💰 This page covers what you need on the ground: card acceptance by area, colones vs USD, transport, and onward travel. For Costa Rican ATM networks, tipping norms, and currency overview:
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Order CRC → CEI Currency ExchangeDo You Need Cash in San Jose?
Some. San José is more card-friendly than Costa Rica's beach towns, but sodas (local diners), markets, buses, and small shops still require cash in colones. Carry ₡5,000–20,000 ($9–36) in small bills. Always pay in colones, not USD, for the best rate.
Where You Will Need Cash
Sodas (local diners serving casados). Mercado Central and neighborhood markets. Local buses (exact change or close to it). Small shops and panaderías. Tips at restaurants (10% is standard, usually added as "servicio" but verify). Taxis without card readers (use Uber/DiDi to avoid).
Where Cards Work Fine
Restaurants in Escazú, Barrio Escalante, and San Pedro. Hotels. Uber and DiDi (card through app). Museums (National Museum, Jade Museum, Gold Museum). Supermarkets (AutoMercado, Walmart). Shopping malls. Always select colones (CRC) when the terminal asks.
Colones vs US Dollars
Costa Rica operates on a dual-currency system in practice. The official currency is the colón (CRC), but USD is widely accepted at tourist businesses. For details on when to use each, see the Costa Rica guide.
The Golden Rule
Pay in colones for the best value. When businesses quote in USD and you pay in USD cash, they set their own exchange rate (typically 3–5% worse than the bank rate). When you pay by card in colones, your bank converts at the real rate. When you pay USD cash, the business converts at their rate. The exception: if your card has foreign transaction fees, USD cash at a slight markup may still be cheaper than a 3% FX fee on every transaction.
Paying by Card in San José
San José is more card-friendly than the beach and jungle towns. Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard in Costa Rica (some businesses only accept Visa). Amex is rare. Many card terminals ask you to choose between colones and dollars. Always choose colones to avoid DCC markup. Carry ₡5,000–20,000 ($9–36) for cash-only situations.
Escazú & Santa Ana
The upscale western suburbs where many expats and wealthier Ticos live. Multiplaza Escazú mall, Avenida Escazú, and every restaurant along the main roads accept cards. International restaurants, craft breweries, and cafes are card-friendly. This is the most modern, card-friendly area of the San José metro. Prices are higher than downtown but the experience is comfortable and safe.
Downtown San José
The city center around the National Theatre and Central Avenue. Hotels, the National Museum (₡4,500 entry, card at window), and established restaurants accept cards. The pedestrian boulevard along Avenida Central has shops that mostly accept cards. Smaller lunch spots (sodas), street vendors, and the areas around the bus terminals are cash-heavy.
Mercado Central
San José's bustling central market is a cash experience. The legendary casado lunches (₡3,000–5,000), fresh fruit stands, souvenir shops, and spice vendors all operate in colones cash. This is the best place to eat like a local in San José. Bring ₡5,000–10,000 for a meal and browsing. Watch your belongings in the crowded aisles.
Barrio Escalante
San José's emerging food and craft beer district. The newer restaurants, coffee shops, and bars along Calle 33 and Calle 35 accept cards. This neighborhood has the best dining scene in the city, with everything from Costa Rican fusion to Japanese izakayas. Some smaller cafes and bakeries prefer cash. Bring ₡5,000–10,000 as backup.
San Pedro & UCR Area
The university district has affordable restaurants, bars, and cafes that cater to students. Mall San Pedro accepts cards. The restaurants along the main road accept cards. The smaller student hangouts, pizza joints, and bar crawl spots are mixed. This area has good nightlife at lower prices than Escazú.
ATMs
Best ATMs
The cheapest machines belong to the two state banks, Banco Nacional (BNCR) and Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), which add no operator surcharge on most foreign-card withdrawals. BAC Credomatic has the widest, most reliable network with the best English interface but charges about $5–6 per pull, and Davivienda (the former Scotiabank, which exited Costa Rica in December 2025) runs about $2.50–3. All dispense both colones and USD. Maximum withdrawal is typically ₡100,000–500,000 per transaction. For the full neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown, see our San José ATM guide.
⚠ Choose Colones at the ATM
When a Costa Rican ATM offers to dispense USD or CRC, choose colones unless you specifically need USD for a USD-priced tour or activity. Withdrawing USD from a Costa Rican ATM means the ATM converts at its own rate, which is worse than your bank's rate. Your bank converts colones to your home currency at a better rate.
Paying for Transport
City Buses
San José city buses cost ₡350–600 ($0.65–1.10) and require exact change in colones. No cards, no USD, no change given. Pay the driver when boarding. Keep a stash of ₡500 coins and small bills for bus fares. Buses are cheap and frequent but routes can be confusing. Google Maps has decent bus route coverage for San José.
Uber & Taxis
Uber operates widely in the Central Valley and accepts international credit cards. A ride across San José costs $5–12. Official red taxis use meters (called "maría"). The meter shows colones. Most taxis are cash only. From the airport, official orange taxis have fixed rates ($30–40 to downtown, USD accepted). Uber from the airport costs $12–20 (card).
