Restaurant prices in Costa Rica

See also: food prices   cost of living   entertainment costs  


Can you eat cheaply in restaurants in Costa Rica? What are the prices in affordable pubs in Costa Rica? How much will I have to spend a day when I only eat in fast food restaurants in Costa Rica?

If we are looking for an affordable place to eat, then in a cheap restaurant we will pay about 9.9 US dollars. With limited time and to avoid spending too much, you can opt for fast food. The cost of a meal set (sandwich, fries, and a soda) is approximately 9.9 US dollars. And when we can afford to go to the restaurant, we will pay for a meal consisting of three dishes around 59 US dollars. And if you want to drink a beer or two, you have to pay extra: 5.9 US dollars (price for 2 bottles) And if you prefer a Coke, Fanta, Sprite or similar carbonated drink, then you have to pay 2.1 US dollars for a small bottle.
Below you will find the full price list in Costa Rica, including Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mirinda, bottle of water, a better restaurant for a couple, coffee, or local beer


See also how prices have changed in previous years: Price changes in previous years in Costa Rica


What currency is used in Costa Rica and what is the conversion rate?

Currency in Costa Rica Costa Rican colón (CRC). For 10 US dollars you can get 5.04 thousand Costa Rican colóns. For 100 US dollars you can get 50.4 thousand Costa Rican colóns. And the other way around: For 100 Costa Rican colóns you can get 0.198 US dollars.


What are the different prices in the cities in Costa Rica? Look here: Prices in cities in Costa Rica

Prices: Alajuela   Guadalupe   San Jose   Santa Ana   Cartago   Samara   Liberia   Puntarenas   Curridabat   Quesada  


Price cheap restaurant $9.9 ($5.9 - $19.8)

cheap restaurant

$9.9 ($5.9 - $19.8)
by half less than in United States

Price local beer $3 ($1.9 - $5.9)

local beer

$3 ($1.9 - $5.9)
by half less than in United States

Price coffee $3.5 ($2 - $5.9)

coffee

$3.5 ($2 - $5.9)
31% is less expensive than in United States

Price bottle of water $1.6 ($1.2 - $2.6)

bottle of water

$1.6 ($1.2 - $2.6)
22% is less expensive than in United States

Price Burger King or a similar bar $9.9 ($8.3 - $9.9)

Burger King or a similar bar

$9.9 ($8.3 - $9.9)
7.8% is less expensive than in United States

Price Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mirinda $2.1 ($1.5 - $3)

Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Mirinda

$2.1 ($1.5 - $3)
17% is less expensive than in United States

Below we present the current prices in restaurants, bars and fast food in Costa Rica
(The last update: 6 days ago)

Prices of food and drink in restaurants in Costa Rica:

  1. Meal in a cheap restaurant $9.9 (CRC 5K)
  2. Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course $59 (CRC 30K)
  3. McMeal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Combo Meal) $9.9 (CRC 5K)
  4. Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) $3 (CRC 1.5K)
  5. Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) $4.7 (CRC 2.35K)
  6. Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) $2.1 (CRC 1.04K)
  7. Water (0.33 liter bottle) $1.6 (CRC 811)
  8. Cappuccino $3.5 (CRC 1.77K)
  9. Espresso Coffee $2.5 (CRC 1.24K)
  10. Cheeseburger (fast food) $3 (CRC 1.5K)
source: hikersbay.com & numbeo.com

Price changes in previous years in Costa Rica

Price changes in Coffee over the years: 2011: $2.3(CRC 1.13K), 2012: $3(CRC 1.54K), 2013: $2.2(CRC 1.12K), 2014: $2.4(CRC 1.22K), 2015: $2.6(CRC 1.29K), 2016: $2.6(CRC 1.31K), 2017: $2.7(CRC 1.37K), and 2018: $3(CRC 1.54K)

Costa Rica price changes: Cappuccino 2011-2018
Costa Rica price changes Cappuccino hikersbay.com

Price changes in A Better Restaurant For A Couple over the years: 2011: $39(CRC 19.5K), 2012: $34(CRC 17.1K), 2013: $39(CRC 19.5K), 2014: $40(CRC 20K), 2015: $38(CRC 19.1K), 2016: $37(CRC 18.6K), 2017: $40(CRC 20K), and 2018: $40(CRC 20K)

Costa Rica price changes: Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 2011-2018
Costa Rica price changes Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course hikersbay.com

Do we have to pay more for beer in the restaurant than we used to?
This is what beer prices looked like in 2011: $1.4(CRC 730), 2012: $1.9(CRC 981), 2013: $2(CRC 995), 2014: $2.2(CRC 1.1K), 2015: $2.3(CRC 1.15K), 2016: $2.1(CRC 1.08K), 2017: $3(CRC 1.5K), and 2018: $3(CRC 1.5K).

Costa Rica price changes: Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) 2011-2018
Costa Rica price changes Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) hikersbay.com

Do carbonated drinks cost more than they used to in Costa Rica?
On average, a bottle of Cola or Pepsi has cost: 2011: $1.6(CRC 790), 2012: $1.5(CRC 739), 2013: $1.6(CRC 825), 2014: $1.6(CRC 811), 2015: $1.6(CRC 783), 2016: $1.6(CRC 818), 2017: $1.6(CRC 829), and 2018: $1.8(CRC 918) in recent years

Costa Rica price changes: Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 2011-2018
Costa Rica price changes Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) hikersbay.com

Price changes in Bottle Of Water over the years: 2011: $1.5(CRC 754), 2012: $1.3(CRC 657), 2013: $1.5(CRC 777), 2014: $1.2(CRC 622), 2015: $1.4(CRC 724), 2016: $1.4(CRC 693), 2017: $1.4(CRC 709), and 2018: $1.7(CRC 859)

Costa Rica price changes: Water (0.33 liter bottle) 2011-2018
Costa Rica price changes Water (0.33 liter bottle) hikersbay.com