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How to get mobile internet in Costa Rica: 5 Easy options
Mobile internet in Costa Rica doesn’t have to be expensive. Discover how you can get easy, cheap and unlimited internet for a worry-free vacation.
There are different options for getting mobile internet in Costa Rica, including public WiFi, SIM cards, eSIMs, and pocket WiFi.
This guide will help you pick the best one for your trip, with the Holafly eSIM for Costa Rica being an alternative worth considering.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
1. Holafly eSIM for Costa Rica: Unlimited data in Costa Rica
If you need unlimited data and have an eSIM-compatible phone, using an eSIM is your best option.
Holafly eSIM for Costa Rica offers unlimited data for up to 90 days and lets you choose the exact plan duration; no need to pay for plans you won’t use.
Plans start at $7.90 for a day, but the longer you stay, the lower the daily rate gets. For a 90-day trip to Costa Rica, you pay $3.21 daily for your unlimited data eSIM.
The eSIM for Costa Rica from Holafly also includes up to 1 GB of daily hotspot sharing, high-speed data, 24/7 customer support, and easy activation on Android and iOS.
An eSIM you can rely on
Join over 10 million Holafly customers and get connected with our trusted, global services.
2. Local SIM card for Costa Rica
If you have a SIM-only phone, you can buy a Costa Rica SIM card upon arrival at Liberia Airport or from third-party sellers in San José.
Most plans range from 400 CRC to 12,500 CRC (~$1 to $26.20 USD) from providers such as Claro, Kolbi, and Liberty, with plans including up to unlimited data and lasting up to a month.
If you decide to use a SIM card, you have to show a valid passport, proof of stay, and a valid payment method to complete the purchase.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the plans and pricing Costa Rica providers offer:
| Provider | Data | Duration | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claro | 300 MB to unlimited data | Up to 30 days | 400 CRC to 12,500 CRC (~$1 to $26.20 USD) |
| Kolbi | 3 GB to 10 GB | Up to 30 days | 5,000 CRC to 12,500 CRC (~$10.48 to $26.20 USD) |
| Liberty | 1 GB to 5 GB | Up to 30 days | 1,000 CRC to 5,900 CRC (~$2.10 to $12.30 USD) |
3. Roaming in Costa Rica
Roaming is the go-to option if your phone is carrier-locked and you need mobile internet abroad.
However, it’s not a cheap option: an international daily roaming pass can cost over $10 USD per day.
Final pricing will depend on your carrier and what they offer, roaming passes or pay-as-you-go rates, so let’s check the UK and USA carriers’ roaming rates.
USA roaming in Costa Rica
Most USA carriers offer paid roaming in Costa Rica, with T-Mobile offering free roaming on selected plans, but with lower speeds after certain data usage.
Here’s what you should know about each carrier’s offerings:
| Carriers | Roaming passes | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Free with Better Value and Experience Beyond up to 30 GB, with lower speeds afterwards $5 to $50 for up to 30 days with up to 15 GB of high-speed data $0.01/MB, $0.25/minute, free texts with other T-Mobile plans | Use roaming passes |
| AT&T | $12 daily with unlimited data, texts, and calls | $2.05/MB, $3/minute, $0.50/text |
| Verizon | $12 daily with unlimited data, texts, and calls | $2.05/MB, $1.79/minute, $0.50/text |
UK roaming in Costa Rica
UK carriers work in a similar way to USA ones, with pay-as-you-go rates and roaming passes.
Here’s what each carrier offers:
| Carriers | Roaming passes | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Three | £5 daily on plans without free roaming £12.50 to £60 roaming passes for up to 14 days Free roaming on eligible Value and Complete plans for up to 56 days | Free for 24 hours, then £10 to £31.50 per month with Auto-Renew data packs |
| Vodafone UK | £6 to £7.86 daily depending on your plan, with up to 25 GB of data | 0.12p/MB, 0.60/minute, 0.08p/text |
| EE | £7.50 for a daily roaming pass | £1.80/minute, 0.60p/text, data with roaming passes |
| O2 | Free roaming on plans with O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On or O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate Bolt On £7 daily with unlimited data, texts, and calls with O2 Travel Bolt On plans £6 to £18 for up to 5 GB of mobile data, £3/minute, and £1/text on other plans | £7.20/MB, £2/minute, 0.50p/text |
4. Public WiFi in Costa Rica
Public WiFi is somewhat common in Costa Rica, especially in cities like San José, where the project “Zii Para Todos” provides free WiFi access in libraries, squares, and other public spaces.
However, these aren’t safe hotspots. So consider using a VPN for extra safety and avoid using it for work or financial-related tasks.
5. Pocket WiFi in Costa Rica
Using a pocket WiFi in Costa Rica is a great option if you plan to share internet with a laptop and work remotely from Liberia.
However, there’s a catch: you can spend over $100 to rent a pocket WiFi for a week with companies like Cello Mobile and MyWebspot. And that doesn’t include add-ons and delivery fees.
That said, there’s an alternative that works with an eSIM, meaning your phone turns into your pocket WiFi: Holafly Plans, with two monthly subscription plans ranging from $49.90 to $64.90.
Both plans include unlimited data, 24/7 customer support, coverage in over 170 destinations, and 5G speeds where available.
Also, if you choose the $64.90 plan, you get unlimited hotspot data and a local phone number, in case you need them for downloading apps or using local services.
What is the best way to get internet in Costa Rica?
Getting internet in Costa Rica is pretty easy, as there are several services available. However, the final decision depends on every traveler’s needs.
A pocket WiFi is too pricy for what it offers, and public WiFi isn’t reliable, even if you’re visiting San José for a few days.
Roaming is affordable only on some plans, mostly for UK carriers, because most US carriers charge $12 for a 1-day international roaming pass.
That said, SIM cards are a good option if you have a SIM-only phone, as there are lots of plans available for tourists, which also applies to the Costa Rica eSIM, which is a clear favorite, but it all depends on traveler’s needs.
The Holafly eSIM for Costa Rica is a great option as it offers unlimited data, hotspot data, 5G when available, 24/7 customer support, an easy installation, and you can install it before you arrive.
| Option | Hotspot sharing | Security | Support | Phone unlocked required | Physical installation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM (Holafly) | Yes | Private network | 24/7 CS | Yes | No |
| Pocket WiFi | Yes | Private network | Limited | No | Yes, with a password |
| Roaming | Depends on the local plan | Private network | With home carrier | No | No |
| Public WiFi | Yes | Open network | No | No | No |
| Local SIM | Depends on the mobile provider | Private network | Local carrier | Yes | Yes |
But if you need more than 1 GB of daily hotspot sharing, then your best option is Holafly Plans. Either way, Holafly is your best travel companion.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
Internet in Costa Rica: Frequently asked questions
Mobile internet in Costa Rica is pretty good, with 5G coverage in major cities and 4G/LTE the standard in rural areas.
Kolbi, Liberty, and Claro are the main Costa Rica mobile internet providers.
Yes. If your phone is locked, you’ll be limited to international roaming. With an unlocked phone, you can use an eSIM for a better mobile internet connection.
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
