Money & Currency
Colón and Dollar — The Dual System
Costa Rica has two de facto currencies: the Costa Rican Colón (CRC) and the US Dollar (USD). In tourist areas, both are accepted everywhere. Hotels, tours, and national park entries are often priced in USD. In local sodas, buses, and shops, you pay in Colones — and get better prices.
Exchange rate (guideline 2025/26): 1 EUR ≈ 560–600 CRC / 1 USD ≈ 510–540 CRC
ATMs
ATMs are available in all cities and tourist locations. The most common banks: BAC (best choice, international cards always accepted), Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica. Tips:
- Withdrawal in Colones: Always withdraw in CRC, not in USD — the ATM exchange rate for dollars is poor
- Fees: About 2,000–4,000 CRC (3–7 USD) per withdrawal by the local bank + fees from your home bank
- Cards: Visa is the most reliably accepted. Mastercard works at most ATMs. Wise and Revolut are good options with low fees
- Tip: Withdraw at BAC ATMs — they reliably accept all international cards and have a high limit
Credit Cards
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops in tourist areas. In rural areas, sodas, and public buses: cash only! Always have enough Colones for the day.
💡 Tipp
Pay in Colones, not in Dollars! If you pay in USD at restaurants or shops, you'll get a worse exchange rate than at the ATM. And: some vendors generously round up the dollar price. In Colones, you pay the fair price.