Costa Rica, Going Steady: 7-30 days, Ecotourism

Is Costa Rica Expensive? How To Travel Costa Rica On A Budget

Costa Rica has everything to offer – but at what price? Is Costa Rica expensive? Can you travel to the most popular country in Central America on a budget? Definitely. We spent one month traveling Costa Rica, and paid $2,600 per person. This price includes Every. Single. Thing. we did; from flights, to hotels, to food, to excursions. Let’s break down exactly how we traveled Costa Rica on a budget – and how you can too!

Lunch at Ani's Bowls in Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

How To Travel Costa Rica On A Budget

This Costa Rica itinerary will take you to 3 of the best towns in Costa Rica, to swim in waterfalls, jump into natural tide pools, walk across hanging bridges, and stay in some of the most amazing eco resorts.

As stated above, we spent one full month traveling throughout Costa Rica, so our cost breakdown will reflect that. However, we know not everyone has a month to go steady with this country, so we’re including separate cost breakdowns of each leg of our trip.

Below you can find the exact cost of our time in Montezuma, Santa Teresa, and La Fortuna.

For an added bonus, you’ll get a sense of how expensive each destination is in comparison to the others. Spoiler: we found Montezuma to be the most affordable, and Santa Teresa to be by far the most expensive destination.

Hotel Amor De Mar in Montezuma

free things to do in costa rica on a budget

Tide Pools in Montezuma

1 Month In Costa Rica On A Budget

TOTAL: $2,649

That’s the price for one month in Costa Rica during the month of December, which is the beginning of the dry season (the more expensive time of year). Now maybe this sounds like a lot to you, but let’s do some quick math for perspective.

If you stayed home and chose not to travel, how much money would you spend on gas in one month? If you fill up once a week, it would almost surely be more than $130 (the price we paid for transportation). How much money would you spend on groceries in a month? The answer is probably relatively similar to the $177 we spent. You get the point.

Ultimately, it’s valuable to recognize that you would incur certain costs whether you travel or not. This thought process is important because it helps you realize that travel doesn’t have to be inherently more expensive than your everyday life!

This $2,000 cost was per person, and we traveled in a group of 6. Our best tip for traveling on a budget is to go with a group, if you can. If you’re traveling solo or as a couple, don’t worry! There are still so many ways to save (that we detail below!). But if you can get a group together, the cost of accommodation drops drastically. Plus, you can search for larger options like villas and homes, which often include full kitchens that allow you to cook your meals in, and save even more money.

Ocean Views at Amor De Mar

Casa Luna at Amor De Mar

What We Spent In Montezuma, Costa Rica

TOTAL: $634 for 9 days

If you want to visit Costa Rica on a budget, Montezuma is the best place to go. This little beach town in Costa Rica deserves a spot on everyone’s travel bucket list. This is a smaller town full of genuine locals, authentic Costa Rican food, and immense natural beauty.

Best of all, Montezuma is a destination with many free excursions, from waterfalls, to tide pools, to the animal sightings that occur just about everywhere you look. You’ll get the chance to embrace the natural world here and have the authentic travel experience you seek, without having to pay high tourist prices. If you want to get to know Montezuma a bit better, we’ve written The Best Montezuma Travel Guide, which details everything you need to know about this jungle paradise.

how to get around in costa rica on a budget

Walking Down A Hill in Montezuma

Tropical Tours Shuttle

Transportation in Montezuma

We booked our bus ride from San Jose to Montezuma through Bookaway.com for just $19 per person. However, this was definitely the cheap choice and after experiencing it ourselves, we would recommend renting a shuttle for anyone looking for an easier travel experience (approximately $50 per person for the shuttle). You’ll want to read our Montezuma Travel Guide BEFORE you book this bus ride.

Accommodation in Montezuma

For budget accommodation in Montezuma, stay at the amazing Hotel Amor De Mar. We stayed for 9 nights in one of the two villas on the hotel property, Casa Luna, and paid $358 per person. That’s less than $40 per night (per person), which is similar to what you’d pay staying in nearby hostels.

This jungle paradise is a steal of a deal – an oceanside, boutique, eco-hotel, that is locally owned and operated. Watch our review of the hotel below:

Eating Out in Montezuma

Food in Montezuma is more affordable than other nearby beach towns in Costa Rica! Expect to pay an average of $10 per meal that you eat out. If you’re traveling to Costa Rica on a budget, you shouldn’t eat out for every meal. There is nothing wrong with cooking while you travel – we purchased a good portion of our food from the grocery store.

Groceries in Montezuma

There is one main grocery store in Montezuma, located right in the center of town. Montezuma’s “town” is one street long, so you can’t miss this store as you stroll through the shops.

When it comes to grocery shopping in foreign countries, try to purchase local foods rather than search for U.S. brands. While stores might have the cereal and chips you’re used to at home, it’s better to purchase the fresh foods native to the area and try different Costa Rican brands. This will undoubtedly save you money and allow you to experience something new!

