Last Updated: August 29, 2023
If you’re gearing up for a trip to Costa Rica then you no doubt need an eSIM to stay connected.
A Costa Rica eSIM is a great way to go if you want to save money, time and hassle, while still getting fast data and no roaming costs.
But, which Costa Rica eSIM data plan is right for you?
That is what I am here to help with. Join me as I run through all the best eSims for Costa Rica so that you can travel with the best prepaid eSIMs Costa Rica has to offer.
ESIM Product Comparison
Company
Data
Validity
Price/GB
Price
Airalo
1 GB
7 Days
$9
$9
1 GB
7 Days
$9
$9/GB
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Airalo
2 GB
15 Days
$8.5
$17
2 GB
15 Days
$17
$8.5/GB
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Airalo
3 GB
30 Days
$7.33
$22
3 GB
30 Days
$22
$7.33/GB
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Airalo
5 GB
30 Days
$6.20
$31
5 GB
30 Days
$31
$6.20/GB
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Holafly
Unlimited
5 Days
-
$27
Unlimited
5 Days
$27
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Holafly
Unlimited
7 Days
-
$34
Unlimited
7 Days
$34
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Holafly
Unlimited
10 Days
-
$37
Unlimited
10 Days
$37
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Holafly
Unlimited
15 Days
-
$47
Unlimited
15 Days
$47
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Holafly
Unlimited
20 Days
-
$54
Unlimited
20 Days
$54
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Nomad
1 GB
7 Days
$11
$11
1 GB
7 Days
$11
$11/GB
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Nomad
3 GB
30 Days
$6.67
$20
3 GB
30 Days
$20
$6.67/GB
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Nomad
5 GB
30 Days
$5.6
$28
5 GB
30 Days
$28
$5.6/GB
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Nomad
10 GB
30 Days
$4.5
$45
10 GB
30 Days
$45
$4.5/GB
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Maya Mobile
1 GB
30 Days
$8
$8
1 GB
30 Days
$8
$8/GB
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Maya Mobile
3 GB
30 Days
$5.67
$17
3 GB
30 Days
$17
$5.67/GB
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Maya Mobile
5 GB
30 Days
$5.20
$26
5 GB
30 Days
$26
$5.20/GB
> >
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Maya Mobile
10 GB
30 Days
$5
$50
10 GB
30 Days
$50
$5/GB
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Maya Mobile
Unlimited
30 Days
-
$129
Unlimited
30 Days
$129
> >
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Airalo
Airalo is one of the leading global eSIM providers and they offer an eSIM for pretty much every country in the world. The company prides itself on excellent customer service and ensuring your eSim works throughout your whole trip.
This means you will have both reliable coverage and solid connection speeds while you travel with an Airalo Costa Rica eSim which is provided through Hot Telecom. In fact, Airalo brands their Costa Rica eSim plans as Hot Telecom eSims.
There are a number of Airalo Costa Rica eSIM plans for your iPhone or Android, here they are:
The range of options allows you to pick a plan that matches your data needs and your trip length. The pricing is also competitive and more affordable than most other eSim providers.
However, for heavy users who need more data, a different plan from a different provider might be better.
Pros
- Broad coverage
- Fast 4G/3G connections
- Excellent customer service
- A range of data plans to choose from
- Affordable
Cons
- No unlimited data plans
See Prices on Airalo
Holafly
Holafly is another great eSIM provider that covers the globe and specialises in unlimited data plans for Costa Rica too.
The great thing about Holafly is the unlimited data. So no watching your usage while enjoying your sunny vacation or turtle watching.
Below are Holafly’s Costa Rica eSIM options for unlimited data:
The only downside of Holafly in Costa Rica is that you cannot share your data – so no hotspots or tethering. So, if you are working via your phone or sharing with family, then look at Maya Mobile instead. They allow sharing.
Pros
- Unlimited Data
- Good connection speeds
- Great customer support
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- No hotspots
- No GB only packages
See Prices on Holafly
Nomad
Nomad is another global eSim company that partners with a local network provider on the ground in Costa Rica. They also offer solid 4G/3G speeds, and broad coverage, and their customer support is there to help you with your eSim setup if needed.
Nomad has a range of eSim Costa Rica plans for you to choose from and these include:
It is nice that you can match an eSim plan to your data needs and trip length, sadly their smaller plans are very expensive. But at least their 5GB plan is kind of competitive price-wise.
Pros
- Reliable service
- Good connection speeds
- Broad coverage
- A few plans to choose from
Cons
- A bit expensive
See Prices on Nomad
MayaMobile
MayaMobile is becoming one of the top global eSim providers as they have somehow negotiated better data agreements with local providers in each country to give you more data for less money.
In Costa Rica, they partner with Movistar which offers some of the best coverage and connection speeds around the country and Latin America too.
Here are their Costa Rica eSIM data plans for you:
As you can see, their price per GB is better than all the others featured in the article and you can also get a lot of data, including unlimited data in 17 countries in Latin America if you would like.
