Using a credit card in Costa Rica

Due to the large number of tourists visiting Costa Rica, card payments are generally safe and widely accepted. Aside from Visa and Mastercard, American Express is also quite popular.

However, there are some potential fees to watch out for when you’re paying with plastic:

• Foreign transaction fees. A non-sterling fee of around 3% per transaction can apply, depending on your credit card. That’s £30 in fees for every £1,000 spent with your card.
• Merchant currency conversion fees. Sometimes, a merchant will offer to take payment in pounds instead of in colones. This is known as a dynamic currency conversion (DCC) and often comes with higher fees than if you paid in the local currency.
• Cash advance fees. Your card issuer may charge a fee for cash advances (withdrawing cash using your card). Cash machine providers sometimes charge a fee too.
• ATM fees. The provider of a cash machine may charge a fee if you withdraw cash using your card.
• Hidden fees. Watch out for hidden charges at hostels and hotels when paying with your card. Some of them may add up to an 8% fee to your bill.

It’s also worth noting that when it comes to cash advances and non-sterling transactions, card issuers will often start charging interest on the day your account is debited, rather than the customary “up to 55 days interest-free” that applies when you clear your balance in full each month.

Here’s a section of a fairly typical T&Cs document showing the charges applicable when spending abroad:

• What's in this guide?

  What's in this guide?

  1. So how can I avoid the fees?
  2. Market comparison
  3. Chip-and-PIN credit cards
  4. Is it safe to use my credit card in Costa Rica?
  5. How to prepare before traveling to Costa Rica
  6. Frequently asked questions
  7. How to use a credit card in…

So how can I avoid the fees?

Consider taking out a credit card offering commission-free currency conversion (see table below), even if you only use it when you’re abroad. Once you have one of these cards, if a merchant offers to take payment in sterling, say you’re happy to pay in colones, since you know your own bank won’t charge you for the privilege.

Generally speaking it’s not a great idea to use a credit card to withdraw cash, but some travel credit cards won’t penalise you for this either. Finally, make sure to check whether the ATM you use is going to charge a fee. Bank ATMs are generally a safer bet than those in convenience stores or bars.

Chip-and-PIN credit cards

Chip-and-PIN credit cards aren’t common in Costa Rica, but you can still freely pay with your chip-and-PIN card wherever cards are accepted.

To avoid unpleasant situations when withdrawing money or checking out, make sure your card’s logo matches one of the logos on the ATM or POS terminal.

Is it safe to use my credit card in Costa Rica?

Yes, it’s generally safe to use your credit card in Costa Rica. You can always practice good safety habits to better protect your finances, though. Consider these precautions:

• Use an ATM within a bank. In case the ATM holds your card for some reason, you’ll be able to get it back with ease. Also, ATMs that are within a bank are much less likely to be tampered with.
• Take two credit cards. If something happens to your primary card, you’ll have a backup in your hotel room safe.
• Keep your card in sight. Costa Rica isn’t known to have a big card cloning issue but just in case, always keep an eye on your card.

How to prepare before traveling to Costa Rica

1. Get a credit card without foreign transaction fees. Travel cards usually come with no foreign transaction fees.
2. Opt for a Mastercard or Visa. They’re more universally accepted, though American Express is also popular in Costa Rica.
3. Get a back-up card. This is particularly useful if something happens to your primary card. With a back-up card, you’ll never be caught without money.
4. Get some cash. If you’re unable to pay by card, cash is fail-safe option.
5. Inform your bank you’re travelling to Costa Rica. This way, you’ll avoid the bank blocking your card.
6. Get your bank’s phone number. In case you lose your card or have other issues, you can quickly call your bank and sort it out.

Bottom line

When you travel to Costa Rica, you shouldn’t have a problem using your credit card in large cities. But if you go to the countryside, you’ll want to have some cash on hand. Be careful to not incur fees you can otherwise avoid. With a decent travel credit card, you can avoid a poor exchange rate or foreign transaction fees by simply declining the DCC when offered.

However, some merchants may add additional fees to credit card transactions. Make sure you ask about them before you make a payment to avoid unnecessary charges.

Compare cards with fee-free currency conversion in Costa Rica

1 - 5 of 22

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Name	Product UKCCF	Finder Score	Finder score	Purchases	Annual/monthly fees	Initial credit limits	Representative APR	Incentive	Link
Monzo Flex Additional account needed		3.9 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	0% if paid in full monthly or over 3 months. Reverting to 29% (variable) in 6, 12 or 24 monthly payments.	£0	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	29% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29% APR (variable).	Go to site Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Santander All in One Credit Card		4.4 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%	£3 per month	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	29.8% APR (variable)	0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
118 118 Money Guaranteed Rate Card		3.8 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	49%	£0	Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.	49% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 49% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 49% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Yonder Credit Card Finder Award		4.5 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	29.94%	1 month for £0, £15 per month thereafter	Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.	66.7% APR (variable)	First month free for new members, £15 p/m thereafter. Plus, 10,000 bonus points. Earn 5 points per £1 spent and up to 25 points per £1 at selected partners. Membership includes worldwide travel insurance, no FX fees and use your points towards any flight. Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.94% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 66.7% APR (variable).	Check eligibility Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...
NatWest Credit Card		4.7 ★★★★★	★★★★★ Expert analysis	12.9%	£0	Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.	12.9% APR (variable)	Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).	Read review Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• How can I send money to Costa Rica?

  Check out our money transfer page to learn how to send money easily and quickly to Costa Rica.

• What is the currency used in Costa Rica?

  Costa Rica’s currency is the colón (colones when plural). The currency code is CRC and the symbol is ₡.

  From an ATM, you’ll get banknotes of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000 colones.

• What is the British pound and the Costa Rican colón exchange rate?

• Which banks operate in Costa Rica?

  You’ll find the following banks in Costa Rica:

  • Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
  • Banco de Costa Rica
  • Banco BAC San Jose

How to use a credit card in…

Written by

Chris Lilly

Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

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