Money & Payments in San José (2026)

Local Currency: CRC

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: tradingeconomics.com, twoweeksincostarica.com

Good to know

Good to Know

A 10% mandatory service charge is already added to sit-down restaurant bills by law—if you add a card tip on top, you may pay ~22% total in service/tips. Check your bill.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but American Express only works at upscale establishments; Discover is rarely accepted.
Public buses in San Jose only accept CRC colones when you pay on boarding—no USD or cards accepted.
USD bills larger than $20 are hard to break; bring $5, $10, and $20 denominations only. Bills must be in perfect condition.
Tipping is optional outside restaurants (where 10% is mandatory), but appreciated in tourism-heavy San Jose, especially for guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
ATM fees vary widely; out-of-network fees typically ₡1,500–3,000 ($3–6). Avoid airport ATMs and high-fee convenience store machines.
Always decline 'dynamic currency conversion' at ATMs—choose CRC instead to avoid poor exchange rates.
Tolls accept USD but offer poor exchange rates; use CRC or credit card instead for better value.

Bank Account Setup

For Residents

Timeline: Private banks: few business days. State banks: up to 2 weeks.
Documents Needed: DIMEX (official immigration ID), proof of residency, completed KYC form
Currencies Available: CRC (colónes), USD, sometimes EUR

For Non Residents

Timeline: Same-day to 1–2+ weeks depending on KYC complexity
Restrictions: Non-residents may face account type limitations (e.g., savings accounts only) and monthly deposit caps (~$1,500 USD) unless proof of income/pension provided
Documents Needed: Valid passport with entry stamp, KYC form, proof of income, proof of address from home country
In Person Requirement: Must visit branch in person
Note: Some banks view Digital Nomad Visa positively

Recommended Banks

For Expats

Davivienda

Features: Specialized business accounts, merchant services, dedicated account managers for international transactions
Strength: Business-focused

Scotiabank

Features: Visitor Account (passport + proof of income + proof of address), 3–5 day processing
Strength: Tourist/short-term friendly

Bac San Jose

Features: Expat Package with checking and savings account, English-language services, mobile app, simplified documentation for foreigners
Strength: Most comprehensive expat services

State Banks

Banco Nacional

Features: Accepts non-residents with conditions (may require letter from existing account holder)
Strength: Broad national presence

Banco De Costa Rica

Features: Only public bank to openly accept non-resident foreigners (passport + cellphone number)
Strength: Accessible entry point

ATM Info

Availability: Abundant in San Jose and urban areas; found outside banks, malls, shopping plazas, grocery stores, and airports.
Withdrawal Limits: Varies by bank; some ATMs have limits around $100 USD equivalent; others higher. Check before finalizing transaction.
Currencies Dispensed: ATMs dispense both CRC and USD.

ATM Fees

Airport ATMs: Higher fees than city ATMs; avoid if possible.
Foreign Card Fees: Many banks charge out-of-network fees to foreign cardholders. Banco Nacional reportedly has no out-of-network fees.
Out Of Network Domestic: CRC 1,500
Dynamic Currency Conversion Warning: Some ATMs offer conversion in your home currency; always decline and choose CRC instead to avoid poor exchange rates and extra fees.

Major Banks

Banco Nacional
Banco de Costa Rica (BCR)
Banco Popular
Banco BAC Credomatic
Banco Davivienda
Banco Promerica
Scotiabank

Tipping Norms

Currency Preference: Tip in CRC (local currency preferred). USD also accepted but CRC preferred to avoid currency exchange fees for workers.
Cultural Context: Tipping is not deeply rooted in Costa Rican culture (locals rarely tip beyond included charges). However, in tourist-heavy areas like San Jose, tipping has become more expected among international visitors. Tipping workers in tourism relies on gratuities for up to 50% of pay.

Hotels

Bar Staff: $1 per simple drink or round up for fancier cocktails.
Housekeeping: $2–5 per day; leave each morning in visible spot (pillow, etc.)
Bellhops Porters: $1–2 per bag (up to $3 if bag is heavy)
Hotel Staff General: Tipping is appreciated but not required.

Restaurants

Additional Tipping: Optional. Additional tip appreciated for exceptional service.
Mandatory Service Charge: 10% service charge ('servicio' or 'propina') is automatically added to sit-down restaurant bills by law, in addition to 13% sales tax.
Note: 10% service charge + 13% tax + additional 10% tip can total ~22.3% total cost. Keep this in mind when calculating tip amounts.

Other Services

Massage Spa: 10–15% if no service charge already included.
Taxi Drivers: Not customary for locals; optional for tourists. If tipping, use CRC.
Car Watching Attendants: $1 or less typical.

Tourism Services

Drivers: $2–5 per passenger for short assistance; 5–10% for longer trips or better entertainment.
Adventure Guides: Slightly more than tour guides (they hold your life in their hands).
Guides Naturalist: Approximately $10 per guest in large groups; $10–50 per guest in smaller groups.
Tour Guides General: If service stands out, $10–20 for half-day or full-day.
Instructors Watersports: $10–20 for individual/couple; $5–10 per guest in groups.

Local Currency

CRC

Card Acceptance

Overall Status: Widely accepted
Merchant Surcharge: Some merchants may add 3-5% card processing fee; this is not common but can happen with smaller stores and operators.

Debit Cards

Exception: Rental car agencies require credit card (not debit) for deposit hold.
Acceptance: Widely accepted, same as credit cards

Amex Discover

Acceptance: Limited
Notes: American Express and Discover accepted only at high-end establishments. Amex much less common than Visa/Mastercard.

Visa Mastercard

Acceptance: Very widely accepted at restaurants, hotels, tour offices, grocery stores, convenience stores, most shops, toll booths, and even small businesses.
Notes: Visa is most widely accepted. Most card readers offer tap-to-pay chip option.

USD Exchange Rate

Currency Crc: CRC

General Payment Guidance

Cash Handling: Withdraw colones from ATMs rather than exchanging USD at airport (airport rates are poor). Bank exchange rates are best.
USD Bill Quality: Bills must be in pristine condition with no tears, folds, marks, stains, or misprints. Denominations larger than $20 are difficult to break; $50+ bills often not accepted.
Best Practice Mix: Carry pristine USD in small bills ($5, $10, $20), some CRC colones for local transactions, and a credit card for larger purchases and car rentals.
Credit Card Benefits: Using a credit/debit card for purchases in CRC gets you the daily bank exchange rate, preventing overstroke on merchant-set rates.

Both residents and non-residents can open bank accounts in Costa Rica. Private banks offer better English support and faster service; state banks have broader branch coverage but longer wait times.

Account Fees

Opening Fees: Often low or waived
ATM Withdrawals: Fee charged for withdrawals from other banks' ATMs
Maintenance Fees: Small monthly fees, sometimes waived with minimum balance
Minimum Deposits: CRC 10,000
Typically $20–$100 USD equivalent
International Transfers: Expensive to transfer money from home country banks

Practical Tips

Schedule appointments to avoid long lines. Private banks faster but fewer ATMs. State banks more branches but slower. English more common at private banks. Debit cards standard; credit cards require established residency and local credit history.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments 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.

Money & Payments in San José