Best Prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica in 2026 (Tourist Guide)

Planning your trip to Costa Rica and wondering what is the best prepaid SIM card to stay connected? Don't waste money on high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans.

The Traveltomtom Team just got back from an epic 2-week road trip across Costa Rica, where we explored the rainforests and beaches of Tortuguero, the volcanic hot springs of La Fortuna, and the misty cloud forests of Monteverde and much more.

Based on our experiences we put together this is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica in 2026.

Find out where to buy a SIM card, up to date prices and info, the best 4G/5G network, my recommendation and more info about the best eSIMs for Costa Rica in 2026.

Last update: June 2026.

This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on independent research and personal experience.

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends a Claro SIM card for Costa Rica. Claro has the best mobile data network coverage in Costa Rica and offers a wide range of prepaid data plans for tourists. A Claro SIM card with 5 GB data & free social media valid for 30 days = 10,000 CRC (~$22 USD).

You can buy a Claro prepaid SIM card in Claro stores in Costa Rica or at San Jose International Airport Juan Santamaria.

If you want be online as soon as the plane lands and have data on your phone. We recommend an Airalo eSIM for Costa Rica after testing it on our latest Costa Rica trip. Although a Sim Local eSIM for Costa Rica had excellent value it unfortunately does not disclose which network it uses in Costa Rica.

For much more eSIM plans check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Costa Rica.

There are also pre-activated global travel SIM cards that will be delivered to your home address in case your phone is not eSIM compatible. Check out my comparison of the best international travel SIM cards in 2026.

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Best prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica in 2026

Looking at the prepaid SIM card plans for tourists in Costa Rica the first thing Traveltomtom noticed is that they are very small. The biggest prepaid plan with data is just 5 GB data. Most plans are also only valid for just 1 or 2 weeks, which is pretty inconvenient if you need a lot of data or if your trip to Costa Rica is longer than 1 week.

However, the prepaid SIM card plans in Costa Rica are pretty cheap and come with free social media.

Most of the prepaid SIM card plans from Kolbi, Liberty and Claro are similar. They all offer free social media included in their prepaid SIM card plans, but be aware that Tiktok, Snapchat and YouTube are not included.

Data packages are rather small and you you get some minutes for calls in Costa Rica, but prices are relatively cheap.

All in all it is a fairly easy conclusion that Claro is the best prepaid SIM card for traveling in Costa Rica in 2026.

Buying a prepaid SIM card on arrival in Costa Rica is easy but it takes time and finding a phone store can be a hassle especially since they also have limited opening times.

Local prepaid SIM cards are in general cheaper than eSIMs and international prepaid SIM cards for Costa Rica.

But for example the best-value eSIM for Costa Rica is Sim Local with 18 GB data for around $25 USD. Other recommended eSIMs for Costa Rica are Airalo and Jetpac.

Check out my comparison with the best eSIMs for Costa Rica in 2026.

Prepaid SIM card prices in Costa Rica in 2026

Kolbi

Because Kolbi enjoyed a monopoly for many years, it's the most popular mobile internet operator in Costa Rica. A Kolbi SIM card costs 1,000 CRC and they offer 3 different monthly prepaid plans:

• 2 GB data + 35 minutes + 30 sms + 3 GB for WhatsApp = 5,000 CRC (~$11 USD)
• 4 GB data + 50 minutes + 30 sms + 3 GB for WhatsApp = 8,000 CRC (~$17 USD)
• 5 GB data + 100 minutes + 30 sms + 5 GB for WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram = 12,000 CRC (~$26 USD)

You can also top-up with one of the available data-only packages:

• 1 GB data for 15 days = 2,500 CRC (~$5 USD)
• 2 GB data for 30 days = 4,500 CRC (~$10 USD)

Not the super data deals you we were hoping for, but…

One of the best things about a Kolbi prepaid SIM card is the Social Package which gives you unlimited internet on Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter for 7 days and cost only 1,500 CRC, around $3 USD!

In the Kolbi store you can opt for an eSIM or physical SIM card.

My recommendation for Kolbi would be to buy a SIM card for 1,000 CRC, top up with 1 GB for 2,500 CRC + the unlimited social package for 1,500 CRC = 5,000 CRC (~$10 USD) total for unlimited Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook + 1 GB for internet and other apps.

Liberty

After Kolbi, Liberty is the second-largest mobile internet provider in Costa Rica. Liberty prepaid SIM cards cost 1,500 CRC and you can choose from one of the following prepaid SIM card plans:

• 1 GB data for 24 hours = 700 CRC (~$1.4 USD)
• 1.2 GB data + 20 minutes for 7 days = 1,250 CRC (~$3 USD)
• 1 GB data + 15 minutes for 6 days = 2,000 CRC (~$4 USD)

All data plans include free social media. In the Liberty store you can opt for an eSIM or physical SIM card.

