COSTA RICA eSIM

A Costa Rica eSIM that is ready before you land.

Use maps, messages, ride-hailing and check-in from arrival. NXTL connects across Costa Rica’s supported networks, charges only for the data you use and keeps every unused balance ready for your next stop.

Get NXTL + $10.00 data — $11.99 Estimate my Costa Rica data

One reusable eSIM · No monthly fee · Balance never expires

Scenic aerial view of Guanacaste Province coastline in Costa Rica, showcasing vibrant blue waters and rugged shorelines.
Costa Rica (CR)
5G LTE
Data rate
From $3.09 / GB
3 national networks Lowest rate: Telefonica
BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Mobile data in Costa Rica, without the first-day errand.

Costa Rica links San José hub days with Arenal volcano lodges, Manuel Antonio wildlife and Guanacaste beaches reached via Liberia airport. Mobile data keeps Waze-friendly driving directions, park-entry QR codes and surf-cam checks working before lodge Wi-Fi. That is what NXTL is for. One eSIM for Costa Rica and 180+ other destinations, billed per gigabyte as you go, with leftover balance that never expires. Connect through Telefonica, Claro, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad ICE when listed, keep your usual number for calls and bank texts, and skip buying plastic SIMs in San José or Liberia.

CURRENT COSTA RICA RATES

Three networks. Start with the lowest-priced connection.

Data is charged per GB from your prepaid balance. NXTL's Cheapest preference prioritises the lowest-priced supported network available; you can still choose another listed network manually in the app.

Network Listed technology Current rate per GB
Telefonica Lowest rate
5G LTE
$3.09 / GB
Claro
LTE
$8.06 / GB
Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad ICE
LTE
$162.78 / GB

Your actual charge follows the network used. Data is metered in 1 KB increments at that network’s listed per-GB rate, so you pay only for the data used—not a full gigabyte. Keeping Cheapest preference on helps NXTL prioritise the lowest-priced supported connection available.

View full data pricing directory →
COSTA RICA TRIP ESTIMATE

Estimate your Costa Rica data in seconds.

Calculate your estimated data use based on trip length and habits, or calculate by exact gigabytes.

7 days
Itinerary calculation Cheapest (Telefonica)
Estimated data 4.9 GB
Applied rate per GB $3.09
Estimated usage cost $15.15
Starter package balance $10.00

Planning estimate only. Usage is billed proportionally in 1 KB increments at the connected network's current rate.

Get NXTL + $10.00 data — $11.99

Planning estimate only. NXTL bills for measured usage at your connected network's current per-GB rate. Unused balance never expires.

WHY NXTL HERE

Built for a Costa Rica trip that may not stop in Costa Rica.

Infrastructure that follows how travellers explore Costa Rica and keep moving afterwards.

Three national networks, lowest rate first

Connect to Telefonica, Claro, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad ICE. NXTL's Cheapest preference routes your device to the lowest-priced available connection, with manual operator override available in the app.

Fast 5G in cities, resilient 4G fallback

5G is shown only where the live network records confirm it, with LTE fallback on the same eSIM across Costa Rica.

Same eSIM continues across borders

Your connection does not restart at the border. Continue into Nicaragua or Panama — the same installed eSIM and prepaid balance keep working with no new profile to install.

One reusable eSIM profile. No monthly subscription, no card swapping, and your balance never expires.

COSTA RICA CONNECTIVITY GUIDE

Where mobile data works best — and where terrain changes the picture.

Practical guidance on mobile coverage, travel corridors, arrival airports and local SIM requirements in Costa Rica.

Kölbi, Liberty and Claro cover the Central Valley and both coasts on 4G; remote Osa Peninsula lodges and cloud-forest trails can weaken. Mountain roads between La Fortuna and Monteverde have brief dead zones. When you use NXTL in Costa Rica, your phone attaches to local networks such as Telefonica, Claro, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad ICE; the live table on this page is the current list.

Setup takes minutes at home. For Costa Rica, install NXTL while you still have reliable Wi-Fi, keep your home line active for calls and bank texts, and switch on eSIM data when you land (for example via Juan Santamaría (SJO)) so you can navigate straight to San José. Top up later if you need more; unused balance stays yours.

Prepaid SIMs are sold at SJO, LIR and pharmacy chains with passport ID. Plans are tourist-friendly and often include a local number for WhatsApp hosts. NXTL is the lower-friction option for most visitors to Costa Rica. You are not shopping for a SIM in San José after a long flight — the eSIM is already on your phone, billed pay-as-you-go, with credit that carries to your next destination.

