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🇨🇷Costa Rica
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Best eSIM for Costa Rica · 8 plans

Costa Rica eSIM

Data for Costa Rica on the country’s own networks. Pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card, install in a minute, and keep your home number for calls and codes. Your NUM concierge comes with it.

  • Claro4G

Rather text? Text ESIM COSTA RICA

Pay, then open NUM: your install code is waiting in your chat, and we email it about five minutes after you pay. If we can’t issue it, you get a full refund.

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 4 Nov 2026.

Plans from$3.79 on 4 Nov 2026
Networks on local plansClaro 4G
7 days3 GB, 15 days, $7.59
14 days5 GB, 30 days, $14.49
30 days10 GB, 30 days, $21.69
45+ days20 GB, 90 days, $72.59 (regional plan, 127 countries)
Phone numberNone, data only
PaymentApple 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.

How it works

  1. Pick your trip

    Choose 7, 14 or 30 days. The shop picks the data for how you use your phone, and shows the networks.

  2. Pay in seconds

    Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card. Then open NUM and join free: your install code is waiting in your chat.

  3. Install, then land online

    Install at home on wifi with one tap, switch it on as the plane lands, and you’re online walking off. Your home number stays on for calls and codes.

Costa Rica eSIM for 7, 14 and 30 days

Costa Rica eSIM for 7 days

$7.59

3 GB, valid 15 days on Claro 4G. Enough for maps, rides, messages and photos for a week.

Choose 7 days

Costa Rica eSIM for 14 days

$14.49

5 GB, valid 30 days on Claro 4G. Room for social, photos and a few video calls over two weeks.

Choose 14 days

Costa Rica eSIM for 30 days

$21.69

10 GB, valid 30 days on Claro 4G. A month of everyday use, with some streaming and hotspot.

Choose 30 days

Costa Rica eSIM for longer trips

$72.59

20 GB, valid 90 days, a regional plan covering 127 countries. For long stays, remote work and heavy use.

Choose longer trips

NUM’s pick for each trip length on 4 Nov 2026, for photos, maps and social. Prices in US dollars; the price on the pay button is the price you pay.

Costa Rica data plans and prices

DataValid forNetworkPricePer GB
1 GB7 daysClaro 4G$3.79$3.79
3 GB15 daysClaro 4G$7.59$2.53
3 GB30 daysClaro 4G$7.69$2.56
5 GB30 daysClaro 4G$14.49$2.90
10 GB30 daysClaro 4G$21.69$2.17
20 GB30 daysClaro 4G$39.49$1.97
1 GB365 daysRegional plan, 117 countries$9.29$9.29
20 GB90 daysRegional plan, 127 countries$72.59$3.63
Costa Rica eSIM price per GBPrice per GB for each Costa Rica plan: 1 GB for 7 days, $3.79, about $3.79 a GB; 3 GB for 15 days, $7.59, about $2.53 a GB; 3 GB for 30 days, $7.69, about $2.56 a GB; 5 GB for 30 days, $14.49, about $2.90 a GB; 10 GB for 30 days, $21.69, about $2.17 a GB; 20 GB for 30 days, $39.49, about $1.97 a GB.1 GB · 7 days$3.79/GB3 GB · 15 days$2.53/GB3 GB · 30 days$2.56/GB5 GB · 30 days$2.90/GB10 GB · 30 days$2.17/GB20 GB · 30 days$1.97/GB
Shorter bar, less money per GB. The highlighted plan costs the least per GB in this list.

8 plans in the shop on 4 Nov 2026. See every plan and today’s prices.

How much data do you need in Costa Rica?