Intercity Buses
Buses to beach and jungle destinations depart from various terminals around San José. Tickets are purchased at the terminal counter with cash (colones). Some routes now accept cards but do not count on it. La Fortuna/Arenal: ₡2,850 ($5.20), 4 hours. Manuel Antonio: ₡5,000–8,000 ($9.15–14.60), 3.5 hours. Monteverde: ₡2,600 ($4.75), 4.5 hours. Private shuttles (Interbus, Anywhere Costa Rica) can be booked online with a card and cost $50–60 per person.
Airport to City
Juan Santamaría Airport (SJO) is in Alajuela, 20–30 minutes from downtown. Official orange taxis at the airport exit cost $30–40 to San José (USD or colones, sometimes card). Uber from the airport costs $12–20 (pick up at the parking structure, card via app). Public buses to San José run from outside the terminal for ₡600 ($1.10, exact change). Many hotels offer airport pickup.
Tipping in San José
Costa Rica Tipping
Restaurants: a mandatory 10% service charge is added to the bill, plus 13% IVA (tax). Additional tipping is not expected but leaving ₡500–1,000 ($1–2) on the table for good service is a kind gesture.
Taxis: no tip expected. Uber: not expected but you can tip through the app.
Tour guides: $10–20 per person for a full-day tour. This is the one area where tipping is genuinely expected in Costa Rica.
Hotel porters: $1–2 per bag. Housekeeping: $1–2 per night.
Prices in San José
San José is mid-range for Central America. Sodas (local diners) offer incredible value. Costa Rican coffee is world-class and cheap.
| Item | Price (CRC) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Café con leche (local) | ₡1,200–2,000 | $2.20–3.65 |
| Imperial beer (bar) | ₡1,500–2,500 | $2.75–4.60 |
| Specialty coffee | ₡2,000–3,500 | $3.65–6.40 |
| Craft beer (Barrio Escalante) | ₡2,500–4,000 | $4.60–7.30 |
| Casado at a soda | ₡3,000–5,000 | $5.50–9.15 |
| National Museum | ₡4,500 | $8.25 |
| Jade Museum | ₡5,000 | $9.15 |
| Restaurant dinner (main course) | ₡6,000–15,000 | $11–27.45 |
| Gold Museum | ₡7,100 | $13 |
USD estimates based on approximately ₡546 = $1. Rates fluctuate. The casado is the best food value in Costa Rica.
Onward from San José
Most visitors use San José as a gateway, spending 1–2 nights before heading to beaches or jungle. Money tips for onward destinations:
La Fortuna / Arenal
More tourist-oriented, so USD is widely accepted. Hotels and tour operators accept cards. Hot springs entry ($15–85) accepts cards at most locations. Local restaurants (sodas) in town are cash (colones). Hanging bridges and zip lines booked online accept cards. Bring $50–100 equivalent in colones for local dining and transport.
Manuel Antonio
The national park entry is $18 for foreigners (card at the ticket window or online). Restaurants in the Quepos and Manuel Antonio strip accept cards. Beach vendors are cash. Boat tours and snorkeling trips booked through operators accept cards. Bring colones for local restaurants and the bus between Quepos and Manuel Antonio (₡400).
Monteverde
Cloud forest reserve entry is $25 (card at the window). The zip line canopy tours ($50–80) accept cards when booked online. The town of Santa Elena has restaurants that are mixed on cards. Some smaller lodges in the cloud forest are cash-preferred. This is one of the more cash-heavy tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Bring $50–100 equivalent in colones.
San José Quick Reference
| Activity | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escazú dining | ✅ Everywhere | Not needed | Most modern area |
| Barrio Escalante | ✅ Most restaurants | ₡5,000–10,000 | Best food district |
| Mercado Central | ❌ Cash | ₡5,000–10,000 | Colones only, great food |
| City buses | ❌ Exact change | ₡350–600 per ride | Colones coins only |
| Uber | ✅ Card via app | Not needed | Cheaper than taxis |
| Museums | ✅ Most accept cards | ₡5,000 backup | Gold, Jade, National Museum |
| Intercity buses | ❌ Cash at counter | ₡3,000–8,000 | Colones at terminal counter |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use US dollars in Costa Rica?
Yes, widely at tourist businesses. Hotels, tour operators, and upscale restaurants accept USD. However, you get change in colones at a worse rate. For best value, pay in colones with a no-FX-fee card.
Do I need colones?
For the best value, yes. Local sodas, buses, taxis, and markets operate in colones. Carry ₡5,000–20,000 ($9–36) for cash-only situations.
How do I pay for buses?
City buses require exact change in colones (₡350–600). No cards, no USD, no change given. Intercity buses accept cash at the terminal counter.
Should I tip?
Restaurants add a mandatory 10% service charge. Additional tipping is not expected. Tour guides expect $10–20 per person. No tip for taxis.
Is Uber available?
Yes, widely in the Central Valley. Accepts international credit cards. Cheaper and safer than red taxis.
How do I get from the airport?
Orange airport taxis: $30–40. Uber: $12–20 (card). Public bus: ₡600 ($1.10, exact change). Many hotels offer shuttle service.
How expensive is San José?
Moderately priced. Casado lunch ₡3,000–5,000 ($5.50–9). Nice dinner $20–45. Coffee ₡1,200–2,000 ($2.20–3.65). Beer ₡1,500–2,500 ($2.75–4.60).
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Country-specific deep dives for San-Jose: which card to bring, where the no-fee ATMs are at the airport, and how to dodge the local DCC traps.