Costa Rica · roaming cost calculator
Costa Rica Roaming Price Audit: $12 a Day Against a $51 Plan
HelloRoam is the top pick for Costa Rica: its 7-day unlimited plan costs $46.57, at full speed for the first 2 GB a day, against $84 for a week on AT&T's $12-a-day pass, a $37 gap, and Holafly ranks second on this site's rubric. HelloRoam's support replies in your own language over live chat, WhatsApp and email. Airalo covers 200+ destinations to HelloRoam's 185. HelloRoam's price is from its catalogue of 29 Oct 2026, rivals' from the 30 Oct 2026 price check; AT&T's rate was checked June 2026.
Two prices sit on this page. AT&T bills $12 a day for Costa Rica and a 20GB travel eSIM at $51 bills once, both in dollars. HelloRoam bills in 31 checkout currencies.
eSIM plan rates provider-by-provider, Costa Rica
HelloRoam's Costa Rica eSIM uses local 4G LTE towers. Seven days of unlimited data cost $46.57, against the $84 AT&T bills for seven International Day Pass days at $12 each.
Get eSIMHolafly offers regional plans covering multiple countries in one purchase. If Costa Rica is a stop on a multi-country trip, a regional bundle costs less than buying separate eSIMs per destination.
Get eSIMNomad's app tracks the remaining balance on a Costa Rica plan but gives no hourly usage estimate. Data starts at $2.30/GB on a local 4G LTE network.
Get eSIMFor a 2-3 day trip to Costa Rica, Airalo's 1GB plan at $2.40/GB covers maps and messaging. A 3GB plan handles a full week of moderate use.
Get eSIMKolbi covers major cities and transport corridors in Costa Rica. Saily sells into that market at $2.60/GB, and its built-in VPN adds little noticeable delay in most markets.
Get eSIMCompare providers: Airalo vs Holafly · Airalo vs Saily · Airalo vs Nomad · Airalo vs HelloRoam · Holafly vs Saily · Holafly vs Nomad · Holafly vs HelloRoam · Saily vs Nomad · Saily vs HelloRoam · Nomad vs HelloRoam
The full picture
The published cost of roaming in Costa Rica
Every major carrier's published Costa Rica rate, side by side, with the eSIM winner highlighted.
| Carrier | Plan type | Daily | 7-day | Speed | Data limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | International Day Pass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| Verizon | TravelPass | $12.00source | $84.00 | LTE | Plan data |
| T-Mobile | International Pass | $10.00*source | $50.00 | LTE | 2GB per 1 Day pass |
| Xfinity Mobile | International Pass | $10.00source | $70.00 | LTE | 200 MB/day |
| eSIM · HelloRoam | 20GB data plan | — | $51.00 | 4G LTE | 20GB |
*T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10; the 7-day figure is the cheapest pass mix, 10-day pass.
* Xfinity Mobile International Pass: $10/day with 200 MB/day high-speed cap
Compare all carrier roaming plans to see how AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and EE stack up against eSIM providers.
Pay-per-use cost audit
AT&T pay-per-use in Costa Rica: what each app costs you
One day in Costa Rica without an international plan: typical phone use runs roughly 450 MB. At AT&T's $2.05/MB pay-per-use rate, that day costs $922. Breakdown: 1 hour of navigation ($102), 30 minutes of Zoom ($922), uploading 20 photos ($410), light social media. One day with a Costa Rica eSIM on a local network: roughly $1 when you spread the plan cost across your trip. AT&T's International Day Pass is $12/day and avoids pay-per-use entirely — but even that costs more than most eSIM plans cover for the same period. Source: AT&T rate card, June 2026.
Personalize your savings
Your Costa Rica saving against $12 a day
Adjust the trip length, the carrier and the daily data below and the calculator reprices both sides. The starting point is the 10-day average stay recorded for Costa Rica: $120 on an AT&T day pass at $12 a day, against $51 for a 20GB travel eSIM. Both prices buy access to the same local operators.
