Compare the best eSIM plans for Costa Rica
Internet from the moment you land in San José
By SamuelData collected on Page verified on Methodology
- Instant activation
- iPhone and Android compatible
- From €1.11 for 1 GB or more
- 3,400+ plans compared
Photo credit : Gotta Be Worth It
€1.11
Cheapest plan, 1 GB or more
3,400+
Costa Rica plans
103+
Providers available
4G/5G
Networks supported
Entry price measured on fixed-volume plans of 1 GB or more covering the country. Volumes below 1 GB and plans billed per day, whose price is not comparable, fall outside the calculation.
Best eSIM deals for Costa Rica
eSIM.dog
1 GB
1 day
CR
€1.11
Stellar eSIM
1 GB
7 days
CR
€1.48
BNESIM
1 GB
30 days
CR
€1.50
Monty eSIM
1 GB
7 days
CR
€1.73
Strongesim
1 GB
7 days
CR
€2.04
Ozly eSIM
1 GB
7 days
CR
€2.06
eSIM for Costa Rica at a glance
From
€4.00
For 5 GB / 30 days
Plan duration
1 to 30+ days
Depending on the plan
Local networks
Kölbi (ICE), Claro, Liberty
4G nationwide, 5G rolling out
VPN needed?
No
All Western services work fine
Hotspot sharing
Available
On most plans
Compatibility
iPhone XS+ / Android 8.0+
Check your device
Internet in Costa Rica: everything you need to know
Costa Rica has over 87% internet penetration and 4G mobile coverage exceeding 95% of the population (source: ITU DataHub, 2024). Kölbi (the mobile brand of state-owned ICE), Claro and Liberty (ex-Movistar) share the market. 5G is rolling out in San José, Heredia, Alajuela.
- ●Dense 4G coverage in the Central Valley (San José, Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago) and along main highways (Interamericana, Pacific coast road). Decent at La Fortuna (Arenal volcano), Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Nosara and along the Nicoya Peninsula. Patchier at Tortuguero (signal in the village, weak in the park, boat access only), Corcovado (very remote, Drake Bay : lodge Wi-Fi), in the Talamanca (Puerto Viejo OK, mountains weaker) and on Cocos Island (zero signal, diving expeditions).
- ●Average mobile speed ~40–60 Mbps download per Ookla (Q1 2025).
- ●No Western services blocked : Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, YouTube, Netflix work normally. WhatsApp is dominant for contacts (hotels, shuttle operators, 4x4 rentals).
- ●Great for Uber, DiDi (San José and Liberia taxis), Google Maps, Waze (heavily used), SINPE Móvil (local mobile money) and shuttle provider apps (Interbus, Tropical, Caribe Shuttle).
Sources: Internet Society Pulse: Costa Rica, ITU DataHub: Costa Rica, Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Networks and connectivity on the ground
- Average speed
- 71 Mbps downloadmeasured 2026 · Internet Society Pulse
- 5G
- Rolling outmeasured 2025 · Internet Society Pulse
- Local operators
- Kolbi · Claro · Libertymeasured 2026 · Datadopt research
- Public Wi-Fi
- Widely availablemeasured 2026 · Datadopt research
Practical information
- Currency
- Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
- Payments
- Card and cashATMs everywhere
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected
- Power socket
- Type A, Type B120 V, 60 Hz
- Official languages
- SpanishAlso spoken : EnglishEnglish in tourist areas
- Dialling code
- +506Time zone : America/Costa_Rica
- Emergency numbers
- 911
When to go
- Best time to go
- December, January, February, March, April
- Shoulder season
- May, November
- When to avoid
- September, October
- Peak season
- December, January, February, July
- Seasonal hazards
- FloodingSeptember, October, November
- HurricanesAugust, September, October
Costa Rica runs two opposite calendars on its two coasts. Our recommended months follow the Pacific side, where most of the beaches and volcanoes are: December to April. On the Caribbean coast, September and October, the worst months elsewhere, are the driest.
High season is December to April
It overlaps with the North American winter, so flights, rental cars and lodges all price accordingly. The last two weeks of December and Easter week are the two peaks inside the peak.
Service is already on the bill
Restaurants add a 10 % service charge and 13 % tax by law, so tipping on top is a choice rather than an expectation. Guides and drivers are the exception, where a tip is normal practice.
Wildlife has its own hours
Most sightings happen in the first two hours after dawn and the last two before dusk. A 6 am park entry with a local guide shows more than a full day wandering alone at midday.
Popular parks cap their visitors
Manuel Antonio, Poás and Corcovado all sell timed entry online with daily limits, and Manuel Antonio closes on Tuesdays. Buy before you drive, not at the gate.
Iconic sites and coverage
Arenal Volcano
An almost perfect cone, dormant since 2010 but still the landmark of the northern lowlands, ringed by hot springs and hanging bridges. Well covered, with La Fortuna as a comfortable base.
Monteverde Cloud Forest
A high-altitude forest permanently inside the clouds, walked on canopy walkways. Signal is uneven under the canopy: finding a quetzal is a matter of a guide’s ear, not an app.
Manuel Antonio National Park
The smallest of the major parks and the most straightforward: capuchins and sloths metres from white-sand beaches. Well covered, capped entry, closed Tuesdays.
Tortuguero Canals
A canal network reachable only by boat or small plane, and the main Caribbean nesting site for green turtles from July to October. Signal is weak, so set up offline navigation first.