Claro

Claro SIM cards also cost 1,500 CRC and these are their prepaid SIM card deals:

• 1 GB data + free social media* + 20 international minutes** + 50 sms - valid for 7 days = 2,000 CRC (~$4 USD)
• 2 GB data + free social media* + 30 international minutes** + 100 sms - valid for 10 days = 3,000 CRC (~$6.5 USD)
• 3 GB data + free social media* + 45 international minutes** + 200 sms - valid for 15 days = 4,500 CRC (~$9 USD)
• 4 GB data + free social media* + 70 international minutes** + 200 sms - valid for 15 days = 6,000 CRC (~$13 USD)
• 5 GB data + free social media* + 85 international minutes** + 300 sms - valid for 30 days = 10,000 CRC (~$22 USD)

*Free social media means: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest.

**International minutes: all of Central America, Panama, USA and Canada.

Claro offers a wide range of prepaid plan. In the Claro store you can opt for an eSIM or physical SIM card.

Why buying a SIM card for Costa Rica

Amongst all the Central American countries, Costa Rica has the highest cost of living. Fortunately, buying a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica won't break the bank and it is fairly cheap.

On our 2-week road trip we drove for example south to surf and spot wildlife along the Pacific coast in Guanacaste, Manuel Antonio, and the Osa Peninsula, before wrapping up with the relaxed Caribbean vibes of Puerto Viejo and were highly depending on mobile internet for directions, finding restaurants, arranging travels on the go, booking tours, etc.

With our SIM card from home we would have ended up with heavy roaming charges. Since we use a lot of data we decided to buy a Claro prepaid SIM card in San Jose on arrival and we were very happy it kept us connected during our Costa Rica journey.

A short list of benefits why it is convenient to stay connected when traveling to Costa Rica:

• Use GPS for directions (Google Maps)
• Use taxi apps to get around safely (Uber)
• Traveling planning while on the go
• Kill time on long bus rides
• Check banking apps

Also don't rely on public WiFi. Most places like restaurants and hotels in Costa Rica have public WiFi, but there is no guarantee it is working nor that it is fast enough for a video call for example. Also keep in mind that roaming the internet on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is very much recommended to protect your data.

Where to buy a SIM card for Costa Rica

San Jose Airport Juan Santamaria

Yes, you can buy a prepaid SIM card for Costa Rica on arrival at San Jose International Airport.

There used to be SIM card shops from Claro and Kolbi near the baggage claim carousels, but unfortunately they are not there anymore in 2026.

However, there is an alternative for buying a SIM card and that is a SIM card vending machine. There are 2 Costa rica SIM card vending machines at the airport.

One SIM card vending machine is in the lobby of Terminal A, International Arrivals and the second vending machine that sells Costa Rica SIM cards for tourists is located in the ConRac Rental Car lobby, which is right across the street from Terminal B.

Although the airport in San Jose is the most convenient place to buy a local prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica, SIM card vending machines are not the most recommended way to get connected. It works, but it is also a bit of a hassle as you have to do the activation and the registration all by yourself.

Phone stores in San Jose

In San Jose city center there are lots of phone stores from the mobile internet providers Kolbi, Liberty and Claro. The best place to find these phone stores is to go to one of the big shopping malls. Multiplaza Escazu is where you will find stores of all 3 mobile internet providers near to each other. This is also where we bought our prepaid SIM card for Costa Rica.

Pretty much all popular Costa Rica tourist destinations have phone shops for buying a prepaid SIM card for tourists.

Traveltomtom recommends buying a SIM card at an official phone store as they do the registration and activation process the proper way. Make sure that everything works before leaving the shop. They take care of your settings, etc.

Online

No doubt the easiest way to get a SIM card for Costa Rica is to order one online. If your phone is eSIM compatible then simply order an eSIM for traveling to Costa Rica. Super easy, fast and reliable. Check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Costa Rica.

If your phone is not eSIM compatible then don't worry, you can also order a physical prepaid SIM card card on the internet to stay connected. A pre-activated prepaid SIM card will be delivered to your home address and it is plug and play on arrival in Costa Rica. You can order a physical prepaid SIM card for Costa Rica via SimOptions.

Mobile internet operators in Costa Rica

The 3 main mobile internet providers in Costa Rica are: Kolbi, Liberty and Claro. Liberty took over Movistar a couple years ago. All mobile internet operators in Costa Rica sell prepaid SIM cards for tourists.

In stores in Costa Rica you can now get physical prepaid SIM cards as well as eSIMs.

Prices for prepaid SIM cards are more or less the same, but there is definitely some difference in the mobile data network strength and the 4G/5G coverage. More about that later.

Prepaid SIM card registration in Costa Rica

All prepaid SIM cards in Costa Rica have to be registered with the national regulator SUTEL. Therefore you will need to bring you passport when buying a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica. The registration process takes only a couple minutes. Per passport you can register 5 prepaid SIM cards.