Network coverage
Costa Rica mobile infrastructure: what travelers connect to
Costa Rica: one carrier (Claro), two billing models. AT&T roaming: $12/day. Travel eSIM: $2.55/GB — about $3.83/day at average usage. Local operators own the towers. Both options rent access. The eSIM rents it cheaper. 4G LTE is the network technology in Costa Rica. Roaming passes and eSIM plans both deliver 4G LTE throughput on a local network. There is no signal quality advantage to paying carrier roaming rates. Costa Rica has none 5G coverage. No 5G
Network attachment record
The networks behind both prices in Costa Rica
HelloRoam publishes one local operator for Costa Rica: Claro.
One operator means no fallback network.
Where Claro has no signal, an eSIM has nowhere else to attach.
HelloRoam records no 5G operator for Costa Rica.
Carrier roaming meets the same ceiling, because roaming rents local networks.
Price is what separates the two options in Costa Rica. This page prices both.
5G and 4G here are capability labels. Neither one is a speed reading.
HelloRoam's operator record names Claro for Costa Rica. The same file holds 185 destinations, 154 distinct operators and 98 destinations with at least one 5G entry. Nothing in it says which operator a handset picks, and neither does this page.
| Operator | Network generation on file |
|---|---|
| Claro | 4G |
Source: HelloRoam package feed, read 17 August 2026. The feed publishes an operator list for every destination it sells. No speed test sits behind this table, and we ran none. The full operator map covers 185 destinations.
Pricing breakdown
Costa Rica data cost comparison: what carriers charge vs eSIM
For 14 days in Costa Rica: AT&T charges $12 a day, $120 in total, for roaming at 4G LTE. Verizon charges $168 for the same access. A 10GB eSIM on a local network delivers 10GB of 4G LTE data for $25.50. Same speed, same carrier infrastructure, 79% lower bill.
T-Mobile's International Pass in Costa Rica costs $10/day, the lowest daily rate of the three major US carriers. AT&T is $12/day. Verizon is $12/day. An eSIM on a local network averages $1.82/day when you buy the 10GB plan upfront.
Choosing the right eSIM tier for Costa Rica depends on trip length and daily habits. Available tiers: 1GB at $6.99 ($6.99/GB), 3GB at $9.90 ($3.30/GB), 5GB at $26.99 ($5.40/GB), 10GB at $31.49 ($3.15/GB), 20GB at $51 ($2.55/GB). A 1.5 GB/day user on a 14-day trip needs roughly 21GB. The unlimited daily option at $6.05/day works out to $84.67 total.
Costa Rica publishes five unlimited durations: 1 day at $7.56, 3 days at $21.55, 7 days at $46.57, 14 days at $84.67, 30 days at $154.22. Buying the 30-day block brings the daily price to $5.14. Unlimited here means 2GB a day at full speed before a fair-use policy applies. Catalogue prices read 29 Oct 2026.
Trip cost breakdown
Carrier roaming vs eSIM cost in Costa Rica by trip length
Three days in Costa Rica costs $36 on AT&T at $12/day. A 2GB eSIM on a local network covers the same period for $9.90. Difference: $26.10.
Fourteen days costs $120 on AT&T, because it bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle. A 20GB eSIM on a local network covers 15GB of photos and video calls for $51. Difference: $69 (57%).
Thirty days on AT&T costs $120. A 50GB eSIM on a local network covers 50GB for $127.50. Difference: $-7.50 over the month. AT&T rate: $12/day regardless of data consumed, at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle. Rates checked June 2026.
Airport options
Costa Rica airport SIM prices compared to eSIM
SIM card registration at Costa Rica airports requires a valid passport. Scanning, forms, and staff processing add 15-30 minutes after you clear customs. A travel eSIM purchased before your flight bypasses local point-of-sale registration. You get 1GB on a local network for $6.99 without presenting ID at any counter.
