How Much Is Food In Costa Rica?

Interestingly, most people expect the cost of food to be lower in Costa Rica. However, while food might not be expensive, it will still be a substantial cost in your travels. Therefore, having a budget for food is essential, especially if your accommodation option is not all-inclusive. 

Most of my friends travelling to Costa Rica often enquire how much they need to budget for food. My recommendations are about the same as your accommodation cost. The cost might be higher if you’re travelling with the kids. 

Key Takeaways

Food prices in Costa Rica tend to be lower than in most global cities and towns. However, you can expect food costs in tourist areas to be higher than in rural or local areas. Here are my key takeaways on the price of food in Costa Rica.

  • Sodas are standard in farmers’ markets and are the cheapest when eating out. A good meal plus drinks will cost you around $10. A meal at a budget-friendly restaurant will cost between $15-30.
  • Expect food prices to be higher if you want to buy imported products. Local products and produce will be cheaper. I recommend buying local products and food at the local markets or grocery stores.
  • Making your meals can also help in reducing food costs. You can buy groceries from local stores, supermarkets, or markets. 
  • When choosing supermarkets, local brands offer more affordable options than international brands. In some of the significant towns in Costa Rica, you will find brands like Wal-Mart. 

 Average Cost of Food In Costa Rica

costa rica food

Costa Rica is one of the few countries where you vacation and get lucky to eat food from organic farms. However, food prices will differ depending on where you stay. Expect food prices in rural areas to be cheaper.

  • Breakfast: It is the cheapest meal and will be around ($5-8) in a restaurant. Also, you can buy breakfast at a panaderia or a bakery. A sandwich will be about $1-2.
  • Lunch is another not-so-costly meal that costs around $15 per person. (Sandwich=$9, salad=$8, pizza=$11, fruit drink=$3. Fortunately, in most of Costa Rica, tap water is safe for drinking. Ask the hotel staff or your hosts if the tap water is drinkable. Alternatively, have a water bottle as some hotels have bottled water, allowing you to fill up.
  • Dinner might be a bit more costly than all the other meals. Here are the possible prices in an average restaurant: shrimp pasta ($16), grilled chicken ( $12), steak($12), fish($13), and dessert($5).

The amount of food you consume might also increase depending on the activities you will take part in. Expect to eat more after hiking all day than when you’ve spent all day at the spa or the pool.

Tourist areas and major towns such as San Jose expect the cost of food to be higher than in rural villages.

Here’s a table comparing the cost of food in fine dining restaurants vs. roadside restaurants (sodas) in the top five tourist cities in Costa Rica:

City Fine Dining (per person) Roadside Restaurant (Soda) (per person)
San José $60-$80 $4-$10
Tamarindo $40-$60 $5-$10
Monteverde $50-$70 $5-$10
Liberia $50-$70 $4-$10
Puerto Viejo $50-$70 $5-$10

Additional Notes:

  1. San José:
    • Fine dining in San José can be quite expensive, especially in tourist areas, with prices ranging from $60 to $80 per person.
    • Roadside restaurants, known as sodas, offer traditional meals like casado for about $4 to $10 per person.
  2. Tamarindo:
    • Fine dining in Tamarindo is slightly less expensive than in San José, with prices around $40 to $60 per person.
    • Sodas in Tamarindo offer meals for about $5 to $10 per person.
  3. Monteverde:
    • Fine dining in Monteverde ranges from $50 to $70 per person.
    • Sodas in Monteverde offer meals for about $5 to $10 per person.
  4. Liberia:
    • Fine dining in Liberia is comparable to Monteverde, with prices ranging from $50 to $70 per person.
    • Sodas in Liberia offer meals for about $4 to $10 per person.
  5. Puerto Viejo:
    • Fine dining in Puerto Viejo ranges from $50 to $70 per person.
    • Sodas in Puerto Viejo offer meals for about $5 to $10 per person.

The Most Common Costa Rican Food and Their Prices

costa rica casado

I’ve compiled a table of common Costa Rican foods and their typical prices. Here’s a summary of some of the most popular dishes and their approximate costs:

Food Item Price (CRC) Price (USD)
Gallo Pinto 2,500 5.00
Casado 8,000 16.00
Ceviche 5,000 10.00
Tres Leches 3,000 6.00
Tamales 2,000 4.00
Arroz con Pollo 4,000-6,000 8.00-12.00
Olla de Carne 5,000-7,000 10.00-14.00
Chifrijo 3,500-5,000 7.00-10.00
Sopa Negra 3,000-4,500 6.00-9.00
Patacones 2,500-3,500 5.00-7.00

Please note that these prices are approximate and can vary depending on the location, restaurant type, and current market conditions. Prices in tourist areas or upscale restaurants may be higher than those in local sodas (small, family-run restaurants) or less touristy areas.

