Connectivity score 66/100; median home broadband around 110 Mbps. Here is how to get a phone working in Costa Rica from the moment you land, and what it costs.
Good to know
- Public Wi-Fi coverage in cafΓ©s, transit and hotels in San JosΓ©.
- Any apps or services that are blocked or throttled, and whether a VPN is needed.
- Emergency numbers and whether they work from a foreign SIM.
Airalo is the world's largest eSIM marketplace β 200+ countries, pay for what you use. Order before you fly and activate on arrival. No physical SIM needed.
Browse Airalo eSIMs for Costa Rica βTwo essentials for expat digital life in Costa Rica β security and privacy, from one account:
Keeps your connection private and bypasses content restrictions. Essential in Costa Rica and wherever you move next. Covers 52 countries.
Get NordVPN βMoving abroad means managing bank accounts, utilities and services across multiple countries. NordPass keeps all your logins secure in one place.
Get NordPass βπ Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page earn The Global Expat Hub a small referral fee at no extra cost to you. Our country scores, ratings and editorial content are never influenced by affiliate or advertising relationships. Learn more.
Official & reference sources
One labelled partner per page. Paid placements never influence the Costa Rica liveability score, safety rating or warnings.