Data planning
GB requirements for 7 days in Costa Rica
Navigation apps use about 50 MB/hour while routing. Four hours of map use per day in Costa Rica burns 200 MB before you touch social media or email. Total daily data lands near 1.5 GB for most travelers. A 7-day trip needs 11GB. Good WiFi in hotels and cafes reduces your mobile data needs.
The 20GB plan covers your 7-day trip for $51. AT&T's roaming cost for the same 7 days is $84. The difference is $33, enough for two dinners in Costa Rica. For heavy data users, a 1-day unlimited plan costs $7.56, still under AT&T's $12/day pass.
Connectivity
WiFi-only vs eSIM data in Costa Rica
Airport WiFi in Costa Rica is available but typically limited to 30-60 minute free sessions. After that runs out, your options are a paid day pass or a cellular connection. An eSIM on a local network activates the moment you land — no session timers, no login pages, no interruptions.
Plan your data
Planning your data usage for Costa Rica
Even a 2-day layover in Costa Rica costs $24 in AT&T roaming at $12 a day if you leave the plan active. A short-trip eSIM on a local network covers 48 hours for a fraction of that. The cheapest eSIM plan starts at $6.99.
Costa Rica has one mobile operator: Claro. US carriers pay Claro for roaming access and pass that cost to you at $12/day. An eSIM connects to Claro directly at $2.55/GB — no carrier markup.
Airport SIM counters at Juan Santamaria (SJO) charge $5-10 for 3-10GB / 28 days — still more than a 20GB eSIM at $51. WiFi in Costa Rica is available in hotels and cafes. An eSIM fills the gaps at $2.55/GB instead of AT&T's $12/day roaming charge. Local prices in Costa Rica are in CRC (₡), but eSIM plans are priced in USD, eliminating exchange rate uncertainty on your data costs.
Quick reference
Costa Rica Travel Essentials
911
911 reaches police, fire, and ambulance in Costa Rica. Save the number before you arrive — do not rely on memory in an emergency. 911 works from any phone, including a travel eSIM with no local number.
Type A/B
US plugs (Type A flat two-prong and Type B three-prong) fit Costa Rica's outlets directly. No adapter is needed for phones, laptops, or standard US electronics. Voltage is 120V — compatible with dual-voltage US chargers.
CST (UTC-6)
CRC (₡)
Cards are accepted at hotels, tourist-facing shops, and chain restaurants in Costa Rica. Local markets, small vendors, and rural businesses prefer cash. Withdraw CRC at an ATM on arrival — airport ATMs have the same rates as city ATMs.
Quick tip
Costa Rica requires passport-based SIM registration for physical SIMs. A travel eSIM bypasses this requirement entirely — no paperwork, no waiting.
Good to know
Claro is the only mobile network in Costa Rica. Your carrier roaming plan and a travel eSIM both connect to the same towers. The signal quality is identical; only the cost differs.
Step by step
Step-by-step: set up your Costa Rica eSIM before you fly
- Returning eSIM user: delete any old eSIM profile if your slot is full (iPhone stores up to 8 eSIMs) — you need one free eSIM slot for your Costa Rica plan
- Last-minute at the airport: HelloRoam's website works on any airport WiFi — buy the Costa Rica 1GB plan for $6.99 and your QR code will be ready before you reach the gate. Browse all eSIM providers for alternatives.
- Scan the QR code to install the eSIM — do this before your flight to Juan Santamaria (SJO) so it activates the moment you land
- Go to Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options and turn off Data Roaming for your home SIM. Our data roaming guide covers iPhone and Android in detail.
