What Is $1 US Worth in Costa Rica?

As of early 2026, $1 US equals approximately 494-496 Costa Rican colones. US dollars are widely accepted throughout Nosara, but paying in colones often gets you a slightly better deal since businesses set their own exchange rates.

Here are some quick conversion points to help you navigate prices:

• $1 USD ≈ 495 CRC
• $10 USD ≈ 4,950 CRC
• $20 USD ≈ 9,900 CRC
• $50 USD ≈ 24,750 CRC
• $100 USD ≈ 49,500 CRC

The practical reality in Nosara: you can use US dollars almost everywhere. Restaurants, tour operators, grocery stores, and most businesses accept dollars and will give you change in colones. It's a tourist-friendly area where dual currency is the norm.

However, businesses that accept dollars typically round the exchange rate in their favor. Over a week's vacation, this can add up. If you're budget-conscious, withdraw colones from ATMs and pay in local currency for the best value.

ATMs are available in Nosara at several banks and the main commercial areas. They dispense both dollars and colones - choose colones for better rates. Most international debit and credit cards work fine, though notify your bank before traveling to avoid fraud blocks. Credit cards are accepted at most established businesses.

Our recommendation: bring some US cash for emergencies and smaller vendors, but use your debit card to withdraw colones as needed. The math is easy: 500 colones ≈ $1 (close enough for quick mental calculations). A 5,000 colones meal is about $10. A 25,000 colones surf lesson is about $50. For more on budgeting, see our guide on whether $500 is enough for a week in Costa Rica.