Money in Costa Rica

Money in Costa Rica is not as complicated as it seems at first.

As a tourist in Costa Rica, here’s what you need to know about money:

Costa Rica uses the Costa Rican Colón (CRC). U.S. dollars are commonly accepted in tourist areas, but you’ll usually receive change in colones.

Coins come in ₡5, ₡10, ₡25, ₡50, ₡100, and ₡500.

Bills typically come in ₡1,000, ₡2,000, ₡5,000, ₡10,000, ₡20,000, and ₡50,000.

In real time, the easiest way to convert Colones to dollars in your head is to think "Minus the thousand, times 2." Hear me out.

If the price is ₡10,000 -- that's about $20.

If the price is ₡6,000 -- that's about $12.

If the price is ₡1,000 -- that's about $2.

So, "Minus the thousand, times 2."

This is far from exact, but really helpful in a pinch or when you're shopping and looking at pricetags.

Nearly everywhere accepts credit and debit cards, especially in hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores. Smaller sodas (local restaurants), beach vendors, parking attendants, and some tours may require cash.

Here are 10 Ways to Save Money in Costa Rica.

We suggest traveling with a credit card (no foreign transaction fees), a debit card for ATM withdrawals, and carrying a small amount of both colones and U.S. dollars for flexibility.

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