Costa Rica’s currency is the colón (plural colones, symbol ₡, code CRC), issued by the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR). US dollars are also widely used, especially for rent, property, cars and tourist services, but everyday shopping, buses and small purchases run on colones. This guide explains which money to use, how to turn dollars into colones and where to exchange at a fair rate.
You can compare currency-exchange providers in Costa Rica using the Banco Central de Costa Rica’s published rates. Before handing over cash, check the rate for your direction of exchange, any fee and the final amount you will receive. A fixed rate quoted in an old travel article is not a current offer.
What currency does Costa Rica use?
The colón is the only national currency. You will see prices written with the ₡ sign, for example ₡5.000, and Costa Ricans often use a full stop where English uses a comma for thousands.
- Banknotes: ₡1,000, ₡2,000, ₡5,000, ₡10,000 and ₡20,000, according to the BCCR’s list of banknotes.
- Coins: ₡10, ₡25, ₡50, ₡100 and ₡500 (BCCR coin guide).
- Old coins: the older ₡5, ₡10 and ₡25 coins stopped being valid for payments on 1 July 2026. Banks, cooperatives and other financial institutions still exchange or deposit them, the BCCR says.
Can you use US dollars in Costa Rica?
Often, yes. Hotels, tour operators and many restaurants and shops in tourist areas accept US dollars, and larger things such as rent, property and cars are commonly priced in dollars. When you pay in dollars, expect your change in colones, and check the exchange rate the business is using before you pay. Small shops, buses and the weekly farmers’ markets (ferias) expect colones, so keep some on hand.
If you live here, you will deal with both currencies every month: utility bills and many local services in colones, rent and property often in dollars. Costa Rican banks offer accounts in both; see our guide to opening a bank account in Costa Rica, and our guide to sending money to Costa Rica for moving funds from abroad.
Dollars to colones: how to convert
To turn dollars into colones, multiply the dollar amount by the rate the provider pays for your dollars (its buying rate, compra). To turn colones into dollars, divide by its selling rate (venta). With a purely illustrative rate of ₡500, US$20 becomes ₡10,000. That is an example of the arithmetic, not today’s rate.
Live converter: type an amount to see it in colones. It shows the mid-market rate from Xe; banks and exchange houses pay a little less when they buy your dollars.
The BCCR publishes the official reference exchange rate every day, and a table of the rates banks and exchange houses offer at the counter. Check both on the day you exchange, and remember that a card or ATM may use different terms from a cash exchange.
Where to exchange money in Costa Rica
The BCCR table of rates announced at the counter lists authorized entities and their buying and selling rates, with update times. Use it to compare providers, then confirm the actual transaction with the branch or exchange desk. Ask what identification is required, whether your currency and banknotes are accepted, and whether the service is available to noncustomers.
For an airport or hotel exchange service, ask for the same information: the amount received after fees, the currency of any change and a receipt. Convenience and price are separate considerations. No location is guaranteed to offer the best deal for every currency and transaction.
Buying versus selling rates
The labels are from the provider’s perspective. When you give U.S. dollars to a provider and receive colones, the provider is buying your dollars: look at compra. When you give colones and receive dollars, it is selling dollars: look at venta.
Compare the net outcome for the same amount. For example, a purely hypothetical rate of ₡500 per dollar would convert US$100 to ₡50,000 before fees. This is an arithmetic example, not today’s rate. Ask whether a commission is included and count the money before leaving the counter.
Colones and U.S. dollars
The Costa Rican currency is the colón, commonly shown as ₡ or CRC. Ask a merchant which currencies it accepts instead of assuming U.S. dollars will be accepted everywhere. If a price is quoted in dollars but you pay in colones, confirm the conversion used before completing the purchase.
For banknote information, consult the BCCR’s denomination guide. Old lists can be misleading: the BCCR withdrew the cotton-paper ₡20,000 and ₡50,000 notes in February 2022. A denomination and a particular banknote series are not the same thing, so check the actual note rather than relying only on its face value.
How much are 2 mil, 5 mil and 10 mil colones in U.S. dollars?
In Spanish, mil means one thousand: 2 mil is ₡2,000, 5 mil is ₡5,000 and 10 mil is ₡10,000. To estimate the dollars received when exchanging colones, divide the colón amount by the provider’s dollar selling rate (venta), then account for any fees.
