The short answer
The best eSIM for Costa Rica is the one that fits your trip and your networks. For two weeks of photos, maps and social, NUM picks 5 GB for 30 days at $14.49, as of 3 Nov 2026.
| Plans from | $3.79 on 3 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|
| Networks on local plans | Claro 4G |
| A week | 3 GB, 15 days, $7.59 |
| Two weeks | 5 GB, 30 days, $14.49 |
| A month | 10 GB, 30 days, $21.69 |
| Longer | 20 GB, 90 days, $72.59 (regional plan, 127 countries) |
| Phone number | None, data only |
| Payment | Apple Pay, Google Pay or card |
A regional plan may list fewer networks here than a local plan. If you need a particular network, check that plan’s network list in the shop before you pay.
Coverage in Costa Rica: what to know
Opensignal's late-2022 report found Claro ahead on 4G availability, Liberty (ex-Movistar) on 4G coverage experience, and Kolbi on overall availability. Claro's time connected was weakest in Limon and Puntarenas provinces; remote areas weren't measured.
Checked 3 Nov 2026. Source: insights.opensignal.com. Coverage changes, so check your route before you rely on it.
Which Costa Rica eSIM for your trip
- A week$7.593 GB · 15 days
- Two weeks$14.495 GB · 30 days
- A month$21.6910 GB · 30 days
- Longer$72.5920 GB · 90 days
The shop’s pick for each trip length on 3 Nov 2026, for photos, maps and social. Prices in US dollars; the shop always shows today’s price.
Costa Rica data plans, cheapest first
| Data | Valid for | Network | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | Claro 4G | $3.79 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | Claro 4G | $7.59 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | Claro 4G | $7.69 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | Claro 4G | $14.49 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | Claro 4G | $21.69 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | Claro 4G | $39.49 |
| 1 GB | 365 days | Regional plan, 117 countries | $9.29 |
| 20 GB | 90 days | Regional plan, 127 countries | $72.59 |
8 plans in the shop on 3 Nov 2026. See every plan and today’s prices.
How it works
- Pick your trip. Tell the shop how long you’re away and how you use your phone; it picks the plan.
- Pay in seconds. Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. Then open NUM and join free: your install code is waiting in the chat.
- Install at home, switch on when you land. One tap on iPhone or Android, or scan the QR from another screen. Tell us your landing day and we text you the switch-on steps that morning.
Costa Rica eSIM by city
Costa Rica coverage, place by place
| San Jose | A guide describes San Jose as the strongest area, with dense towers and broad LTE and 5G availability. |
|---|---|
| La Fortuna | A guide says La Fortuna is inconsistent, with phones swinging between strong LTE, weak signal or none depending on the trail or viewpoint. |
| Monteverde | A guide says elevation changes and thick cloud forest canopy make Monteverde coverage inconsistent; download offline maps first. |
| Manuel Antonio | A guide reports generally strong LTE near hotels, restaurants and tour pickup points in Manuel Antonio, with possible slowdowns at peak times. |
| Tamarindo | A guide reports generally strong LTE near hotels, restaurants and tour pickup points in Tamarindo, with possible slowdowns at peak times. |
| Puerto Viejo de Talamanca | Limon province, where Claro showed its weakest time connected in Opensignal's late-2022 data. |
From network data, travel guides and traveler reports, checked 3 Nov 2026. Signal changes, so treat these as a guide.
Online as you land in Costa Rica
Switch it on as the plane lands at any of these and you’re online walking off:
Planning Costa Rica
Questions people ask
What is the best eSIM for Costa Rica?
The one that fits your trip and runs on Costa Rica’s main networks (Claro 4G). For a week most people need about 3 GB; for two weeks about 5 GB; for a month of social and video, 10 GB or more. NUM lists 8 plans here and picks one for your trip and how you use your phone.
How much does an eSIM for Costa Rica cost?
On 3 Nov 2026, plans started at $3.79 and went up to $72.59 for the biggest. The shop always shows today’s price, and the price on the pay button is the price you pay.
Which network works well in Costa Rica?
Opensignal's late-2022 report found Claro ahead on 4G availability, Liberty (ex-Movistar) on 4G coverage experience, and Kolbi on overall availability. Claro's time connected was weakest in Limon and Puntarenas provinces; remote areas weren't measured.
Why does my eSIM show another carrier’s name?
Many travel eSIMs are issued by one carrier and roam on local networks, so your phone can show the issuing carrier’s name while your data runs on a local network. Keep data roaming on for the eSIM.
Will it work on my phone?
Dial *#06# on the phone you’re taking. If you see an EID number, it takes an eSIM. Every iPhone from the XR and XS on does, and the SE from 2020, as do Google Pixel 3 and later and Samsung Galaxy S20 and later. The phone must be carrier-unlocked. Not sure? Text PHONE and your model and we’ll check.
When do I install it?
At home, on wifi, before you fly. Then switch it on when you land. Tell us your landing day and we text you the switch-on steps that morning.
Does it come with a phone number?
No. It’s a data-only eSIM. WhatsApp, LINE, iMessage and FaceTime all work over it, and your home number can stay on for calls and codes.
What if it doesn’t work?
If we can’t issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. If it won’t install or connect, text us and we help you get connected.
An eSIM with a concierge inside.
Text NUM a table for tonight, a driver at 6 am or a pharmacy that’s open now. Any language, any hour, on the data you just bought.
Get my Costa Rica eSIM