eSIM plans / Costa Rica
Best eSIM for Costa Rica
For a typical week in Costa Rica (6 GB), the cheapest plan on file is Nomad's 10 GB / 30 days at $25. The best value per gigabyte is Nomad's 20 GB for 30 days at $1.55 per GB. 16 plans from Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad, prices as shown on each provider's Costa Rica page on 2026-10-19.
Where Costa Rica sits on price
Costa Rica is one of the more expensive destinations for data on this site: rank 20 of 25 by best price per GB ($1.6 here, $0.8 to $2.3 across all countries, median $1.2). Its cheapest unlimited plan works out to $3 a day, rank 22 of 25 countries with an unlimited option.
How the plans are ranked
Fixed-data plans are ranked by price per GB; unlimited plans by price per day. A plan only counts as covering a trip if its validity is at least the trip length. Commission plays no part in the order. Prices move often, so treat the table as a snapshot from 2026-10-19 and confirm on the provider's page before buying.
Fixed-data plans for Costa Rica
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | Per GB | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saily | 1 GB | 7 | $7.99 | $7.99 | $1.1 |
| Nomad | 5 GB | 30 | $19 | $3.80 | $0.6 |
| Nomad | 10 GB | 30 | $25 | $2.50 | $0.8 |
| Saily | 5 GB | 30 | $26.99 | $5.40 | $0.9 |
| Nomad | 20 GB | 30 | $31 | $1.55 | $1 |
| Saily | 10 GB | 30 | $36.99 | $3.70 | $1.2 |
| Saily | 20 GB | 30 | $47.99 | $2.40 | $1.6 |
The spread is wide: from $7.99 to $2.40 per GB across the fixed plans on file, which is why a bigger plan from one provider can cost less per GB than a small plan from another. A 1 GB plan covers light use; the typical week needs 6 GB; video and calls push past 10 GB.
Unlimited plans for Costa Rica
| Provider | Days | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 3 | $19.50 | $6.5 |
| Nomad | 5 | $21 | $4.2 |
| Holafly | 5 | $29.90 | $6 |
| Airalo | 7 | $36.50 | $5.2 |
| Holafly | 7 | $37.90 | $5.4 |
| Airalo | 15 | $49 | $3.3 |
| Holafly | 15 | $51.50 | $3.4 |
| Airalo | 30 | $89 | $3 |
| Holafly | 30 | $99.90 | $3.3 |
The cheapest unlimited plan that covers a week is Airalo at $19.5 for 3 days, about $6.5 a day. Unlimited makes sense when you stream or hotspot; "unlimited" plans usually throttle after a daily high-speed allowance, so read the provider's fair-use line.
How much data will you use in Costa Rica?
A typical week needs 1.1 GB to 5.8 GB. See the figures by trip length, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, 14 days, or run the calculator for your own habits. And before you go: the plug you need in Costa Rica.
Frequently asked questions
Which eSIM is cheapest for Costa Rica?
Nomad's 20 GB plan at $31 was the lowest price per GB ($1.55) among the plans checked on 2026-10-19. Prices change; confirm on the provider's page.
How much data do I need for a week in Costa Rica?
About 1.1 GB to 5.8 GB for typical use (navigation, social media, browsing). Buy at least 6 GB, or unlimited if you stream video.
Does my phone support eSIM?
iPhone XS, XR and later, Pixel 4 and later, and most Galaxy S20 and newer models do. US iPhones since the iPhone 14 have no SIM tray at all. Check Settings > Cellular (iPhone) or Settings > Connections > SIM manager (Galaxy) for an Add eSIM option; the phone must also be carrier-unlocked.
Is an eSIM cheaper than my US carrier's roaming in Costa Rica?
Usually. Verizon TravelPass and AT&T International Day Pass are $12 a day each, which is $84 for a week. The cheapest Costa Rica plan covering a typical week on file costs $25. T-Mobile's higher plans include some high-speed data abroad at no extra cost.
Plan prices: each provider's Costa Rica page, read 2026-10-19. Carrier prices: Verizon and AT&T plan pages, read 2026-10-19. Affiliate links may earn a commission; ranking ignores it.