Corcovado National Park
The densest primary rainforest in the country, on the Osa Peninsula, with tapirs and scarlet macaws. A guide is mandatory, there is no signal, and some approaches depend on the tide.
Rio Celeste
A river of improbable milky blue, created by a chemical reaction where two streams meet. Three hours round trip on a muddy trail, with coverage ending at the car park.
Poas Volcano Crater
One of the largest accessible active craters in the world, ninety minutes from San José, with a turquoise acid lake at the bottom. Timed entry, and cloud usually swallows it after 10 am.
Tamarindo Beach
The best-equipped surf town in Guanacaste, with beginner-friendly waves year round. Fully covered, and the most connected stop in the country.
Sources Internet Society Pulse, Datadopt research
Datadopt Observatory
Price per GB in Costa Rica: what our data shows
According to the Datadopt Observatory, the lowest price per GB recorded in Costa Rica comes down to 0.21 €/GB, across a sample of 1,486 fixed-volume offers retained for the measurement. That floor is reached on large data bundles : a 5 GB plan over 30 days costs noticeably more per GB. The real differentiator is still the depth of the offer : the more plans compete, the easier it is to find the duration and data volume that fit your trip.
Lowest price per GB recorded
0.21 €/GB
Offers in the price sample
1,486
Americas average
0.46 €/GB
World ranking
115 / 215
Costa Rica is 54% cheaper than the Americas regional average (0.46 €/GB).
Source: Datadopt eSIM Price Observatory, 170,286 plans analysed, measured 1 September 2026.
See the eSIM price Observatory by country →Which eSIM providers for Costa Rica?
Here are the 6 best-placed eSIM providers for Costa Rica, ranked by best price per GB. Prices are expressed per GB so plans of different sizes can be compared on the same basis.
| Provider | Price per GB | From | Max duration | Hotspot | 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ubigi | 0.80 €/GB | 4.00 € | 30 d | No | No |
| eSIM.dog | 1.06 €/GB | 1.11 € | 90 d | Yes | No |
| Monty eSIM | 1.33 €/GB | 1.73 € | 30 d | Yes | No |
 RedEx | 1.44 €/GB | 3.37 € | 7 d | Yes | No |
| BNESIM | 1.46 €/GB | 1.50 € | 30 d | Yes | No |
| Stellar eSIM | 1.48 €/GB | 1.48 € | 30 d | Yes | Yes |
Providers ranked by best price per GB, across plans of at least 1 GB. Source: Datadopt catalogue.
Compare all plans →Device compatibility
eSIM is built into every iPhone XS and later, as well as Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3a+ and most high-end Motorola, Oppo, Sony and Xiaomi models.
Not sure about your device? Check compatibility here.
How to install your eSIM for Costa Rica
- 1. Compare offers on https://www.datadopt.com/en/compare/cr
- 2. Browse our partners' eSIM offers and choose the data volume and duration that fit your trip.
- 3. Purchase the eSIM plan that best fits your needs on our partner's site.
- 4. Receive a QR code by email after purchase.
- 5. Before you leave or during your stay, add the eSIM to your smartphone (Note: a stable Wi-Fi connection may be required during this step.)
- 5.1. On iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Add Plan > Scan the QR code
- 5.2. On Android: Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add a mobile plan
- 6. Once you arrive, turn on the data of your eSIM and enjoy reliable internet in Costa Rica.
First eSIM? The full walkthrough, with iOS and Android screenshots, lives in our guide how to install an eSIM on your smartphone.
Frequently asked questions
Does the eSIM really work in Costa Rica?
Yes. International eSIMs connect to Kölbi, Claro or Liberty on landing at San José Juan Santamaría (SJO), Liberia Daniel Oduber (LIR) or Tobías Bolaños (SYQ).
How much data for 10 days in Costa Rica?
For a typical circuit (San José + La Fortuna + Monteverde + Manuel Antonio), plan 4–7 GB : Maps, Waze, WhatsApp, cloud photos, some evening streaming at the lodge. More if you remote-work.
Is there signal in the parks (Tortuguero, Corcovado)?
Tortuguero : Claro signal in the village (boat access), none in the park. Corcovado : zero signal, Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez lodge Wi-Fi (often slow satellite). Monteverde and Manuel Antonio : decent signal at entrances, weaker in cloud forest. Download offline Maps.
Can I use my European plan in Costa Rica?
Non-EU roaming is charged at premium rates (up to €10/MB). Check ; otherwise a travel eSIM is much cheaper.
Can I share the connection with other devices?
Most Costa Rica eSIM plans allow hotspot : the field is listed on each Datadopt offer detail page.
How much does an eSIM cost in Costa Rica, and is it cheap?
According to the Datadopt Observatory, the lowest price per GB recorded in Costa Rica comes down to 0.21 €/GB, across a sample of 1,486 fixed-volume offers retained for the measurement. That floor is reached on large data bundles : a 5 GB plan over 30 days costs noticeably more per GB. The real differentiator is still the depth of the offer : the more plans compete, the easier it is to find the duration and data volume that fit your trip. Costa Rica is 54% cheaper than the Americas regional average (0.46 €/GB). In our global ranking of well-covered eSIM markets, Costa Rica sits at position 115 of 215 by price per GB (1 = cheapest). Source: Datadopt eSIM Price Observatory, 170,286 plans analysed, measured 1 September 2026.
See the eSIM price Observatory by country →Explore other popular destinations
Ready to stay connected in Costa Rica?
Compare the best eSIM offers and enjoy data the moment you arrive, at the best price.