Some additional points to consider:

  1. Gallo Pinto is a popular breakfast dish and is often one of the most affordable options.
  2. Casado is a typical lunch plate that usually includes rice, beans, salad, and a protein (meat, fish, or chicken). It’s a filling and relatively economical choice.
  3. Ceviche prices can vary significantly depending on the type of fish or seafood used and the restaurant’s location.
  4. Desserts like Tres Leches are generally less expensive than main courses.
  5. Tamales are often sold in pairs (piña de tamales) and are particularly popular during Christmas.
  6. Prices for dishes like Arroz con Pollo or Olla de Carne may vary based on portion size and the ingredients included.

Remember that these prices are in line with average restaurant costs. Cooking at home or buying ingredients from local markets can be more economical for budget-conscious travelers. Additionally, many hotels and lodges in Costa Rica offer breakfast included in their rates, which can help reduce overall food expenses during your stay.

Cooking own meals

Fortunately, groceries in Costa Rica are cheaper than in most major towns globally. There is a lot of farming going on in Costa Rica. Buying groceries from the local markets to make your meals will reduce the cost of food. Local grocery stores are also affordable. You can also do your shopping at farmers’ markets. 

However, it’s important to note that packaged and processed foods attract a 13% tax, making them more expensive.

In the table below, I highlight the prices of some of the food items in Costa Rica. 

Breakdown Cost of Food Items ($)
Beef (1 kg) 16
Rice(1kg) 8
Milk( 1liter) 2.5
Chicken (1kg-boneless) 7
Beans(1 kg) 3
Bread (500g) 3
Fish (1kg) 9
Pork(1 kg) 4

The prices in the table above might vary, and it’s best to confirm the prices depending on where you’re buying from. 

Eating Out

Depending on where you are eating out, there might be considerable differences in cost. The cheapest places to eat in Costa Rica are the sodas. These are mainly local restaurants serving delicious seafood and Costa Rican dishes, a standard meal in all sodas, which costs an average of $5. 

One regional dish, casado, contains vegetables, beans, rice, plantains, and protein (chicken, beef, pork, or fish) and will cost around $10. The cost of food will be high if you stay at luxury lodges and resorts. Remember that extra services such as room service might also increase the cost of food.

On average, and depending on where you’re eating, the cost of meals per day in sodas can amount to $10-$25 per person. The amount will increase when you add drinks ($2-3) and beer ($5-12).

Factors That Affect Food Prices in Costa Rica

Buying food directly from the source will be cheaper than buying from the store or the supermarket. Various factors affect the cost of food. 

Transport

If buying food from the markets in major towns, the vendors usually will consider the transport cost in their prices. Hence, rural vendors will sell cheaply as they often get it from their farms.

However, it is essential to compare the prices of the food items sold in the farmer’s markets with those of local grocery shops or supermarkets. There are instances where some food items in the farmer’s markets are more expensive.

Dining Option

Where you have your meals will also determine the cost. Sit-in food places such as restaurants charge their meals more expensively than fast or street food places. When dining out, you’re more likely to take a few drinks, such as beer, which is an added cost to your meal. 

However, you can choose to limit your alcohol intake or go for more affordable such as local beers or wines. It’s essential to confirm if there are extra charges that a restaurant has. It might be taxes or additional charges not on the menu. Inquiring from the staff ensures that you know exactly how much you will pay for the meal. 

I also recommend ordering tap water instead of bottled water to keep the cost of the meal down. You’ll see how much you save per meal when you avoid buying water. Other costs that might increase food prices are when you pay using a credit card.

Now that you know the cost of food in Costa Rica, you can walk into any of the best restaurants near Osa Peninsula for a treat that aligns with your budget. 

Conclusion

Understanding the cost of food is crucial when planning your vacation. Food is a basic necessity that you cannot do without. Fortunately, Costa Rica provides a wide range of dining options. The cost of food can range from $30 to $250 per person per day, depending on where you are dining option.

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About 

Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!

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