Why an eSIM is Recommended for Costa Rica
No Free EU Roaming
Unlike European countries, Costa Rica does not benefit from free EU roaming. Your home plan will be expensive: between $2 and $5 per MB depending on your carrier. For a one-week trip with moderate usage (browsing, social media), you can easily spend $50 to $100 on roaming.
Free WiFi vs eSIM
Free WiFi is available in Costa Rican hotels and cafes, but it has risks:
- Security: unsecured public networks, hacking risks
- Reliability: unstable connections, frequent dropouts
- Mobility: impossible to use while traveling (transport, national parks, remote areas)
An eSIM offers secure and reliable connectivity everywhere, even in national parks and remote areas.
Network Coverage in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has good 4G coverage (85%) in populated areas thanks to three major carriers:
| Carrier |
Coverage |
5G |
Market Share |
Used by |
| Kolbi |
85% |
No |
50% (leader) |
Airalo, GoMoWorld |
| Claro |
80% |
No |
30% |
LinkeSIM, Saily |
| Movistar |
75% |
No |
20% |
Holafly |
Coverage by destination
- San José: excellent 4G coverage throughout the capital
- La Fortuna (Arenal): good coverage in the town
- Monteverde: variable coverage, generally good in the town
- Manuel Antonio: good coverage in the park and beaches
- Tamarindo: good coverage in the town and beaches
- National parks: variable, limited in remote areas
- Rural areas: variable, limited in remote mountain areas
How to Install Your Costa Rica eSIM
- Purchase your plan (QR code received by email in 2 min)
- Install 24-48h before departure from your WiFi
- Activate upon arrival in Costa Rica (timer starts)
- Keep your home SIM for calls and texts
Compatibility: iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+, Xiaomi 12+, OnePlus 8+
Best Costa Rica eSIM 2026
<BlogSummaryTable
title="Top 5 Costa Rica eSIM 2026"
countryCode="CR"
countrySlug="costa-rica"
plans={[
{
rank: 1,
providerId: "gomoworld",
data: "5 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$7",
highlight: "Best value for money",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 2,
providerId: "airalo",
data: "5 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$8",
highlight: "Global leader",
promoCode: "ESIMP15",
},
{
rank: 3,
providerId: "holafly",
data: "Unlimited",
duration: "15 days",
price: "$50",
highlight: "Unlimited data + hotspot",
},
{
rank: 4,
providerId: "saily",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$6",
highlight: "NordVPN included",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 5,
providerId: "linkesim",
data: "3 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "~$5",
highlight: "Lowest price",
},
]}
/>
Why these providers?
- GoMoWorld: Kolbi network (leader 50%), code ESIMP (-10%), best value
- Airalo: global leader (8M+ users), Kolbi network, code ESIMP15 (-15%)
- Holafly: unlimited + hotspot, ideal for heavy users and families
- Saily: built-in NordVPN to secure public WiFi connections
- LinkeSIM: cheapest, perfect for budget travelers
Conclusion
For all travelers to Costa Rica, an eSIM is highly recommended as home roaming is very expensive ($2 to $5 per MB).
Best choice: GoMoWorld 5 GB at ~$7 with code ESIMP offers the best value for a typical trip.
For heavy users: Holafly unlimited eliminates any stress, even for streaming and hotspot.
Budget option: LinkeSIM 3 GB at ~$5 remains very economical.
Costa Rica eSIM FAQ
