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Costa Rica eSIM
A 5 GB Costa Rica eSIM costs £27.99 for 30 days on Claro on 5G. Plans start at £3.99 for 500 MB a day. Delivered by email in seconds.
Your eSIM uses Claro's 4G network, so in San José you can book an Uber or DiDi, check the route to Monteverde, and message friends on WhatsApp, all from the phone already in your hand.
- 5G speeds
- 1 network: Claro
- Top up anytime
- Instant email delivery
Your Costa Rica eSIM in two questions
How much data do you need for Costa Rica?
From San José to Tamarindo, match your plan to your days and how much you use your phone.
- A city break of 3 days in San José: 1 GB for 7 days suits light use, with maps, messages and the odd Uber or DiDi ride.
- A fortnight touring La Fortuna and Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio: 14 days of standard use fits 10 GB for 30 days, enough for social media, music and some video.
- A month of work in San José: 30 days of heavy use, such as hotspot for a laptop, fits 2 GB a day for 30 days.
- A trip that also takes in another country: the South America eSIM covers 20 countries, Costa Rica among them, so your data can travel with you.
Most plans can be topped up, and the longest one runs for 30 days.
All 34 Costa Rica eSIM plans
Prices include any taxes. Price per GB shown so you can compare at a glance.
| Data | Valid for | Price | Per GB | Top-up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | £4.99 / €5.99 / $6.99 | £4.99 / €5.99 / $6.99 | Choose | ||
| 3 GB · 15 days | £12.99 / €15.99 / $16.99 | £4.33 / €5.33 / $5.66 | Choose | ||
| 3 GB · 30 days | £12.99 / €15.99 / $16.99 | £4.33 / €5.33 / $5.66 | Choose | ||
| 5 GB · 30 days | £27.99 / €32.99 / $35.99 | £5.60 / €6.60 / $7.20 | Choose | ||
| 10 GB · 30 days | £42.99 / €50.99 / $54.99 | £4.30 / €5.10 / $5.50 | Choose | ||
| 20 GB · 30 days | £77.99 / €92.99 / $100.99 | £3.90 / €4.65 / $5.05 | Choose |
| Per day | 1 day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days | 10 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 MB a day | £3.99 / €3.99 / $4.99 | £5.99 / €6.99 / $7.99 | £8.49 / €9.99 / $10.99 | £8.49 / €9.99 / $10.99 | £8.49 / €9.99 / $10.99 | £11.99 / €13.99 / $15.49 | £22.99 / €27.49 / $29.49 |
| 1 GB a day | £5.99 / €6.99 / $7.99 | £16.99 / €19.99 / $21.99 | £22.99 / €27.49 / $29.49 | £22.99 / €27.49 / $29.49 | £22.99 / €27.49 / $29.49 | £33.99 / €40.49 / $43.99 | £67.49 / €80.99 / $87.49 |
| 2 GB a day | £9.99 / €11.99 / $12.99 | £28.99 / €34.99 / $37.99 | £39.49 / €47.49 / $51.49 | £39.49 / €47.49 / $51.49 | £39.49 / €47.49 / $51.49 | £58.99 / €70.99 / $76.99 | £117.49 / €140.99 / $152.99 |
| 3 GB a day | £20.99 / €24.99 / $26.99 | £59.99 / €71.99 / $77.99 | £81.49 / €97.99 / $105.99 | £81.49 / €97.99 / $105.99 | £81.49 / €97.99 / $105.99 | £121.99 / €146.49 / $158.49 | £243.99 / €291.99 / $316.99 |
Networks your Costa Rica eSIM uses
Your eSIM joins this local network automatically, wherever you are in Costa Rica.
| Country | Networks | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | Claro | 4G |
Good to know
- Data only: your own number keeps working for calls and texts
- Hotspot works where your phone and the network allow it
- Plans start when you first connect; install within 180 days
- Your data routes through United States, so some sites may show that country
- Top up the same eSIM any time, no new QR code
Travelling further?
These eSIMs cover Costa Rica and more countries on one plan.
Which network will my eSIM use in Costa Rica?
Your eSIM joins Claro, your eSIM's network in Costa Rica, and it runs on 4G. Your phone picks it up by itself, so there's no setting to hunt for. Towns and main roads are well covered; signal can drop in the mountains, rainforest and on remote beaches, so download maps before heading into the hills.
Your data reaches the internet through the United States, a normal setup for travel eSIMs. You can read more on our IP address help page. On daily plans, speeds slow to the fair use speed once you've used the day's allowance.
How much data do you need in Costa Rica?
Light: maps, messages, email (about 0.25 GB a day). Standard: plus social, music, some video (about 0.7 GB a day). Heavy: plus streaming, video calls, hotspot (about 1.8 GB a day).