Pros
- A lot of plans to choose from
- Very affordable per GB
- Unlimited data available
- Solid 4G connection speeds
Cons
- None I can find
See Prices on MayaMobile
Flexiroam
Flexiroam also provides excellent eSim options for most countries in the world along with good coverage and faster speeds.
But when it comes to Costa Rica, they do not offer an eSim. You have to buy a global eSim which covers multiple countries, 150 in total.
Their plans range from – 150+ Country Data/1GB/15 Days/$19.99 to Latin America/50GB/90 Days/$200.00.
If you are looking for a global or Latin America plan, these are a good option but are not worth it for a Costa Rica eSim.
Pros
- Reliable service
- Good coverage
- Fast connection speeds
- Nice customer service
Cons
- No Costa Rica eSim available
See Prices on Flexiroam
Other eSIMs To Consider
USA eSIMsCanada eSIMsMexico eSIMsCosta Rica eSIMs
Europe eSIMsAsia eSIMsInternational eSIMs
Benefits of Getting an eSim in Costa Rica
The advantages of opting for an eSim in Costa Rica are vast, particularly when compared to the conventional options of data roaming and local sim cards.
What’s more, the benefits are not confined to any particular region – they are universal, and you can have them no matter where in the world you choose to travel.
The convenience that eSims offer is unparalleled – you can purchase and activate them swiftly and smoothly online, without having to waste time by visiting a physical store or standing in a queue.
Upon arrival at your destination, you will be connected instantly without any hassle of finding a local sim card or waiting around so long as you activate your eSim before boarding your flight to Costa Rica.
With eSims, your primary phone number stays intact, so you can stay connected to your critical calls, texts, and banking alerts. Topping up your eSim is also effortless – it can be done online in a jiffy.
Another great benefit is that if you misplace your phone, transferring your eSim to a new device is an anxiety-free process.
The use of eSims also means you will never need to fret about losing your physical sim card, as there is no need to swap sim cards.
Local Mobile Operators Offering eSims in Costa Rica
There are currently only 2 local mobile operators offering eSims in Costa Rica. That being said, this will most likely not take very long to change.
All the eSim providers featured will partner with one of the local mobile operators for their bandwidth, so the idea will certainly catch on.
The local mobile operators offering eSims in Costa Rica include Kolbi and Claro.
Devices Compatible with eSim in Costa Rica
For those of you who are new to eSims – an eSim is an embedded sim card that is built into your device as opposed to a physical sim card that you insert into your phone.
It’s important to keep in mind that not all devices are equipped with eSims, so it’s advisable to verify that your device supports it before making a purchase.
Thankfully, the majority of modern devices are equipped with eSim capabilities, so it’s possible that you already own an eSim-enabled device without having realized it!
Here are some examples of devices that are compatible with eSims:
- iPhone XS, 12, 11, SE (2nd generation), and more recent models
- Samsung Galaxy S21, S20, Note 20, and more recent models
- Google Pixel 5, 4, 3a, and more recent models
- iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd generation), and more recent models
- Apple Watch Series 6, SE, and more recent models
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, Watch Active 2, and more recent models
- Huawei Watch 3 and more recent models
If you’re unsure whether your device can support an eSim, there’s no need to fret! Simply dial *#06# and press the call button to check.
If an eSim identification number (EID) appears, then your device is compatible with an eSim.
Data Needed When Traveling to Costa Rica
How much data you need for your trip to Costa Rica all depends on how much data you usually use at home.
Ordinarily, 5 GB of data per week would suffice for most people. Nevertheless, if you enjoy video streaming or video calls, you might consider selecting a plan that provides 15 GB of data per week.
The last thing you want is to run out of data while traveling around Costa Rica Pakistan, so make sure to check your device’s data usage report to get an idea of how much data you typically use and how much you’ll need for your trip.
The good news is that there are many eSim data plans available in Costa Rica that provide ample data at affordable prices, so you won’t have to worry about going over your limit and incurring extra charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eSim work in Costa Rica?
Yes, eSims do work in Costa Rica and usually just as well as local sim cards as they use local networks to provide you with a data connection.
How much does an eSIM cost in Costa Rica?
eSims cost nothing in Costa Rica as they are included in the data plan that you purchase from one of the eSim providers featured in this article.
How do I activate my eSim in Costa Rica?
Activating your eSim in Costa Rica is easy and here are the steps to follow.
To start with, you’ll need to obtain an activation code from your eSim provider. You’ll usually receive this code in the form of a QR code when you buy the eSim. Once you have it, you’re all set to proceed.
Next, go online and open up your device’s settings app, look for the option to add a new cellular plan or eSim, and click on the eSim option.
The next step will be to enter the activation code or scan the QR code that you received. Then, simply follow any additional instructions as needed, and you’ll be good to go with your eSim for data.
In case you encounter any issues during the process, you can always reach out to the customer support team for assistance.
Does Kolbi have eSIM in Costa Rica?
Yes, Kolbi is one of the local mobile operators offering eSIM services in Costa Rica.
Does Claro offer eSIM?
Yes, along with Kolbi, Claro also offers eSIM services in Costa Rica.