The reason travellers choose NXTL for Costa Rica — and for trips that do not stop there — is continuity. One eSIM, pay-as-you-go pricing, no expiry, and no new SIM when you leave San José for the next country. Your leftover credit is still waiting.

Rainy-season landslides can reroute buses overnight, and operators often message changes only by phone or WhatsApp. That is where NXTL helps in Costa Rica: one eSIM ready before you arrive, billed only for the data you actually use.

YOUR OPTIONS IN COSTA RICA

Skip the arrival-hall SIM decision.

Prepaid SIMs are sold at SJO, LIR and pharmacy chains with passport ID. Plans are tourist-friendly and often include a local number for WhatsApp hosts. Most holiday and business trips to Costa Rica do not need a local number. NXTL covers the data side cleanly so you can spend time on the trip, not on SIM paperwork in San José.

Connectivity option Data pricing model Identity paperwork Keep home number Multi-country ready
NXTL Global eSIM Recommended
Pay-as-you-go from $3.09/GB None (Digital data profile) Yes (Dual SIM line) Yes (180+)
Home plan roaming Daily roaming pass (varies by carrier) Already verified Yes Carrier dependent
Airport SIM counter Tourist package (varies by kiosk/carrier) Identity registration (in store) No (SIM swap) Costa Rica only / limited regional roaming
Local Costa Rica prepaid SIM Local monthly bundle (varies by operator) Identity registration (requirements vary by operator) No (SIM swap) Limited regional roaming rules
Fixed travel eSIM package Fixed GB expiring in 7–30 days None Yes New eSIM needed per country
Independent comparisons:
NXTL vs Airalo NXTL vs Nomad NXTL vs Holafly View all eSIM comparisons →
NEXT STOP

Costa Rica may be one stop. Your eSIM keeps going.

The same NXTL eSIM and prepaid balance follow you across borders with no new profile to install or separate bundle to purchase.

Nicaragua Shares a land border
Panama Shares a land border
READY BEFORE DEPARTURE

Set up NXTL before Costa Rica.

Three simple steps to arrive in Costa Rica with high-speed mobile data already working.

01

Buy and open NXTL

Purchase the Global eSIM online, then open the NXTL App or access your account from the order confirmation email.

02

Install while you have Wi-Fi

Use the in-app installation action or scan the QR code before you leave home, following the simple device prompts.

03

Turn it on in Costa Rica

Select NXTL for mobile data and enable data roaming when you land. Keep your domestic SIM active if you still need calls or SMS.

Read the step-by-step device installation guide →
COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about Costa Rica eSIM data.

Networks, coverage and pay-as-you-go billing for Costa Rica.

Does an eSIM from NXTL work in Costa Rica?

Yes, where Costa Rica is in NXTL coverage. Your phone connects to local networks listed on this page — often Telefonica, Claro, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad ICE — including everyday use in places like San José.

How much does data cost in Costa Rica?

Rates for Costa Rica are shown live on this page and on the pricing page because they change over time. NXTL is pay-as-you-go: you only pay for the data you use.

Do I need ID registration for a data eSIM in Costa Rica?

NXTL’s travel eSIM does not give you a local Costa Rica phone number, so you skip the shop ID process that local prepaid SIMs usually need. Keep your usual number for calls and bank texts.

When should I install my Costa Rica eSIM?

Install on Wi-Fi before you fly. Enable data after you land — for example at Juan Santamaría (SJO) — so you are not relying on airport Wi-Fi.

Does unused balance expire after Costa Rica?

No. Credit left after Costa Rica stays in your NXTL account with no expiry date, ready for later trips where NXTL has coverage.

Can I use the same eSIM after leaving Costa Rica?

Yes. The same NXTL eSIM and balance keep working in other covered countries, so Costa Rica does not have to be a disposable tourist SIM.

Why choose NXTL instead of a local SIM in Costa Rica?

A local SIM can be right for a long stay with lots of local calls. For most visits to Costa Rica, NXTL is simpler: install before you travel, pay as you go, skip the desk, and keep leftover credit for the next country.

Costa Rica connectivity guidance reviewed by NXTL editorial · 28 July 2026

Official sources and coverage checkers (3 references)
Beautiful sunset over a tranquil beach in Costa Rica, capturing vibrant reflections and serene atmosphere.
COSTA RICA, SORTED

Land with data. Keep what you do not use.

Get the NXTL Global eSIM with $10.00 prepaid data balance ready for Costa Rica. After the trip, the same eSIM and every unused amount stay ready for your next supported destination.

Get NXTL + $10.00 data — $11.99 Compare Costa Rica rates

One-time purchase · No monthly subscription · Balance never expires