total I ended up paying about $10 in fees… $3 ATM fee from my bank and the rest in the CR bank’s fees. We brought Canadian cash with us and I tried exchanging at 2 banks, but neither would take it. I was told Banco Nacional will but have yet to try that.
Sammi says
You can also try ScotiaBank, I found Scotiabank tends to take more foreign currency other than USD.
Bethany says
This is very helpful information! We’re heading down there in a week and have enough cash in good condition, but can you specify about the folds? I tend to carry my money in a wallet that requires I fold it in half — should I avoid folding at all and keep the cash flat in an envelope?
Sammi says
Hi Bethany, sorry I should have been more clear in the post. The bill can’t have any misfolds which is a misprint. It is OK if your bills are folded in half or thirds from your wallet, just make sure there are no rips, tears, stains, any misprints or if it’s super duper wrinkled and folded like a ton of times and it’s about to rip. But normal wallet folds with clean bills are fine.
rob koene says
I’m staying Jaco for a month. where would mud baths or hot springs be close to my location?
Sammi says
There are some hot springs down by Dominical (1.5 hours from Quepos), as for mud baths the ones we know of are mostly up in Guanacaste.
Kristen says
Another credit card scam to add to your list…
We live in CR and recently played tourist with some friends in Manuel Antonio. My friends wanted to shop for souvenir gifts. My husband and I went along for the journey. A very charismatic, flamboyant man guilted us into his shop. Made us his best friend, told us he accepts credit cards and enthusiastically helped us around the store. It was chaotic but came off as enthusiasm. We like to support locals so we thought what the heck…we’ll get a shirt each. We were quoted prices in dollars ($12 for the tank top, $23 for the shirt) then he continued the enthusiasm as his sister rang us up for 36,000 colones. I’m trying to do the math in my head (I live here too so I’m used to the exchange rate and all that), he continued being a strong distraction so that I wouldn’t catch on to the scam. It wasn’t until we were driving north that it finally came back to me…36,000?! We paid $63 for some cheesy shirts are you kidding me?
Luckily, I know I can dispute the charge with my credit card and get the money back. How many tourists leave that shop (or shops…not sure how many shops run this scam) and not realize what transpired? The shop is Souvenirs Patty- that is how it appears on our credit card statement.
Sammi says
Yikes so sorry to hear that!! Thanks for sharing your experience and feedback though, it’s a good thing to warn tourists about!
Carla says
Hi I’ve relied on your blog for planning our trip to CR…thank-you! So informative and helpful!!!
Sammi says
Hi Carla, we are very happy to hear that! We hope you have a great time!
Greg says
Thanks for all the great advice. We are in the planning stages for a trip to Costa Rica next March.
We are looking in the Dominical/Uvita area. Thanks for all the info so far.
Lewis says
Your blog is the best, and we’re renting our SUV through you for our trip at the end of May 2019. You mention making sure you don’t get scammed on the exchange rate. If the math is not done correctly, do I just point it out to the cashier. It’s hard to imagine arguing at the check out.
Sammi says
Thank you for the kind words 🙂
Yes, make sure to check the current exchange rate and you find they didn’t calculate it right, point it out to them immediately. We’ve even pulled out the calculator on our phone and calculated it ourselves to make sure it was correct. Check if they posted what the exchange rate they use is, most supermarkets and gas stations do, but if you go to a small one or a more rural area, right now it is around 588 CRC to 1 USD.
Brad says
Hi, Can I exchange from colones to USD before leaving Costa Rica
Sammi says
Yes definitely, you can go to any bank or at the airport to exchange. Bank is a bit better.
Bonny & Joe Hillebet says
Hi Sammi and Yeison,
We are finally 2 weeks away from our trip to Costa Rica, and thanks to all your help, we are down to figuring out how many colognes we will need. Question for today: Is gas paid in colognes, dollars, or can it be paid with credit card, even? We are going to be arriving March 4, and leaving March 20, and will be driving from San Jose to Vera Blanca, to Monteverde, to Carara area, then San Isidro General area, then Savegre, San Gerardo de Dota, and back to San Jose during that time, spending 2-3 nights in each area. We are really excited about it, and all your information has been outstanding. We are renting our car thru your website, too. Thank-you so much.
Sammi says
Hi Bonny, you an read all about getting gas here: Costa Rica gas stations 🙂
Diane says
Thank you for the very informative information, I have really enjoyed reading your blog. We are headed to CR in a week and were planning to take a small amount of USD and withdraw as we need from the ATM. The exchange rate to purchase Colones in Canada is less favourable. Are the ATMs readily available? We land in Liberia and head to La Fortuna and would likely want to with draw some local currency in the first couple of days.