- Once at Juan Santamaria (SJO), go to Settings > Cellular, select your HelloRoam eSIM, and turn on data
- On iPhone: go to Settings > Phone > WiFi Calling and enable it before departure — incoming calls to your home number route over the HelloRoam eSIM data in Costa Rica at no extra charge
Data tips
Making your GB last in Costa Rica
Data usage by activity: social media 80 MB/hour, maps and navigation 50 MB/hour, WhatsApp voice calls 30 MB/hour, video calls 250 MB/hour, video streaming 1 GB/hour. Download Google Maps offline areas for Costa Rica before departure. Set social media apps to load images on WiFi only to reduce cellular usage by 40-60%.
Regional context
Costa Rica carrier coverage and Central America roaming agreements
A few things to know before turning off carrier roaming in Costa Rica:
Costa Rica SIM registration: Passport required. A travel eSIM purchased abroad bypasses local SIM registration requirements at the point of sale.
Kolbi is former state monopoly with widest coverage
National park coverage unreliable
Some eco-lodges deliberately limit connectivity
Nearby
Related destinations
6 destinations near Costa Rica are priced on the same rate card. AT&T bills $12 a day in every one of them, and the figure beside each flag is that destination's own per-gigabyte floor. The cheapest of the group is Honduras at $1.83 a gigabyte.
Forgot your eSIM?
How to get data in Costa Rica if you land without an eSIM
If you reach Costa Rica without an eSIM, your first 30 minutes at the airport determine your data costs. Juan Santamaria (SJO)'s arrivals area has free WiFi. Connect immediately — no queue, no counter. From there, HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily all support post-arrival eSIM purchases. The process: download the app over WiFi, choose a Costa Rica plan, scan the QR code, and activate. A 1GB plan on a local network costs $6.99, against $24 for two days on AT&T's International Day Pass. If airport WiFi drops mid-install, hotel lobby WiFi provides a stable fallback for finishing the process.
Savings math
How much you save in Costa Rica
Solo traveler
The per-day math for a solo Costa Rica trip: AT&T charges $12 for each 24 hours that starts when your phone touches local towers. A 20GB eSIM spread across 10 days works out to $5.10/day. AT&T's $12 daily rate is 2.4x higher. Over 10 days, that multiplier turns into $69 in real savings.
Family trip
The lowest-cost family option for Costa Rica: buy two 20GB eSIMs at $51 each. Each parent's phone shares data via hotspot with one child's device. Total family data cost: $102 for 10 days. Compare: AT&T for four lines costs $300. The tethering approach saves $198 (66%). Both eSIMs connect to a local network at 4G LTE.
AT&T roaming rate analysis
Some travel insurance policies cover data charges from bill shock. AT&T pay-per-use at $2.05/MB in Costa Rica can reach hundreds of dollars from a single app sync. Day Pass caps the damage at $12/day but still costs $120 over 10 days. An eSIM at $51 eliminates bill shock entirely: fixed price, no overages, no claims needed. Prevention costs less than insurance.
All-carrier summary
AT&T: AT&T International Day Pass costs 135% more than an eSIM for Costa Rica.
Verizon: Verizon TravelPass costs 135% more than an eSIM for Costa Rica.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile's International Passes cost less than this eSIM plan for Costa Rica.
An eSIM saves money in Costa Rica for every trip longer than one day. The single exception: a same-day layover where you need your US number active for voice calls. AT&T's $12 for that one day may be worth the convenience. For any trip of 2+ days, the 20GB eSIM at $51 saves $69 over 10 days on a local 4G LTE network.
Quick answers
Common questions about Costa Rica data costs
Is eSIM cheaper than roaming in Costa Rica?
AT&T and Verizon both charge $12 a day for data in Costa Rica; AT&T totals $120 over 10 days. A travel eSIM on the same local 4G LTE network costs $51 for 20GB. The eSIM is 57% less expensive with identical network performance. Rates checked June 2026.
How much does roaming cost in Costa Rica?
AT&T charges $12/day in Costa Rica. A 7-day trip costs $84. A 14-day trip costs $120. A 10-day trip costs $120. An eSIM alternative on a local network starts at $51 for the same network. Rates checked June 2026.
Does T-Mobile work in Costa Rica?
