HelloRoam sells 6 Costa Rica eSIM plans on Claro 4G, the one network open to eSIM visitors here, from $6.99 for 1 GB to $51.00 for 20 GB at $2.55/GB. Saily matches that exactly at the 5 GB size, both at $26.99, while Airalo charges $30.00. HelloRoam breaks the tie on terms: hotspot on every plan and a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM against Airalo's 14 days.
ETBy eSIMRated Editorial TeamEditorial Team· Reads every plan a provider publishes for a destination, checks its network list and terms against the provider's own pages, and scores it on eSIMRated's published five-category rubric.||
Key takeaway
This page compares 6 priced eSIM plans for Costa Rica across Claro. HelloRoam's own Costa Rica eSIM starts at $6.99 for 1 GB.
Costa Rica plans compared: HelloRoam at $26.99 for 5 GB, Saily at $26.99
eSIM provider comparison for Costa Rica. Prices verified September 20, 2026.
Provider
Price (5GB)
Coverage
Rating
Best For
HelloRoam
$26.99
Claro
4.9/5
180-day refund
Airalo
$30.00
200+ countries
4.5/5
Most destinations
Holafly
Unlimited
160 countries
4.2/5
Heavy users
Our top 3 picks for Costa Rica
We evaluated 6 eSIM plans available for Costa Rica, comparing them on verified pricing, network coverage, top-up availability, and app quality. Five stood out.
HelloRoam
Verified pricing
$26.99
5 GB / 30 days
Pros: Costa Rica coverage on Claro, hotspot sharing and top-up on every plan, 24/7 support in 63 languages, and a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM. Cons: Newer brand, smaller community than Airalo.
Claro 4G: the one network a Costa Rica eSIM roams on
HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Claro is the one Costa Rican carrier open to international eSIM visitors, which is why HelloRoam roams on it from $6.99 for 1 GB on 4G, alongside state-run Kolbi (ICE) and Movistar which sell no visitor eSIM. Claro covers Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), Liberia (LIR), San Jose's downtown core and the Pacific beach corridor from Jaco to Tamarindo on 4G.
Manuel Antonio's park entrance and Monteverde's main road hold reliable Claro signal. The Osa Peninsula and the Gandoca-Manzanillo jungle are Claro's weakest zones.
Coverage analysis
Claro delivers consistent 4G across San Jose's central districts, the Escazu business district, and the main Route 27 highway to Jaco and Quepos. Manuel Antonio town has solid coverage; the park trails inside do not. Tamarindo, Nosara, and Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula maintain 3G to 4G depending on exact location.
Honest limitation: Claro loses signal inside the Monteverde cloud forest reserve and along the remote Osa Peninsula lodge tracks. Corcovado National Park has no coverage from any carrier.
Activation
Install your e-sim QR code before departure and switch the line on for arrival at Juan Santamaria (SJO) or Daniel Oduber Quiros (LIR) in Liberia. Liberia is the entry point for Guanacaste and the Nicoya beaches. Claro registers your profile automatically on landing. iPhone XS or newer and Android devices from 2020 work with Costa Rica's 4G Band 4 and Band 28.
No physical SIM swap or store visit is required.
Data usage tips
Costa Rica's main navigation app is Waze, not Google Maps, because Waze accounts for local road conditions and flooded routes. Budget 80 to 100 MB per hour for Waze on driving days. WhatsApp video calls with tour guides or accommodations use 100 MB per hour.
Google Translate's offline Spanish pack saves 200 MB of data per week. Offline map downloads (Maps.me works well in rural CR) require 150 to 300 MB upfront but eliminate ongoing navigation data use. A 3 GB plan covers 10 days of moderate travel use.
eSIM plan pricing in Costa Rica
Entry level: Costa Rica 1 GB over 7 days at $6.99 on Claro 4G covers a short beach or city visit. The 2 GB per day option at $7.56 suits unpredictable multi-destination itineraries. Mid tier: 3 GB over 30 days at $9.90, which is $3.30/GB, covers 10-day trips with light use.
The 5 GB plan costs $26.99 and the 10 GB plan $31.49. Extended: 20 GB at $51.00 sets the floor rate of $2.55/GB across the 6 plans. For a three-week eco-tourism circuit HelloRoam's 10 GB plan at $31.49 is the practical pick, while Holafly charges $6.97 for 5 days of unlimited data if the trip is short.
A search for a Costa Rica e SIM returns these same 6 Claro tiers.
HelloRoam's 6 Costa Rica plans on Claro 4G from $6.99
Costa Rica 20GB 30Days
Claro (4G)30 daysTop-up available
$51.00
20 GB · 30 days
Per GB$2.55
TetheringYes
NetworkClaro
Costa Rica 10GB 30Days
Claro (4G)30 daysTop-up available
$31.49
10 GB · 30 days
Per GB$3.15
TetheringYes
NetworkClaro
Costa Rica 3GB 30Days
Claro (4G)30 daysTop-up available
$9.90
3 GB · 30 days
Per GB$3.30
TetheringYes
NetworkClaro
Costa Rica 5GB 30Days
Claro (4G)30 daysTop-up available
$26.99
5 GB · 30 days
Per GB$5.40
TetheringYes
NetworkClaro
Costa Rica 1GB 7Days
Claro (4G)7 daysTop-up available
$6.99
1 GB · 7 days
Per GB$6.99
TetheringYes
NetworkClaro
All eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Prices verified September 20, 2026.