Sammi says
Hi Diane, ATM’s are readily available in Costa Rica and you will find ATM’s that are 24 hours. There is a currency exchange at the airport but keep in mind that most banks in Costa Rica don’t exchange Canadian dollars, only some of them do so to be sure, I would withdraw colones at the airport just in case.
Diane says
Thank you Sammi,
Our intention would be to leave our Canadian money at home. Please confirm, If we are using our Canadian ATM card, at all machines we would have the option to withdraw Colones or USD, have I understood this correctly? Do you know if they convert Canadian to Colones directly, or do they convert from CAD to USD and then to Colones?
Thank you
Diane
Sammi says
Hi Diane, that is correct all ATMS give you the option to withdraw colones or USD. I would think Canadian to colones would be just straight Canadian to Colones.
les says
With respect to exchanging money in CR, specifically Samara where we just spent January, the two local banks have no issue exchanging your Can for Colones and for a good rate as well.
We received the same exchange rate as available in the money exchange locations in Malls and better than at our Can bank.
All that is needed is to take your passport with you.
Clarice says
Thanks for all your helpful information
Heidi says
Do you know which if any banks in Playas Del Coco will exchange Canadian dollars? Last time in CR I had no issue exchanging at the Scotia Bank in Jaco but I see there is no Scotia Bank in Coco. Would much prefer to not have to get USD here in Canada before we leave and have to exchange twice.
Sammi says
None that I know of. There is a Scotia Bank in Liberia though, in the Santa Rosa Plaza.
Robin says
I am from UK and I got fees everywhere when I withdraw from ATM…
Just heard about one mobile application Fairswap to exchange cash.
Widely, you can post your need in foreign currency and if there is someone nearby facing the reverse need, then he can contact you and you will meet him and make the swap.
Could be a good way to change before travelling or get rid of some leftover after holidays.
Patsy says
So impressed with your blog! I’ve never seen another website about Costa Rica with so much info that is up to date and accurate and truly helpful. I’ve traveled to Costa Rica several times and have still picked up some great tips from your blog as I prepare for another visit. One question — do you have any info on moving to Costa Rica? I’ve wanted to do this for years and am now in process of gathering info on the specifics. My trip in 2 weeks is to visit potential areas to live. I would really appreciate any ideas or recommendations you may have. Thanks so much and keep up the great job!! You guys have the best job in the world! Enjoy.
Sammi says
Hi Patsy, thanks for your kind words! We just try to do our best to put as much helpful and up to date info as possible! As for moving to Costa Rica, that is a huuuuge topic so it depends on what you’re asking about (living, making money, daily expenses, finding rent, buying, etc.) and it depends on what stage of life you are at – single, retired, family, etc. I haven’t written any posts on it just because it’s such a big topic but my best advice is to first figure out how you’ll make money if you’re not retired because it’s incredibly hard to get a job in Costa Rica and the living wages are way lower so depending on your lifestyle, a lot of people don’t live here permanently because they can’t get a job or make/have enough money to keep living the lifestyle they want in Costa Rica. Good luck!
Sandy kolp says
Just want to tell you your site was very useful with our trip to Costa Rica this April. Had a great time and saw lots of animals. Keep up the good work. Sandy Kolp
Sammi says
Hi Sandy, I’m so glad to hear that and that you guys had a great time in Costa Rica! Thanks for reading!
Shahla Foote says
I found information you previded very helpful ! I’m leaving for Costa Rica some times next month and can use all the info comes my way .
Thank You ☺️
Sammi says
Hi Shahla! I’m happy to hear the information is useful! We hope you have a wonderful time and you can find a lot of information on this page: Costa Rica information
Jennifer Grundy says
Thank you for these tips.
Some restaurants give a price in colones and usd . Usually at the even dividend. C6000 IS 12.00
C10000 IS 20.00 ETC.
Is it cheaper to pay in colones?
Sorry, I’m slow in the numbers depth
Sammi says
Hi Jennifer, they need to change that because it’s not accurate. 10,000 colones is not $20, it’s around $17 so I would pay in colones, you’ll be losing money with dollars if that’s how they are going to charge.
Dong says
It’s good to know that one can withdraw both Colones and Dollars from the ATM. But which is a better deal? I am thinking that dollars may not needs currency conversion.
Sammi says
Either one is fine since the bank will use the accurate currency exchange rate for that day and it does also depend on your own bank if they have an exchange fee.
Lori says
Thank you for all of this info! I’m heading to Costa Rica later this month and this post was very handy. 🙂
Sammi says
You’re welcome, glad it was useful and have a great time!