Yes, T-Mobile connects to a local network in Costa Rica. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. The 1 Day International Pass costs $10. A travel eSIM at $51 for 20GB provides full 4G LTE speed on the same local towers. Rates checked June 2026.
AT&T fine print for Costa Rica
$12 covers 24 hours from the first time your phone uses a foreign network, and a single background push notification at 2 AM can start it. AT&T bills at most 10 daily fees per line each bill cycle (terms read 31 Oct 2026).
iCloud Photos, email push, app updates all trigger the daily charge. A phone left in a bag with data roaming on starts a new $12 fee each time a sync lands after the last 24 hours ran out.
Costa Rica FAQ
Costa Rica eSIM & roaming questions
Costa Rica carrier roaming costs $12 a day on AT&T and on Verizon
Land in Costa Rica without a roaming plan and AT&T bills $2.05 per megabyte. An hour of Google Maps navigation uses about 8 MB, so that hour alone costs about $16.40. One gigabyte at that rate is $2,099. A day pass caps the damage at $12/day. Every travel eSIM removes per-megabyte billing outright: you pay once and background syncs cost nothing extra. Fixed plans on a local network start at $6.99 for 1GB, and HelloRoam's unlimited plan drops the gigabyte count at a 7-day median of $21.50, the lowest of the five. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
T-Mobile's included data in Costa Rica runs at high speed until the allowance ends
For light use, yes. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. Even at 256Kbps you stay reachable on WhatsApp and iMessage text in Costa Rica, which is more than AT&T gives you without a pass. Fixed-data eSIM plans across HelloRoam, Holafly, Nomad, Airalo, and Saily run full 4G LTE on a local network from $2.55/GB, with no daily activation trigger. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
Costa Rica roaming bills by the day, not by the gigabyte
Carriers bill Costa Rica roaming two ways. AT&T and Verizon bill $12 for each 24 hours from first use, so one background app sync can start a fee. Without a day pass, AT&T bills $2.05 per MB, or $2,099/GB. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data, and its 1 Day pass costs $10. Four of the five eSIM providers sell a fixed bucket instead, starting at 1GB for $6.99, and HelloRoam sells unlimited plans beside its buckets. Holafly sells unlimited only, at a 7-day median of $27.50 against $21.50 on HelloRoam. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A Costa Rica travel eSIM is refundable while it stays unactivated
Only if you never activated it, and the window varies more than any other term in this market. HelloRoam and Holafly refund unactivated plans for 180 days, the longest here and a genuine tie. Saily runs 30 days and Nomad runs 30. Airalo runs 14 days, the shortest of the five. Once the QR code is scanned and the profile lands on your phone, none of them refunds it, whether or not you traveled. AT&T works differently: International Day Pass at $12/day only bills on days the pass activates in Costa Rica, so a cancelled trip costs nothing at all. Read the refund clause before you buy, not after. Rates checked June 2026.
Mid-trip spend in Costa Rica is readable in the provider app
On a travel eSIM you already know it, because you paid once and the number cannot move. You bought $2.55/GB upfront on Kolbi, or a 7-day median of $21.50 on HelloRoam's unlimited plan. What you track is data left, not money spent, and every provider app shows that balance. Carrier roaming inverts it. AT&T's $12/day accrues against a bill you will not see for weeks, and MyAT&T does not break out day-pass charges by country while you are still on the trip. That is the honest difference between the two billing models: one is a purchase, the other is a meter you cannot read. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
US carrier roaming in Costa Rica costs $12 a day
AT&T charges $12/day in Costa Rica on International Day Pass. Verizon charges $12/day on TravelPass. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. A 7-day trip on AT&T costs $84. A travel eSIM on a local 4G LTE network costs roughly $26.78 for the same week at average usage. Rates checked June 2026.
