Santa Teresa Prices 2026: Food, Transport & Daily Costs

Is Santa Teresa expensive?

It can be, especially if you compare it with other parts of Costa Rica. But the final budget changes a lot depending on how you eat, where you stay and whether you rent a vehicle.

These are the numbers we use when friends ask us what to expect. They are references, and each business sets its own prices.

Food

Simple local meal

A casado or gallo pinto can start around ₡4,500 to ₡5,000.

Pizza

Pizza commonly starts around ₡7,000 and goes up depending on the restaurant and what you order.

Breakfast or brunch

For a full breakfast or brunch at a specialty café, a useful reference is around USD 15 to USD 25 per person. A coffee alone costs less.

Dinner

A restaurant dinner often starts around USD 25 to USD 35 per person and can go much higher depending on the place, drinks and what you order.

Taxes and tips

The 13% sales tax is normally included in the price you see, and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. An extra tip is voluntary.

Transport

Shared shuttles currently cost US$50 per person between Santa Teresa and San José or SJO Airport, US$50 between Santa Teresa and Liberia, US$60 to or from Nosara or Monteverde, and US$70 to or from La Fortuna.

For private transfers of 1 to 5 people, current examples from Santa Teresa are US$50 to Cóbano Airport, US$55 to Montezuma, US$60 to Playa Tambor, US$100 to the Paquera Ferry, US$320 to San José, US$300 to Liberia or Tamarindo, US$270 to Sámara, US$320 to Nosara, Monteverde or Jacó, US$350 to Quepos and US$370 to La Fortuna. There is also a US$240 San José option with a vehicle change at the ferry. For 6 or more passengers, the vehicle and price change.

If you stay in Playa Carmen or central Santa Teresa, you may be able to walk more and spend less on daily local transport. See departure times and route details on our transportation pages.

Tours and activities

These are current per person prices for the tours we book. A bioluminescence kayak tour is US$35, and the bioluminescence boat is US$40 in Paquera or US$85 with transport from Santa Teresa. A group surf lesson starts at US$70. The Malpaís zipline is US$65 and a beach horseback ride starts at US$85. Isla Tortuga is US$70 if you meet the boat in Tambor or US$90 with pickup from Santa Teresa. The ATV waterfall tour to Montezuma is US$154 per ATV, for up to two people.

Exact prices and availability are on each page in our Santa Teresa tours.

How to spend less without making the trip less enjoyable

If your accommodation has a kitchen, buy groceries and cook some meals. Then use your restaurant budget for the places you really want to try.

We do this ourselves and still eat out every week.

Accommodation

This is the hardest category to reduce to one useful number. A hostel bed, a small hotel room and a private villa are completely different budgets, and prices move a lot with season and booking dates.

An average would sound precise and tell you nothing, so we are not giving one.

A simple way to build your budget

Start with accommodation and transport. Then decide how many restaurant meals and paid tours you want. Those three decisions usually matter far more than small daily expenses.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do Santa Teresa on a lower budget?

Yes. Stay somewhere walkable, use supermarkets, cook some meals and choose only the tours that matter most to you.

Should I bring cash?

Yes, but you do not need your whole budget in cash. Cards are widely used and some cash is useful for smaller expenses.

For cash, cards and ATMs, see our money guide.