- Reliability
- High
Overall6.8/10Faster internet than about 70% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- San José offers reliable home broadband speeds (30–50 Mbps average) adequate for video calls and remote work, with fiber optic speeds up to 1 Gbps available in some areas.
- Mobile coverage is strong (4G LTE), with Kolbi having the widest coverage nationwide and Claro offering fastest speeds in urban areas.
- SIM cards are cheap (₡1,000–₡3,000 / $2–$6) and easy to obtain with passport; prepaid plans start at $5 USD for small data allowances.
- Minor service interruptions (1–2 per month) are typical even in San José; keep mobile hotspot as backup for critical work.
- e-SIM not yet available from Kolbi or Claro; physical SIM purchase at airport kiosks, carrier stores, or supermarkets.
- Public WiFi is widely available; always confirm broadband speeds with your accommodation before booking if reliable internet is critical.
SIM Cards
- e-SIM
- Liberty offers e-SIM; Kolbi and Claro do not yet offer e-SIM
- Availability
- Available at carrier stores, supermarkets, electronics shops, and airport kiosks
- Registration
- Passport required; registration takes 10-20 minutes
- SIM Card Cost
- CRC 1,000
Unlimited Monthly
- Includes
- Unlimited data, calls, and SMS (varies by provider)
- Typical Cost USD
- 60-80
Prepaid Plans Examples
Kolbi
- Cost
- CRC 2,500
- Data GB
- 1
- Plan Name
- Example plan
- Duration Days
- 15
Claro
- Cost
- CRC 4,500
- Data GB
- 3
- Plan Name
- Example plan
- Duration Days
- 15
- Free Social Media
- Yes
- International Minutes
- 45
Liberty
- Cost
- CRC 4,500
- Data GB
- 2
- Plan Name
- Example plan
- Duration Days
- 15
- Free Social Media
- Yes
- Calling Minutes Cr
- 45
Mobile Coverage
- 5g Status
- Not yet available as of 2026; still in ICE trials
Networks
Kolbi (ICE)
- Coverage
- Most extensive nationwide coverage; best in remote areas
- Signal Type
- 4G LTE primary; 3G in remote areas
- Strength In San Jose
- Excellent; strongest network signal availability
Claro
- Coverage
- Good in urban and tourist areas; good rural coverage; 89% 4G availability
- Signal Type
- 4G LTE; competitive speeds
- Strength In San Jose
- Excellent; fastest speeds in many metrics
Liberty
- Coverage
- Strong in cities and tourist destinations; less extensive in remote areas
- Signal Type
- 4G LTE
- Strength In San Jose
- Good; adequate coverage
Connectivity Reliability Tier
high
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
San José offers widespread fiber/cable broadband and strong multi-carrier 4G/eSIM coverage with generally reliable service, though occasional outages and DNS/IP issues suggest it falls short of the very top tier.
Home Broadband
- Speed Mbps
- 30-50 Mbps average in San José; up to 1 Gbps fiber available
- Reliability
- Generally reliable in San José; occasional outages typical (1-2 per month); may have DNS or IP blocking issues. Consider backup mobile hotspot.
- Typical Monthly Cost
- CRC 21,990
- Notes
- Prices range $20–$150 USD depending on speed and package. Fiber optic offers fastest speeds in urban San José.
Providers
- Kolbi (ICE)
- Claro
- Cabletica
- Tigo
- Liberty
Technologies
- Fiber optic (fastest and most reliable)
- Cable modem
- DSL
Practical Notes
- Backup Strategy
- Always have backup mobile hotspot ready for outages; ask accommodation for speed confirmation before booking
- Coworking
- WeWork in San José; several condos with dedicated co-working spaces
- Public Wi-Fi
- Available at hotels, cafes, restaurants, airports, parks, and shopping centers
- Best For Nomads
- San José has excellent connectivity. Kolbi best for nationwide use; Claro best for speed in urban areas.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About San José
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.