Boat Ride To Tortuga Island

Montezuma Waterfall

Excursions in Montezuma

Montezuma is perfect if you’re traveling Costa Rica on a budget, because there are so many free things to do! The natural beauty of this beach town provides more than enough opportunities for you to explore without spending any money. The popular Montezuma Waterfalls are completely free. Plus, the natural tide pools at Amor De Mar are free to use for guests of the hotel, and we spent a good portion of our time here. In addition, there are multiple beaches to explore and animals everywhere you look. Combine eating with an experience at the Butterfly Brewery, or rent a surfboard for just $10 a day.

Isla Tortuga Day Trip: $77

During our stay in Montezuma, we decided to take a day trip to Isla Tortuga. This trip was $77 per person and it included the boat ride to and from the island, a snorkel experience with all the gear, lunch, and drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic). This was a great price for all that was included, and we really enjoyed getting to know our guides and seeing the coastline from the boat. However, the snorkel and island experience itself wasn’t exactly love at first sight. Watch our full review of Isla Tortuga in the video below for more info:

@baggagegirls
Tortuga Island 🐢 is one of the most popular day trips from Santa Teresa & Montezuma in Costa Rica - but is it worth your time? ••• #tortugaislandtour #santateresa #montezuma #baggagegirls
♬ original sound - Baggage

What We Spent In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

TOTAL: $873 for 10 days

ATV in Santa Teresa

Walking on Santa Teresa Beach

Transportation in Santa Teresa

Save money in Santa Teresa by booking your accommodation just off the main road, and walking everywhere you go! ATV and scooter rentals get expensive, especially if you have an extended stay. If you do want the experience of riding around on these, rent this mode of transportation only on the days you plan to travel across town or to nearby areas. We paid just $12 for transportation from Montezuma to Santa Teresa on our day of arrival.

We never rented an ATV or scooter, and we had more than enough shops, restaurants, and beach areas within walking distance of our Airbnb to keep up satisfied.

Accommodation in Santa Teresa

Looking for the perfect place to sleep in Santa Teresa? Check out this trendy and modern Airbnb just off the main street in Santa Teresa – where we spent our 10 nights. It has a plunge pool, an outdoor shower, an amazing outdoor deck, and 3 full bedrooms.
For other places to stay in Costa Rica, check out our 2023 Costa Rica Travel Guide, where we list our favorite hotels and hostels in the area.

Somos Restaurant in Santa Teresa

Cafca Cafe in Santa Teresa

Eating Out In Santa Teresa

You can have whatever your heart desires in Santa Teresa. BBQ, Italian, Ceviche, big salad bowls; this town has it all. But if you’re traveling Costa Rica on a budget, you’ll want to be selective about how many times you eat out per day. Of all three destinations we explored during our month in Costa Rica, meals were most expensive here. For example, we averaged $15-20 per person, per meal. Thankfully, Santa Teresa has many Happy Hour deals for drinks, so we recommend stopping into a bar or restaurant on your way back from the beach to enjoy half-priced cocktails.

Groceries in Santa Teresa

For groceries in Santa Teresa, try the Green World Store for fresh organic produce and a cute atmosphere. For a cheaper option, we stopped into Super Ronny’s #2 most nights. This grocery store is more authentic to those in Costa Rica, and it offers everything you need if you’re cooking up traditional Costa Rican dishes at home (all the rice, beans, and plantains you could hope for!).

Surf Board Rental in Santa Teresa

Surfing at Santa Teresa Beach

Excursions in Santa Teresa

Surfing: $15-80

If you spend enough time in Santa Teresa, you’ll probably wind up surfing. Rentals are $15 per day (check out Denga Surf Shop) or approximately $80 to get a board for the week. This is a super affordable activity and one of the best ways to embrace the culture of this surfing hub.

Jungle Party: $50

Beyond surfing, Santa Teresa is well known as a party destination for travelers. We did check out the popular Jungle Party during our time there, and paid the price to prove it. Expect to pay $25 for tickets to the party, $30-50 per person for transportation to and from the remote destination, and $10 per drink you purchase throughout the night. Realistically, this night out will cost you between $50-100. For more information on the Jungle Party, read our review of our experience in this Montezuma vs. Santa Teresa post.

Cocktails in Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa Beach

What We Spent In La Fortuna, Costa Rica

TOTAL: $510 for 7 days

Solar Hot Tub at Finca Nueva

Dome Suite at Finca Nueva

Transportation in La Fortuna

If you follow our exact guide and travel from the Nicoya Peninsula (where Santa Teresa and Montezuma are located) to La Fortuna, this will be the longest and most expensive leg of your trip. This shuttle ride costs $67 per person, and it includes the ferry ride and 2 separate shuttles. You will be driven to the ferry, dropped at the port and provided tickets, and then picked up again by another shuttle as soon as you reach the other side.