A travel eSIM holds the same Costa Rica networks carrier roaming rents
Both options connect through local towers in Costa Rica — reliability is identical. Costa Rica has 4G LTE coverage in cities and major tourist areas. A travel eSIM at $2.55/GB gives you the same signal as AT&T or Verizon roaming at $12/day. The only variable is cost, not coverage. Rural and remote areas of Costa Rica may have limited service regardless of which option you choose.
One eSIM can cover several Central American countries on one purchase
Yes. Regional eSIM plans covering Central America exist and include countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and others under a single data bucket. AT&T and Verizon bill $12/day per country separately — a 3-country trip at 3 days each reaches $108. A regional Central America eSIM priced as a flat data package costs less and avoids per-country billing. Confirm Costa Rica is listed in the plan's coverage map before purchasing.
T-Mobile's included data in Costa Rica decides whether an eSIM is worth buying
Only for light use. T-Mobile's Experience More plan includes 5GB of high-speed data abroad and Experience Beyond 15GB, then data runs at up to 256Kbps. Essentials includes texting but no data. Ride-hailing and mapping apps stall at 256Kbps. T-Mobile's International Passes cost $10 for 1 day with 2GB, or $50 for 10 days with 15GB. AT&T charges $12 per 24 hours. Fixed eSIM plans on Kolbi start at $2.55/GB, and HelloRoam's 7-day unlimited plan has a median price of $21.50, the lowest of the five. T-Mobile's Mexico and Canada terms do not extend to Costa Rica. Carrier rates checked June 2026; eSIM prices from the 30 Oct 2026 price check.
A week of Costa Rica carrier roaming costs $84
AT&T: $84/week (International Day Pass at $12/day). Verizon: $84/week (TravelPass). T-Mobile: 5GB or 15GB of high-speed data included on its Experience plans, then up to 256Kbps, or $50 for a week of passes (10-day pass). The cheapest eSIM for Costa Rica starts at $2.55/GB on a local 4G LTE network — better per-GB value than all three carriers.
Fact check
Costa Rica roaming myths — and what the data actually shows
Airport SIMs are the cheapest option
Airport SIM counters at Juan Santamaria (SJO) in Costa Rica charge $5-10 for 3-10GB / 28 days, plus a 15–30 minute queue after clearing immigration. A 1GB eSIM costs $6.99 and installs before your flight — no counter, no queue, no passport copy. Rates checked June 2026.
WiFi is always available abroad, so you do not need a data plan
WiFi in Costa Rica is rated good — unreliable outside major hotels and urban cafes. Navigation apps, ride-hailing, and real-time translation all require a live data connection. A 1GB eSIM on a local network costs $6.99 for the full trip. AT&T charges $12/day for the same cellular backup.
International calling cards cover data
Traditional international calling cards provide prepaid voice minutes for international calls — they do not include mobile data. Using a calling card in Costa Rica leaves you without data for maps, messaging apps, or anything internet-based. A 1GB eSIM on a local network at $6.99 provides data-only coverage. Pair it with a calling card if you also need voice minutes to landlines. Rates checked June 2026.
Our recommendation
Costa Rica data cost verdict
Bottom line for Costa Rica: go with HelloRoam. HelloRoam covers Costa Rica on a local network and scores 9.9/10 on our rubric, the highest of the 5 providers we price. A 1GB plan costs $6.99. Unactivated plans are refundable for 180 days, and its support replies in your own language. Holafly is the alternative for heavy data users: it states no daily cap, at a 7-day unlimited median of $27.50 on 30 Oct 2026.
Learn more
Travel guides, Costa Rica
4 guides carry the parts of a Costa Rica trip this page does not price: installing the profile before departure, switching data roaming off on the home SIM, and what happens to the allowance once a fair-use policy applies. Each one reads the same rate card as this page, where AT&T bills $12 a day.
Costa Rica data: 39% price difference between eSIM and carrier roaming
Costa Rica eSIM plans start at $51 for 20GB. That is $33 less than a week of AT&T roaming.
Get a Costa Rica eSIM