3 days
- Light · about 800 MB1 GB · 7 days · £4.99 / €5.99 / $6.99
- Standard · about 2 GB3 GB · 15 days · £12.99 / €15.99 / $16.99
- Heavy · about 5 GB2 GB a day · 3 days · £28.99 / €34.99 / $37.99
7 days
- Light · about 2 GB500 MB a day · 7 days · £8.49 / €9.99 / $10.99
- Standard · about 5 GB1 GB a day · 7 days · £22.99 / €27.49 / $29.49
- Heavy · about 13 GB2 GB a day · 7 days · £39.49 / €47.49 / $51.49
14 days
- Light · about 4 GB500 MB a day · 15 days · £11.99 / €13.99 / $15.49
- Standard · about 10 GB1 GB a day · 15 days · £33.99 / €40.49 / $43.99
- Heavy · about 25 GB2 GB a day · 15 days · £58.99 / €70.99 / $76.99
30 days
- Light · about 8 GB500 MB a day · 30 days · £22.99 / €27.49 / $29.49
- Standard · about 21 GB1 GB a day · 30 days · £67.49 / €80.99 / $87.49
- Heavy · about 54 GB2 GB a day · 30 days · £117.49 / €140.99 / $152.99
How to set up your Costa Rica eSIM
Install at home
On Wi-Fi, tap Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+), scan the QR code, or type the two codes from your email.
Switch on when you land
Turn on your eSIM line, choose it for mobile data and switch Data Roaming on for that line.
You're online
Your phone joins Claro and your plan starts. Check data left on your eSIM page.
Using your phone in Costa Rica: data tips
- Arriving: Install your eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, then switch it on when you land at Juan Santamaría (SJO) in San José or Daniel Oduber Quirós (LIR) in Liberia. Keep data roaming on for the eSIM line. Here's how to turn on data roaming.
- Getting around: Download Uber, DiDi or inDrive before you fly. That way your first ride from the airport is sorted before you've even picked up your bags.
- Staying in touch: WhatsApp is the messaging app to have ready here. Your home number stays on for calls and texts. Here's how to keep WhatsApp and your home number working side by side.
- Topping up: Most plans can be topped up, so when your data runs low you can add more to the same eSIM.
- Network: Your eSIM runs on Claro's 4G network, so choose a plan that matches how much you'll use each day.
Costa Rica eSIM questions
How much is an eSIM for Costa Rica?
Costa Rica eSIMs start at £3.99 for 500 MB a day over 1 day. A 5 GB plan for 30 days costs £27.99. Prices include any taxes and show in pounds, euros or dollars.
Which networks does the Costa Rica eSIM use?
Your eSIM connects to Claro in Costa Rica. Your phone picks the strongest signal automatically.
When does my Costa Rica eSIM start?
Most plans start the moment your eSIM first connects to a network in Costa Rica, so you can buy and install it at home before you fly. Install it within 180 days of buying.
Can I top up my Costa Rica eSIM?
Yes. Most Costa Rica plans can be topped up from your eSIM page in two taps, with no new QR code. The plan table on this page shows which ones.
Why does my IP address show another country?
Costa Rica plans route your data through United States, a normal setup for travel eSIMs. Websites and apps may show that country's content; your speed and coverage in Costa Rica are not affected.
Does it come with a phone number?
Every eSIMology plan is data only. Keep your own SIM switched on for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp, FaceTime or any calling app over your eSIM's data.
What if my plans change?
Cancel an eSIM you haven't installed within 30 days for a full refund to your card, in two taps from your eSIM page.
Is there 5G in Costa Rica?
No, Costa Rica runs on 4G, and that's what your eSIM connects to. For maps, messages and ride bookings, 4G is plenty, and light everyday use comes to about 0.25 GB a day.
How much data do I need for a week in Costa Rica?
For a week, light use such as maps, messages and email comes to about 1.8 GB. Add social media, music and some video and it's about 4.9 GB; streaming or using your phone as a hotspot can reach about 12.6 GB.
Which ride apps can I use in San José?
Uber, DiDi and inDrive are the ride apps to use in San José. Each one needs data to book, so your eSIM lets you book a ride from Juan Santamaría airport (SJO).
Can I use WhatsApp in Costa Rica on my eSIM?
Yes. WhatsApp runs on your eSIM's mobile data in Costa Rica, so you can message a hotel in Manuel Antonio or a tour guide in Tamarindo as your plans change.
Does the South America eSIM cover Costa Rica?
Yes. Costa Rica is included in the South America eSIM, which covers 20 countries, so a trip with more than one stop could use the same eSIM.
Ready for Costa Rica?
Buy now, install today, and your plan waits until you land. Full refund if not installed.