You can book all of this easily through Tropical Tours Shuttles. Make sure you leave early so that you can reach La Fortuna by late afternoon and enjoy dinner there your first night.

Accommodation in La Fortuna

La Fortuna is a magnet for tourists. Whether it’s the volcano views, the waterfalls, or the hanging bridges, that make La Fortuna so irresistible – this destination can get expensive. But don’t worry, we managed to experience this place on a budget, without compromising on any of our desires!

Book your stay at Finca Luna Nueva Eco Lodge and you’ll find yourself enjoying resort amenities while learning about sustainability from the locals themselves. Read our full post on Finca Nueva to understand just what makes this budget-friendly hotel so lovable.

Smoothie Bowl in La fortuna

Pool Bar at Finca Nueva Eco Lodge

Eating Out in La Fortuna

Finca Nueva’s farm to table menu exceeded all our expectations. This resort includes a daily breakfast buffet full of healthy and sustainably grown foods. Throughout the day, guests can purchase snacks and lunch options from the pool bar. And finally, dinner is either a buffet or a unique menu each night, curated based on what’s in season!

For our group, we loaded up on breakfast, and then spent approximately $6-8 per meal for lunch daily. Dinners were $20 for the buffet, or approximately $12-15 when we ate off the rotating menu.

Groceries in La Fortuna

In La Fortuna, our accommodation at Finca Nueva Eco Lodge did not have a kitchen. So our grocery bill consisted of just one stop at the store for snacks. We saved money on the accommodation itself, and spent it instead on food at the resort.

Waterfall in La Fortuna

Hanging Bridge in La Fortuna

Excursions in La Fortuna

If you want to travel Costa Rica on a budget, you’ll need to be selective about how many excursions you book in La Fortuna. This is precisely why we chose to stay at a resort like Finca Nueva, because we were able to enjoy so many of the resort’s amenities for free. The natural pool and hot tub are open 24 hours a day, and the Yoga Pavilion is yours to enjoy whenever you’d like.

Additionally, the property boasts miles of hiking trails through the jungle, a birding observatory, a bamboo pavilion with volcano views, and a wide variety of animal species. We enjoyed embracing the natural elements of La Fortuna, rather than paying for some of the more touristy experiences.

Chocolate Tour: $40

Finca Nueva also offers a Chocolate Tour, which we booked for $40 per person. This tour includes multiple delicious drinks and a large bag of chocolate treats that you bake yourself. Plus, you get the chance to learn about the right way (a.k.a. the sustainable way) to make this infamous dessert.

Hiking: $15

When we ventured off the resort, we found another scenic and affordable spot to hike at Arenal Springs Resort & Spa. For just $15 per person, we got the chance to explore an entirely new set of waterfalls, hiking trails, farmland, and an incredible viewpoint that offered the best view of the Arenal Volcano. This is a great spot for avid birders, and anyone looking to cross hanging bridges off their bucket list.

Chocolate Tour at Finca Nueva

Arenal Volcano

All The Extras

This brings you to 26 nights in Costa Rica for $2,017. Our first and last nights were spent in accommodation closer to San Jose Airport, where we flew in and out.

Of course we had the expense of the flights themselves, which were approximately $600 per person. This is on the higher end of what we would want to pay for flights, and you can probably find them cheaper if you’re willing to be flexible with your dates!

Finally, we had to pay for a shuttle ride back to San Jose from La Fortuna, which cost $25 per person. Then, we chose to stay in a Fairfield Marriott that offered a free shuttle to and from the airport. We used Marriott points to stay for free, but the cost would have been $150 per night. The free airport shuttle was a huge bonus, and the hotel also included a free Costa Rican style buffet breakfast that was surprisingly tasty.

To recap, this means we spent $2,649 for 28 nights in Costa Rica. We got to explore three amazing towns on this budget, and loved every second of our month in Costa Rica.

Wrap It Up Already

Relationships might include a little sacrifice – but travel should not. You can have it all in Costa Rica, for a really great price. We’re never willing to compromise on quality, but we seek out more authentic experiences to help save money while traveling. Hopefully, our personal experience and the guidelines we’ve shared for affordable travel will help you explore Costa Rica on a budget.

So what do you say – is Costa Rica expensive? While it’s certainly not the cheapest destination in Central America, there are still many ways to travel throughout this country affordably.

All it takes is a little planning ahead, and a conscious effort to embrace ecotourism in some of Costa Rica’s best towns! In return, you’ll experience authentic local communities and reduce your carbon footprint, all while supporting the local businesses that are working to preserve this beautiful country. Sustainable travel is often thought of as luxury travel, but our goal is to prove that this doesn’t have to be the case.

xoxo,

Baggage girls

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