How much does food cost?
Good to Know
The cost of meals in Costa Rica varies significantly based on dining choices and location. Local "sodas" offer traditional "casada" lunches for approximately $8-15 USD, including tax and gratuity, with dinners ranging from $15-22. Tourist-oriented restaurants are generally pricier, with lunches costing $14-20 and dinners $20-40. Drink prices also fluctuate, with beers at $2-8 and cocktails at $5-8, while juices, sodas, and water are comparable to US prices.
The cost of meals depends on where and what you choose to eat. Prices can vary significantly and you should be aware if the sales and service taxes are included in the meal or not.
Meals
If you eat lunch at a local restaurant (called a soda) and order a "typical casada" which is usually comprised of your choice of fish, pork, chicken or beef with rice, salad and avocado along with juice or water, you can expect to pay around 4,500 - 7,500 colones (about $8 - 15 USD) including sales tax and gratuity. A dinner meal such as a decent steak or fresh fish with a couple of sides will cost around 8,000 - 11,000 colones (around $15 - 22).
There are also restaurants that cater to tourists. These are generally nicer establishments and you can expect to pay more at these restaurants. The average lunch with a sandwich, fries and drink will cost around 7,500 - 11,000 colones ($14 - 20). The average dinner – say spaghetti, pizza, steak, roasted chicken, or a rice and shrimp plate will cost around 11,000 - 23,000 colones ($20 - 40). Prices can go up depending on how elegant the restaurant is.
Drinks
Drink prices can vary significantly depending on where you go. You can expect to pay around $2 - 8 for a beer (depending on where and if it's a craft or imported beer) or $5 - 8 for a cocktail at a typical Costa Rican bar. Drinks can cost more at larger restaurants or resorts. Juices and sodas cost about the same amount you would pay in the United States ($2 - 4). A 20-ounce bottle of water will cost about 750 colones ($1.50).
Frequently Asked Questions Index Page
Similar Topics
How much should I tip my waiter or waitress?
How much should I tip tour guides and drivers?
Are major credit cards accepted?
How much money should I carry with me?
What kind of souvenirs will I find in Costa Rica?
Do I have to pay a departure tax?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical cost of a meal at a local Costa Rican restaurant?
At local "sodas," a traditional "casada" lunch, which includes a main dish, sides, and a drink, costs approximately 4,500 - 7,500 colones ($8 - 15 USD), inclusive of sales tax and gratuity. Dinner at these establishments, featuring a decent steak or fresh fish, averages 8,000 - 11,000 colones ($15 - 22).
How much should I expect to pay for meals at restaurants catering to tourists?
Tourist-focused restaurants generally have higher prices. A typical lunch with a sandwich, fries, and a drink costs around 7,500 - 11,000 colones ($14 - 20). Dinner, such as spaghetti, pizza, or a steak, ranges from 11,000 - 23,000 colones ($20 - 40), depending on the restaurant's elegance.
What are the average prices for drinks in Costa Rica?
Drink prices vary; a beer typically costs $2-8, and a cocktail is $5-8 at a standard Costa Rican bar. Juices and sodas are priced similarly to the United States ($2-4), and a 20-ounce bottle of water is about 750 colones ($1.50).