Banking, budgeting & financial foundations

Costa Rican banks offer accounts to residents and, with limitations, to some non-residents; requirements change and typically include identification, proof of funds origin and in-person steps. Many newcomers keep their home-country accounts and use transfer services for moving money, at least initially.

US dollars and colones both circulate. Rent and larger transactions are often in dollars; local shops, sodas and services price in colones. Paying in colones usually gets the fairer price. Ask which currency a price is in before comparing.

• Keep a home-country account active for obligations there.
• Use a low-fee transfer service rather than repeated wire transfers.
• Carry modest cash; cards are accepted widely in towns, less so rurally.
• SINPE Móvil — the local instant phone-payment system — requires a Costa Rican bank account.