Plan
Network
Validity
Price
Costa Rica 20GB 30Days ⭐
Claro
30 days / 20 GB
$51.00
Costa Rica 10GB 30Days
Claro
30 days / 10 GB
$31.49
Costa Rica 3GB 30Days
Claro
30 days / 3 GB
$9.90
Costa Rica 5GB 30Days
Claro
30 days / 5 GB
$26.99
Costa Rica 1GB 7Days
Claro
7 days / 1 GB
$6.99
Costa Rica 2GB/Day
Claro
1 day / 2 GB per day
$7.56
Prices verified: September 20, 2026
Questions about Costa Rica eSIMs
What is the best eSIM for Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam sells 6 Costa Rica eSIM plans on Claro 4G, from $6.99 for 1 GB to $51.00 for 20 GB at $2.55/GB. Saily ties it exactly at the 5 GB size, both at $26.99, and Airalo charges $30.00. Claro is the one network open to eSIM visitors, so coverage is the same whichever you buy. HelloRoam breaks the tie on terms: hotspot on all 6 plans and a 180-day refund on an unactivated eSIM against Airalo's 14 days.
Which eSIM plans cover Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam lists 6 Costa Rica plans on Claro 4G: 1 GB over 7 days at $6.99, 3 GB at $9.90, 5 GB at $26.99, 10 GB at $31.49 and 20 GB at $51.00, plus a 2 GB per day option at $7.56. Saily also sells 5 GB in Costa Rica for $26.99, which is level at that size.
How much does an eSIM for Costa Rica cost?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Costa Rica eSIM pricing starts at $6.99 for 1 GB on Claro 4G. Fixed tiers run 3 GB at $9.90, 5 GB at $26.99, 10 GB at $31.49 and 20 GB at $51.00. The floor rate across those 6 plans is $2.55/GB. Airalo sells 5 GB in Costa Rica for $30.00, and prices were verified in May 2026.
How do I activate an eSIM in Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. A Costa Rica eSIM installs from a QR code with no store visit, and Claro registers the profile on landing. iPhone XS or newer and Android devices from 2020 onward work with Costa Rica's 4G bands. For Guanacaste and Nicoya destinations, LIR in Liberia is closer than SJO and connects to Claro on arrival across all 6 plans.
How much data do I need in Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Light use of Waze, WhatsApp and offline maps runs 1 to 2 GB per week. Moderate use with social media and daily navigation runs 3 to 4 GB per week. Heavy hotspot and streaming use runs 6 to 8 GB per week. A 10-day eco-tourism trip typically needs 3 GB total with offline maps, which the $9.90 plan covers.
Which networks do eSIMs use in Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Costa Rica eSIM visitor plans connect to Claro on 4G. Claro is one of 3 operators in the country, alongside state-owned Kolbi (ICE) and Movistar, neither of which sells a visitor eSIM. Claro's 4G covers San Jose, the Pacific coast from Jaco to Tamarindo, and inland towns including La Fortuna, Liberia and Quepos. No 5G is available to visitor plans.
Does my phone support eSIM in Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. iPhone XS or newer, Google Pixel 4 or newer and Samsung Galaxy S20 or newer support eSIM in Costa Rica on Claro's 4G Band 4 and Band 28. Your device must be carrier-unlocked, and a phone locked to a US home carrier needs unlocking first. Costa Rica uses standard LTE bands compatible with most flagship phones from 2019 onward.
Which Costa Rica plan fits my trip length?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Six Costa Rica plans run on Claro 4G. Short stays under 7 days start with 1 GB at $6.99. Week-long beach trips fit 3 GB over 30 days at $9.90. Three-week circuits through Manuel Antonio, Arenal and Tortuguero suit the 10 GB plan at $31.49. Daily travelers take the 2 GB per day option at $7.56.
Which carriers support eSIM in Costa Rica?
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Claro is the carrier supporting visitor eSIM plans in Costa Rica, and a HelloRoam eSIM roams on it across all 6 tiers. Claro Costa Rica runs 4G with no 5G for visitor products. State carrier Kolbi (ICE) has the widest national reach, including remote eco-lodge areas, but sells no eSIM. Movistar Costa Rica lacks a visitor eSIM as well.
Should I install a Costa Rica eSIM before flying?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. Yes. Install the eSIM before departure and the line is live at SJO or LIR when you land, with no counter to find. Airport kiosks at Juan Santamaria sell physical Kolbi and Claro SIMs, which need a passport and a shop interaction. The 6 eSIM plans start at $6.99 for 1 GB and need neither.
Is an eSIM or SIM card better for Costa Rica?
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HelloRoam sells eSIM plans for Costa Rica. An eSIM installs before departure and keeps your home number active for incoming calls, which a swapped physical SIM does not. Plans start at $6.99 for 1 GB on Claro 4G. The physical-SIM advantage is real: Kolbi (ICE) reaches remote eco-lodge areas Claro does not, and Kolbi sells no eSIM to visitors.
Provider reviews
Read our in-depth reviews of the top eSIM providers available in Costa Rica.
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