You might be sunbathing on Costa Rica’s coast, trekking through lush forests or dining in a Caribbean cafè, but you’ll need a mix of cash and card when you’re traveling through the country. For your card of choice, carry a travel credit card to avoid foreign transaction fees. For cash, you’ll need the Costa Rican colón with you, though you can pay with US dollars in some parts of San José and tourist hotspots. You can find most ATMs inside banks during normal business hours.
Visa and Mastercard are most widely used in Costa Rica, with American Express cards coming in third. You may find ATMs and places that accept Discover cards, though Discover is overall rarely accepted.
Credit cards without foreign transaction fees are a great option for direct purchases, while debit cards are generally good for ATM cash withdrawals. The Q Costa Rica, a Latin America news portal, reported that some Costa Rican merchants might add an illegal surcharge of up to 8% on credit card purchases. Make sure you ask merchants about fees before using your card.
Many establishments, such as restaurants, hotels, bars and shops, in San José and the other large cities take credit cards. But be sure to use a card without foreign transaction fees and ask about hidden fees. Travel credit cards like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, for example, don’t charge foreign transaction fees (Terms apply, see rates & fees), and many offer travel insurance, purchase protection or rental car insurance as part of their many benefits.
If you frequently travel to Costa Rica, consider an airline cobranded credit card to save money on flights, in-flight purchases, checked bags or lounge access.
Tips:
American Express cards are more popular in Costa Rica than in other countries, but Visa and Mastercard are still the most widely accepted. If you decide to make a cash withdrawal with your Amex card, look for Banco BAC San Jose ATMs.
As for Discover cards, you can pay wherever you see the Discover or Diners Club International logos. For cash withdrawals, look for Credomatic ATMs.
| Merchant acceptance | ATM acceptance | |
|---|---|---|
Visa |  High | High |
Mastercard | High | High |
American Express | High | High |
Discover |  Medium |  Low |
There are three potential credit card fees you can incur with your card when traveling in Costa Rica:
Explore top debit cards with no foreign transaction fees and travel credit cards by using the tabs to narrow down your options. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.
Debit cards work best for cash withdrawals. Most debit cards come with foreign transaction fees of up to 3% of each transaction. However, there are debit cards without foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees, such as the Betterment Checking debit card which reimburses these fees.
Tips:
If you want to take a debit card that’s not linked to your bank account, a prepaid travel card could be an alternative. The travel card comes with more fees. but could be worth it for extra security if your card is lost or stolen.
Cash is the most accepted payment method in Costa Rica. Especially if you’re traveling in more rural areas where cards are not an option. The US dollars are also accepted in the capital but exchanging them for Costa Rican colones is best.
Traveler’s checks aren’t widely accepted in Costa Rica, but you could exchange them in some of the main banks. This can be an option if you don’t want to carry a lot of cash. However, the other money options are generally cheaper and without the hassle.
You’ll find the best exchange rate for Costa Rican colones at your hotel or any bank. You can also easily withdraw colones from ATMs with your debit card and get a strong conversion rate. You’ll find the worst exchange rates at airports, so try to stay away from those.
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You’ll find a number of ATMs inside major banks in Costa Rica, available during normal business hours for added security. Most ATMs charge hefty operator fees, but you can avoid these by going with a debit card that waives or reimburses foreign currency exchange and ATM fees, such as the Betterment Checking debit card.
WorldRemit offers the option to send money to your destination before you depart. Once you arrive in Costa Rica, you can get your money from a local branch.
To make the transfer, you need Costa Rican phone number and an address. If you don’t have them, WorldRemit recommends using the address and number of the place where you’ll stay in. This is only in case the local agent needs to contact you.
Otherwise, you can withdraw your money with your passport as identification.
Petty crime, such as bag-snatching and pickpocketing, is prevalent in Cost Rica. But tourists should exercise additional precautions for incidents of violent crime, particularly in areas frequented by tourists.
Always be aware of your surroundings, and don’t “advertise” your wealth by wearing flashy jewelry and never physically resist a robbery attempt. Keep your wallet in your pocket, and consider using a money belt to keep your money out of arm’s reach.
Yes, it’s generally safe to use your credit card in Costa Rica. Always practice good safety habits to better protect your finances, though. Try to:
You can freely use plastic in Costa Rica. Save money by finding a card without foreign transaction fees, and ask merchants for hidden fees.
If you need cash, you can either exchange US dollars or make an ATM cash withdrawal. Debit cards are typically the best option as they don’t incur cash advance APR or cash advance fees.
To find out more about paying for your travel abroad, check out our travel money guide.
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