Costa Rica, a verdant paradise in Central America, is renowned for its rich biodiversity, stunning landscapes, and eco-friendly ethos. From the lush rainforests of the Osa Peninsula to the pristine beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula, and from the vibrant wildlife of Monteverde to the serene beauty of Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica offers an eco-adventure for every nature lover. To ensure a seamless experience in this tropical haven, it’s crucial to understand the local currency and cash, cash and ATMs in Costa Rica, and accepted payment options. This guide will equip you with the financial insights needed to immerse yourself in the pura vida lifestyle of Costa Rica with peace of mind.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to save money for travelling in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s banking network includes a good number of ATMs in cities and some in smaller towns. Don’t expect to find them in remote areas. They’re commonly located at airports, markets, main tourist streets, malls, and banks.
You can find ATMs at:
- major transport hubs, central markets, busy tourist streets, malls, and near banks.,
- Central Markets,
- Busy tourist streets,
- Malls,
- Near Banks.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Small airports on islands,
- Bus stops in the area,
- The villages’ interiors,
- Hidden away in small towns, away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets,
- Remote resorts and retreats.
Best ATMs to use in Costa Rica for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Costa Rica are those owned by popular banks such as:
Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), and
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica (BNCR).
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards such as the below, however they come with high ATM fees:
Promerica,
Banco Popular,
Banco BAC, and
Davivienda.
Global ATM alliance: Global ATM Alliance is a partnership among many banks in the world to allow its customers to withdraw cash from all partner banks abroad without any ATM fee. Many banks in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America are part of the Global ATM Alliance, including Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and others. BUT, there is no local bank in Costa Rica part of this network. So don’t rely on this.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Costa Rica, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in CRC).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in Costa Rica, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in CRC’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Costa Rica?
Yes, many types of foreign cards are easily accepted at ATMs in Costa Rica.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Costa Rica.
What are the ATM opening hours?
ATMs – In most cases, yes, they are open around the clock, every day of the year 24×7. You should have no trouble getting to any of them at any hour of the day or night because many of them are self-contained ATMs. Depending on the location, some bank branches may only be open from 9 am to 3 pm.
What do they call ATMs in Costa Rica?
ATMs are known as “ATM” or just with the bank name. Some ATMs also have the word “Cajero” or “Cajero Automatico”.
PIN type
ATMs in Costa Rica primarily accept 4-digit PINs. Longer PINs are generally not accepted. Also, many merchants used old machines which require a magnetic stripe on the card and not just a chip-and-pin card.
Languages at ATMs in Costa Rica
Costa Rican ATMs come with Spanish and English as standard options. If you need assistance with the language, translating in real-time with Google Translate on your phone is a useful strategy, but verify the translations carefully.
You can use Google Translate’s camera feature to get real-time translations of your phone’s menu options to translate the ATM screen. Feel free to take your time and not rush through the transaction. Just keep in mind that these translations may not always be 100% accurate.
Do ATMs in Costa Rica work similarly as other countries?
The ATMs are modern and function similarly to those in major economies. Some of these ATMs take your card completely during the transaction – don’t forget to take it back once you’ve withdrawn your cash in Costa Rica.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in North & Central America.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Costa Rica?
ATMs in Costa Rica dispense the official currency Costa Rican Colón (CRC). A handful of banks at some of their ATMs allow withdrawing USD too.
ATM withdrawal limits in Costa Rica?
ATMs in Costa Rica have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of CRC 100,000 to CRC 500,000 depending on ATM cash (Costa Rican Colon). ATMs typically have a daily withdrawal limit of US$ 1500.
ATM Fees in Costa Rica?
There are some fee-free ATMs in Costa Rica. Some Bank ATMs in Costa Rica charge between US$ 4 to US$ 9 per transaction and some bank ATMs do not charge ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. So, there are some fee-free ATMs you can use in Costa Rica as a foreign cardholder! Note – ATM Fees can be charged in Costa Rican Colon.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Costa Rica – something every traveller handling cash in Costa Rica should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Costa Rica?
- Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
- Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Costa Rica?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Costa Rica. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Costa Rica.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Is it safe to use Costa Rica ATMs?
In Costa Rica, the safety of using ATMs is influenced by their location, the time of day, and the presence of people nearby. Though generally safe, incidents of theft near ATMs have been reported.
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Costa Rica takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, it is possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Costa Rica. Some Bank ATMs in Costa Rica charge between US$ 4 to US$ 9 per transaction and some bank ATMs do not charge ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. So, there are some fee-free ATMs you can use in Costa Rica as a foreign cardholder! Note – ATM Fees can be charged in Costa Rican Colon.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Costa Rica?
Yes. You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Costa Rica
Bitcoin ATMs?
Yes, there are about 5 Bitcoin ATMs in Costa Rica.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Costa Rica
Bank of America: Not present.
Citbank: Not present.
Barclays: None at all.
HSBC: Yes, there are about 3 HSBC ATMs in Cambodia.
Standard Chartered: Not present.
