Best Tourist Sim Cards in Costa Rica in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Costa Rica across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, having a reliable means of staying connected is essential. Whether it’s finding your way around a new city, discovering the best dining options, or simply keeping in touch with loved ones through photos and messages, having internet access while on the go can make your travel experience much smoother.
While international roaming is an option, the associated fees can quickly accumulate. That’s why we recommend considering either an eSIM or a local sim card to take advantage of local phone rates. Thankfully, obtaining either option in Costa Rica is incredibly straightforward.
To help you make an informed decision, this comprehensive guide provides you with everything you need to know about purchasing a sim card in Costa Rica, including current pricing information and the absolute best sim card option for your specific needs.
The best tourist sim card in Costa Rica is the Kolbi Prepaid Domain 2 with 4GB data for 8,065 CRC, or about $15 USD, which is valid for 1 month.
Kolbi offers the best mobile network coverage in Costa Rica, however, if you can only find a Claro or Liberty store then you will be absolutely fine with one of their sim cards as well. All three mobile operators have very extensive coverage.
Airalo also offers an eSim in Costa Rica which is much more convenient than picking up a local sim card. However, they are also a bit more expensive at $22 USD for 3GB.
A Tourist Sim Card in Costa Rica costs 8,065 CRC in November 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Costa Rica will cost between $9 USD and $31 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Costa Rica which includes 3GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $22 USD.
In Costa Rica, the three main sim card providers that dominate the market are Claro, Kolbi and Liberty (formerly Movistar).
Kolbi is the most popular network in Costa Rica and has the most extensive coverage, followed by Claro and then Libery. All three are good options but I recommend going for Kolbi.
Overall, they are all a little bit expensive compared to the neighbouring Latin American countries. If you want to save some money you can opt for one of the lower data options from Airalo which uses the Kolbi and Claro networks.
Claro is an excellent mobile network provider in Costa Rica that has very good coverage across the country. They’ve also been reviewed by OpenSignal to have the best mobile network experience, speeds and consistency out of the three main networks, however, slightly worse coverage than Kolbi – which I consider to be the most important factor.
In terms of price, their sim cards are reasonably competitive within the Costa Rican sim card market and offer adequate mobile data for tourists.
This is a good pick if you find getting to a Kolbi store a bit more hassle. I have also heard reports that there is sometimes (not always, this is Latin America after all) a Claro kiosk at the airport.
The price of a Claro tourist sim card in Costa Rica is 10000 CRC.
The plan offered by Claro stores includes 5GB data valid for 30 days.
Kolbi is a state-owned telecommunications company and is the most popular in Costa Rica. This is largely due to their mobile network which offers the best coverage across Costa Rica.
I’ve found their sim cards to be extremely good and reliable with connectivity even in remote areas.
Their plans offer a sufficient amount of data, around 5GB, for a competitive price. I say competitive because the price is reasonable within Costa Rica, but a bit expensive compared to countries such as Mexico or Colombia.
That said, I recommend tourists look out for a Kolbi store when arriving in their hotel. They have stores around the city, however, I’ve heard reports that there may no longer be a store in arrivals at the airport.
The price of a Kolbi tourist sim card in Costa Rica is 8,065 CRC.
The plan offered by Kolbi stores offers 4GB data + 50 minutes + 30 SMS valid for 1 month.
Liberty is the least popular of the three, however, their network and plans are still suitable for tourists. Everything points to Liberty being the third best option out of the three, however, that doesn’t mean their network and tourist packages are bad.
You’ll still have good coverage and data speeds. Their Libre prepaid plan (called Free in Spanish, it’s not actually free) is a good price if you require a monthly prepaid option.
They also have some cheaper prepaid packages that can be good for shorter stays but become a bit expensive if you plan to stay longer.
The price of a Liberty (formerly Movistar) tourist sim card in Costa Rica is 5,900 CRC.
The plan offered by Liberty (formerly Movistar) stores includes 4GB data valid for 1 month.
Identify the mobile providers in Costa Rica: Claro, Kolbi and Liberty (formerly Movistar) are your best options in Costa Rica.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Costa Rica. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Costa Rica to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Claro, Kolbi or Liberty (formerly Movistar) staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Claro that includes 5GB data for 10000 CRC.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 8,065 CRC to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Costa Rica at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Costa Rica then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Costa Rica have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Claro, Kolbi and Liberty (formerly Movistar). Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Costa Rica are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Costa Rica with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Costa Rica. The Airalo Costa Rica eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $22 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Costa Rica without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Costa Rica is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Costa Rica and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Costa Rica eSim uses the Claro and Kolbi Ice networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Claro and Kolbi Ice networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Costa Rica.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Costa Rica eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $9 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $17 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $22 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $31 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 3GB data plan for $22 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Costa Rica eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Costa Rica eSim uses the Telefonica de Costa Rica TCnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Costa Rica
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Costa Rica eSim:
6GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $44 USD
An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built directly into a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, which require physical insertion and removal, the eSIM is seamlessly integrated into the device’s hardware.
With an eSIM, there is no need to physically swap SIM cards when switching between different mobile networks or plans. Instead, mobile network operators can remotely activate and program the eSIM, allowing users to easily transition between networks without any hassle.
For travelers or individuals who frequently switch between networks or travel internationally, eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and ease of use. It eliminates the need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it much more convenient to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a provided QR code or manually enter the activation details given by their mobile network operator. Once activated, the device can connect to the desired mobile network and enjoy all the voice, data, and messaging services just like with a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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