Your name and passport number will be registered to your new physical prepaid SIM card that comes with a Costa Rica phone number that starts with +506.

If for some reason you want to avoid the SIM card registration process then look into ordering an eSIM for Costa Rica on the internet.

Best 4G/5G network in Costa Rica in 2026

To determine the best prepaid SIM card for traveling in Costa Rica we will also have to look at the mobile internet coverage, so let's compare the 4G/5G network of the mobile internet providers in Costa Rica.

Is there 5G in Cost Rica?

Yes. Claro and Liberty has a decent 5G network, but Kolbi still does not offer much 5G around Costa Rica.

There are detailed network coverage maps for Costa Rica available via Nperf. These maps show us that Claro has the best mobile data network in Costa Rica and Kolbi the weakest.

Although the overall network coverage of Kolbi is pretty good the 5G network is pretty disappointing. This is also makes me questioning the data speed of Kolbi.

The rural coverage of Liberty is in some places even stronger than Claro, but it is all 4G, no 4G+ or 5G. Claro has the most advanced 4G/5G network in Costa Rica.

Best eSIMs for Costa Rica

The easiest way to get connected when traveling to Costa Rica in 2026 is an eSIM. No more swapping physical prepaid SIM cards or visiting a phone store on arrival in Costa Rica. With an eSIM you arrange everything online.

You order an eSIM for Costa Rica on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Costa Rica eSIM installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in Costa Rica it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

For an answer on all FAQ about using eSIMs check out my guide with everything you need to know before buying an eSIM for Costa Rica.

Sim Local

Sim Local offers the best value eSIM for Costa Rica in 2026.

• 18 GB data for $26.75 USD, valid for 30 days in more than 70 countries, including Costa Rica

This is a data-only eSIM, so it does not include calls or SMS, but at just $1.5 USD per GB it is one of the best eSIM deals for tourists traveling to Costa Rica.

Click here to order a Sim Local eSIM for Costa Rica.

Traveltomtom readers get an extra 15% off on all Sim Local eSIMs when using the coupon code TRAVELTOMTOM at checkout.

Airalo

Although Sim Local has the best value deal for Costa Rica on our recent trip to Costa Rica we also tested the Airalo eSIM and were very happy with the result.

We got ourselves a 5 GB data-only eSIM as a backup. It came in handy straight away on the first day as we arrived late and buying a prepaid SIM card at San Jose Airport was not possible.

Also sometimes in rural areas when there was no signal with our Claro prepaid SIM card we could fall back on our Airalo eSIM as it connects with the Liberty network.

This also was another confirmation that the Liberty network can sometimes be stronger than Claro in rural areas in Costa Rica.

Airalo is a very reputed eSIM provider, in fact the first eSIM provider and market leader. Airalo is very much recommended by Traveltomtom and ordering your eSIM for Costa Rica via Airalo is done fast and easy.

Airalo has more than 25 different eSIM plans for Costa Rica: data-only plans, data, calls & SMS and plans with unlimited data. Here are some examples:

• 5 GB data for 7 days = ~$25 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = ~$34 USD
• 20 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms for 30 days = ~$44USD
• 10 days unlimited data = $43 USD

Click here for more info or to order a Costa Rica eSIM via Airalo.

Get an extra discount of $3 USD on your first Airalo eSIM with the code: TOMTOM3.

Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Costa Rica. For more detailed info check out my Costa Rica eSIM Guide with many more eSIM plans.

My experiences buying a prepaid SIM card in Costa Rica

Here are my experiences of my first visit to Costa Rica a couple years ago. On arrival back then I got a Kolbi SIM card and it worked fine. On the airport in San Jose when I arrived I could unfortunately not buy a Liberty or Claro SIM card, because it was closed and only the Kolbi kiosk was open back then.

It was easy to check my balance with a Kolbi SIM card through calling *888#. You can also send a text with the word SALDO to 8888 after which you receive a text showing your balance.

Back then especially in rural areas the Kolbi signal was very unreliable. This also confirms the conclusion of the network research that Kolbi has the weakest 4G/5G network in Costa Rica.

I also loved how easy it was to recharge your SIM card in Costa Rica. All I had to do was buy a scratch card from a supermarket, convenience store or phone shop. Most of the times I gave the staff cash and my phone number and they did it for me. Including activating the data package.

In my experience, the cell phone service and the Kolbi internet network in Costa Rica was ok, but could have been better. Of course, especially in isolated regions in Costa Rica you will struggle to find a good data connection anyway. Next time when visiting Costa Rica I will buy a Liberty SIM card though as it supposed to have faster data speed and better network coverage.

What was your cell phone experience like in Costa Rica? Feel free to share it all with us in the comment section below. Regardless of whether it was smooth or disastrous.

I hope some of the above tips for buying a SIM card for Costa Rica were helpful. If you have any more questions please leave me a comment below.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of 2026 I have visited more than 165 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Costa Rica!

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