Getting a Costa Rica SIM Card in 2024: Prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica

Last updated on March 6th, 2024 at 07:57 am

Looking for the best Costa Rica Sim Card for your next trip to Costa Rica?

For the best sim card in Costa Rica, Kölbi Costa Rica sim card is our favorite for coverage and data packages. Looking at mobile eSIM alternatives? Go for Airalo and Holafly

What’s the Cheapest Sim Card in Costa Rica?

You can buy the cheapest sim card in Costa Rica with Kölbi Costa Rica prepaid sim card for 4000 CRC=$7 USD with 2 GB data valid for 30 days.

Alternatives to Getting Cheap Data in Costa Rica

You can find the cheapest Costa Rica eSim with Airalo Costa Rica eSim prepaid for $8 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $20 USD with 3 GB data valid for 30 days.

Holafly Costa Rica eSim for $27 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with unlimited data valid for 5 days. For $34 USD with unlimited data for 7 days and for $37 USD with unlimited data valid for 10 days.

WHERE TO STAY IN COSTA RICA

There are dormitory rooms that you can rent the bed for as low as $15 USD a night if you want the cheapest option. AirBnb is also available, mostly for about $20-25 USD a night. Double-room hostels can cost up to $30-40 USD a night while mid-range hotels cost more or less $80 USD a night.

Click here if you want to find the best deals

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

Two of our favorite travel insurance: Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full comparison of Genki vs Safetywing Travel Insurance Review and the comparison Heymondo vs Genki

BEST COSTA RICA SIM CARD FOR TOURIST COMPARED AND PREPAID SIM CARD IN COSTA RICA

First thing we have to say about Costa Rican sim card, internet and data connection in Costa Rica is great especially in the cities. There are a few places off the beaten path like mountains, beaches and forest where the connection will be weak.

We recommend you to get outside the airport when getting to the city in an official phone shop.

There are 3 main phone operators in Costa Rica: Movistar, Kölbi and Claro. The fastest speed is Claro while Kölbi gets the most geographical coverage. It’s better to have both if you are depending on internet for your work.

Read here 3 Week Costa Rica Itinerary

BUYING COSTA RICA SIM CARD AIRPORT (SIM CARD SAN JOSE AIRPORT AND LIBERIA AIRPORT SIM CARD)

Buying a Liberia airport sim card and San Jose airport sim card in Costa Rica is simple and easy. You can get San Jose Airport sim card. This option it will be more expensive but it’s great especially if you are heading outside the city to the beach.

If you aren’t in a hurry to get a Liberia airport sim card you can wait until get to the city to get your Costa Rica prepaid card. There are kiosks and phone shops where to buy your Costa Rica tourist sim card.

Read here Is Puerto Viejo Costa Rica safe to travel

WHERE TO BUY THE BEST COSTA RICA SIM CARD FOR TOURIST

You can buy a Costa Rica sim card at San Jose airport and phone shops almost. There are phone kiosks and local shops willing to sell a Costa Rica prepaid sim card.

Just make sure that you present your foreign passport. If you are getting to Costa Rica by bus from Panama or Nicaragua you can also get your Costa Rica tourist sim card in the Bus Station or around in kiosks and street sellers.

BEST PREPAID SIM CARD COSTA RICA COMPARISON

We will focus in this prepaid sim card Costa Rica with Kölbi the most popular one in the country. We will tell you about Movistar and Claro the second and third largest in Costa Rica.

Kölbi Costa Rica Sim Card

Kölbi Costa Rica sim card is the largest phone operator. You will have the best coverage and we totally recommend this sim card if you are traveling in a few destinations in Costa Rica. You can get a Kölbi sim card for 1000 CRC=$2 USD in the airport or phone stores. Check here prices and packages in Kolbi website!

You can get a Kölbi prepaid sim card in Costa Rica for 2500 CRC=$6 USD you will get 500 MB data and 400 MB for social media apps valid for 10 days. For 4000 CRC=$7 USD with 2 GB data valid for 30 days.

MORE PREPAID SIM CARD IN COSTA RICA

Liberty Costa Rica Sim Card

Liberty Costa Rica sim card is the second largest phone operator. You can get a sim card for 1500 CRC =$3 USD in the airport or phone stores in Costa Rica.

You can get a Liberty prepaid sim card in Costa Rica for 2500 CRC=$4 USD with 650 MB data and 20 minutes calls and sms valid 7 days. And for 5900 CRC=$10 USD 4 GB data and 70 minutes and sms valid for 15 days.

Claro Costa Rica Sim Card

Claro Costa sim card is the third largest phone operator the country. You can get a Claro sim card for 1500 CRC =$3 USD but with 1000 CRC credit with 50 MB data and 250 MB for social media. Check here prices and packages in Claro website!

You can get a Claro prepaid sim card in Costa Rica for 3500 CRC with 400 MB and unlimited social media, 60 minutes calls, 60 sms valid for 7 days. And for 8500 CRC with 3.5 GB and 8500 CRC credit for 30 days.

Mobile eSIM Alternatives to Best Sim Card In Costa Rica

HOLAFLY COSTA RICA ESIM DISCOUNT CODE

Holafly Costa Rica eSim for $27 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER coming with unlimited data valid for 5 days. For $34 USD with unlimited data for 7 days and for $37 USD with unlimited data valid for 10 days.

AIRALO COSTA RICA ESIM DISCOUNT CODE

Airalo Costa Rica eSim prepaid for $8 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%). For $20 USD with 3 GB data and for $30 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.

MTX Connect eSim Costa Rica

MTX Connect eSim Costa Rica for €24 with 4 GB data valid for 14 days.

Nomad eSim Costa Rica

Nomad eSim Costa Rica for $20 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. Nomad eSim Costa Rica prepaid starts at $48 USD with 3 GB data and for $54 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.

UBIGI COSTA RICA ESIM

Ubigi Costa Rica eSim for $39 USD with 1 GB data valid for 30 days. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%).

GIGSKY COSTA RICA ESIM

GigSky Costa Rica eSim for $11 USD with 1 GB data valid for 15 days and for $40 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.

COSTA RICAN SIM CARD CONCLUSION (CHEAPEST SIM CARD COSTA RICA)

My Costa Rican Sim Card Conclusion is buying the cheapest sim card in Costa Rica with Kölbi Costa Rica prepaid sim card for 4000 CRC=$7 USD with 2 GB data valid for 30 days if you are planning to travel around.

Since the coverage is better and prices are similar to Liberty and Claro. Unless you can get a special package or a promotion with other companies I will go for Kölbi in Costa Rica. Claro would be my second option since it has the best prices and packages.

Happy Travels!