Estimated data a day in Costa Rica, by activityEstimated data a day: Maps and directions, 5–10 MB an hour, about 15 MB for 2 hours a day; Messages and browsing, 10–50 MB an hour, about 60 MB for 2 hours a day; Social feeds, 100–600 MB an hour, about 350 MB for 1 hour a day; Video calls home, 500 MB–1.5 GB an hour, about 500 MB for 0.5 hours a day; Streaming video, 300 MB–2 GB an hour, about 1000 MB for 1 hour a day.Maps and directions~15 MBMessages and browsing~60 MBSocial feeds~350 MBVideo calls home~500 MBStreaming video~1 GB
Estimates: two hours of maps and of messages, an hour of social, half an hour of video calls, an hour of video. Per-hour figures from esimcard.com; your phone and apps will differ.
Estimated data for a trip, by how you use your phone
How you use it7 days14 days30 days
Maps and messages1.4 GB2.8 GB6 GB
Plus social2.8 GB5.6 GB12 GB
Lots of video11 GB21 GB45 GB

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.

Costa Rica eSIM by city

Costa Rica coverage, place by place

San JoseA guide describes San Jose as the strongest area, with dense towers and broad LTE and 5G availability.
La FortunaA guide says La Fortuna is inconsistent, with phones swinging between strong LTE, weak signal or none depending on the trail or viewpoint.
MonteverdeA guide says elevation changes and thick cloud forest canopy make Monteverde coverage inconsistent; download offline maps first.
Manuel AntonioA guide reports generally strong LTE near hotels, restaurants and tour pickup points in Manuel Antonio, with possible slowdowns at peak times.
TamarindoA guide reports generally strong LTE near hotels, restaurants and tour pickup points in Tamarindo, with possible slowdowns at peak times.
Puerto Viejo de TalamancaLimon 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

One eSIM for North America

Crossing borders? A regional plan covers this country and its neighbours on one eSIM. Each plan says how many countries it covers.

Nearby destinations

eSIMs for other trips

Questions people ask about a Costa Rica eSIM

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 4 Nov 2026, plans started at $3.79 and went up to $72.59 for the biggest. NUM’s 7-day pick was 3 GB for $7.59, the 14-day pick 5 GB for $14.49 and the 30-day pick 10 GB for $21.69. The shop always shows today’s price, and the price on the pay button is the price you pay.

How much data do I need for Costa Rica?

As an estimate: maps and messages use about 0.2 GB a day, adding social feeds about 0.4 GB, and video calls or streaming 1.5 GB or more. So a week of everyday use is about 3 GB, two weeks about 5 GB, and a month 10 GB or more.

Is there an unlimited eSIM for Costa Rica?

Not on 4 Nov 2026. The plans for Costa Rica have a set amount of data; you can add more to the same eSIM from your order page if you run low.

Is an eSIM better than roaming in Costa Rica?

For data, usually yes: a travel eSIM is prepaid, so there is no bill afterwards, and you choose the amount before you go. Your home carrier’s roaming can still be handy for calls and texts; keep your home line on for those and turn its data roaming off.

Should I get a local SIM card in Costa Rica instead?

A local SIM can give you a local number, but you queue for it after you land and swap out your home SIM. An eSIM installs before you fly, works as the plane lands, and leaves your home SIM in place for calls and bank codes.

Does a Costa Rica eSIM work everywhere in the country?

It works wherever Costa Rica’s networks (Claro 4G) reach. Cities and main roads are well covered; remote islands, mountains and parks can have weak or no signal, so download offline maps before you go.

Will my Costa Rica eSIM work in neighbouring countries?

A Costa Rica plan works in Costa Rica only. For several countries, a North America regional plan covers them on one eSIM; each plan lists the countries it covers.

When do the days start counting?

Install it at home on wifi; switch the line on when you land. Each plan in the shop says when its validity starts, so check that before you pay if you are installing well ahead.

Can I use it as a hotspot?

Hotspot works on most plans, so one eSIM can get a laptop or a travel partner online too.

Will I be online when I land?

Install the eSIM at home on wifi, then switch the line on as the plane lands at San José (Alajuela) (SJO), Liberia (LIR). You are online walking off the plane, with no SIM counter and no airport wifi.

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.

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