The table below uses a hypothetical rate of ₡500 per US$1 solely to show the arithmetic. These are not current exchange quotes. Replace 500 with the rate offered for your transaction.
| Amount in colones | Example calculation | Illustrative dollars before fees |
|---|---|---|
| ₡2,000 (2 mil) | 2,000 ÷ 500 | US$4 |
| ₡5,000 (5 mil) | 5,000 ÷ 500 | US$10 |
| ₡10,000 (10 mil) | 10,000 ÷ 500 | US$20 |
For today’s comparison, use the BCCR counter-rate table and confirm the actual rate and fee with the provider. A card purchase or ATM withdrawal may use different conversion terms from a cash exchange.
Cards, ATMs and currency conversion
An ATM or card terminal may offer to convert the transaction to your home currency. Visa explains this as dynamic currency conversion. Review the displayed exchange rate and additional charge. You should be able to choose; Visa advises declining the conversion if required information is missing or you feel pressured.
Separately, ask your card issuer about foreign-transaction, withdrawal and cash-advance fees. The local ATM operator may also display a charge. Check which currency the machine dispenses and the withdrawal limit before accepting. A debit withdrawal and a credit-card cash advance can have different terms.
Planning cash for a visit or move
- Check rates near the time you need to exchange, rather than using a saved screenshot from an earlier trip.
- Keep enough suitable payment options for your planned expenses without carrying unnecessary cash.
- Check the quoted currency on accommodation, transport and other larger bills.
- Keep exchange receipts and review card statements for the amount and currency charged.
Our grocery-shopping guide can help with everyday budgeting. Opening a bank account is a different task from exchanging cash; consult the bank about its requirements for your circumstances.
What backs the Costa Rican colón?
The colón is Costa Rica’s national currency, issued by the Banco Central de Costa Rica. It is not a currency sponsored by a private company. Articles 42–44 of the BCCR’s Organic Law, Law 7558, establish the monetary unit, legal means of payment and the central bank’s exclusive currency-issuance role.
For everyday budgeting, “backing” should not be confused with a guaranteed dollar conversion rate. The BCCR’s monetary-policy framework focuses on low, stable inflation. Currency value and purchasing power can still change; the exchange rate offered for a purchase or cash conversion must be checked at the time. Holding colones does not entitle a customer to exchange them for a fixed quantity of gold or a permanently fixed dollar amount.
Is Costa Rica Bitcoin-friendly?
That phrase can be misleading. The BCCR’s research presentation on cryptocurrency adoption distinguishes permitted circulation and exchange from legal tender: cryptocurrency is not Costa Rican legal-tender money, and users take the associated risks. The TSE’s 2025 ruling 6168-E8-2025 also explains that absence of a general prohibition does not make cryptocurrency legal tender.
Some merchants may agree to accept Bitcoin, but that does not mean your landlord, bank, utility or supermarket will. Confirm acceptance and the currency used to price the purchase before sending anything. Ask how refunds work, which network is required, who bears conversion charges and what happens if the quoted value changes while payment is pending.
A platform account is different from a bank deposit. Check custody arrangements, withdrawal conditions and the provider’s current regulatory obligations. Keep transaction records and ask a qualified adviser about applicable tax treatment; paying with crypto does not automatically remove tax or documentation duties. For a move or holiday, retain conventional payment options instead of relying on universal cryptocurrency acceptance.
This is practical payment guidance, not a recommendation to buy cryptocurrency.
Frequently asked questions
What currency does Costa Rica use?
The Costa Rican colón (₡, CRC), issued by the Banco Central de Costa Rica. US dollars are widely accepted in practice, but the colón is the national currency.
Can I pay with US dollars in Costa Rica?
In many hotels, tour companies and tourist-area businesses, yes, and rent and property are often priced in dollars. Expect change in colones, and carry colones for buses, small shops and farmers’ markets.
Should I bring dollars or colones?
Arrive with a card and some US dollars, then get colones from a bank or an ATM once you are here. Compare the rates on the BCCR’s counter-rate table before exchanging larger amounts.
How do I convert dollars to colones?
Multiply the dollars by the provider’s buying rate (compra) for that day. The BCCR publishes the official reference rate daily.
Rates, tariffs and charges in Costa Rica change. The figures on this page were last reviewed in October 2026 — confirm the current amount with Hacienda, the relevant municipality or the responsible authority before relying on it.
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