Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Budgets - Costa Rica

Get a clear breakdown of the costs involved in teaching English in Costa Rica - from flights and documentation to accommodation, daily expenses, and visa requirements. This guide helps you confidently budget for your TEFL journey.

Our support team will walk you through everything prior to you departing to ensure you have exactly what you need by when you need to have it.

  • Costa Rica is generally affordable to travel to, so you should be able to manage on
    a relatively low budget if necessary.
  • This section outlines program costs that you should be prepared for.
  • Although Costa Rica may appear inexpensive, costs add up and it can be easy to overspend.
  • This guide is to provide you with an approximate budget for your initial few months.
  • These values will vary depending on your personal budget and spending habits.
IN-CLASS TEFL/TESOL COURSE & PLACEMENT PROGRAM

We strongly suggest that you bring no less than $2800 USD with you when you
arrive in Costa Rica, or have access to it via ATM, to buffer any unforeseen costs before your first paycheck.

PLACEMENT ONLY & SUPPORT PROGRAM

If you are only completing the cultural orientation week before heading to your placement, we strongly suggest you bring no less than $2,000 USD with you when you arrive in Costa Rica, or have access via ATM, to buffer any unforeseen costs before your first paycheck.

Pre-departure costs

FLIGHTS

Flight prices vary depending on where you travel from and when you book. This budget range is for return flights to and from Costa Rica. Prices can occasionally exceed this range. We recommend booking 2-3 months in advance or more for the best rates.

$150 - $2,000

INSURANCE

Travel insurance prices can vary depending on things like provider, age, country of origin and duration of your stay. This range is for TravelBud's recommended policies based on stays of 6 months or 1 year. Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for all TravelBud programs.

$250 - $800

DOCUMENTATION

Applying for background check

$30 - $70

* Country dependent

DOCUMENTATION

Apostilled birth certificate

$50 - $70

* Country dependent

DOCUMENTATION

Apostille on background check

$20 - $50

* Country dependent

DOCUMENTATION

Vaccinations

$0 - $500

* Country dependent
TOTAL

$500 - $3,490

 

 

In Country TEFL Course, Placement & Support - 1 month in San Ramon

ACCOMMODATION, RENT & DEPOSIT, & EARLY ARRIVAL

It costs $200 USD for a shared room. If you would like to have your own room for the course, it will cost $400
USD for the month and is based on availability and first come, first
serve.

Rent will start from the Sunday night prior to your course start.

If you arrive earlier, you will need to cover the cost of the additional nights.

Rent: $200

 

Deposit: $100

 

ENGLISH SCHOOL PRACTICAL SUPPLIES

As you will learn on the course, having colorful, creative, engaging materials for teaching enhances the experience for your students. During the teaching practical, you will need to make flashcards, props, and possibly some worksheets.

Most teachers spend about 4,500 – 9,200 CRC (8 - 16 USD) on their practical teaching supplies for flashcards, worksheets, activities, and games. You will be able to use these materials once you start teaching at your placement as well.

We do provide access to stationary (sticky tack, stapler, tape, scissors, and whiteboard markers) throughout the course to help you plan your homework and class presentations.

$8 - $16

DAILY EXPENSES (FOOD, LAUNDRY,
TRANSPORTATION IN COSTA RICA)

One of the best ways to budget your cash while living in Costa Rica is eating the local Costa Rican food.

A local meal in Costa Rica is about 2,300 – 4,000 CRC (4 – 7 USD) per dish. There are restaurants that sell western style food but it is substantially more expensive. Western meals like hamburgers, pizza, etc. range from 2,900 – 6,300 CRC (5 - 11 USD) and up for a single meal.

There is laundry service available to use at the hostel.

You will not need to use public transportation often as many local conveniences are within walking distance. Local bus journeys are typically less than 3 USD.

Taxi rides are usually below $10 unless covering a significant distance.

$400 - $600

START-UP ITEMS (TOILETRIES, PHONE, MISCELLANEOUS)

In Costa Rica, you can find all toiletries like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. at many convenience stores. We will provide you with a SIM card for your phone but you will need to top it up yourself.

$50 - $70

OPTIONAL EXPENSES (NIGHTLIFE,
WEEKEND TRIPS, SHOPPING)

One of the best ways to budget your cash while living in Costa Rica is by eating the local Costa Rican food. A local meal in Costa Rica is about 2,300 – 4,000 CRC (4 – 7 USD) per dish. There are restaurants that sell Western-style food but it is substantially more expensive. Western meals like hamburgers, pizza, etc. range from 2,900 – 6,300 CRC (5 - 11 USD) and up for a single meal.

There is a laundry service available to use at the hostel. You will not need to use public transportation often as many local conveniences are within walking distance.

Local bus journeys are typically less than 3 USD. Taxi rides are usually below $10 unless covering a significant distance.

$100 - $300
TOTAL $858 - $1,286

Important

On average those participating in the In-class TEFL/TESOL course, Placement and Support program will be placed within the first 6 weeks in San Ramon, however, on occasion, the placement process can take longer. Therefore, it is important to be prepared and budget for a couple of weeks post- course in San Ramon before heading to your placement.

 

Placement Only & Support - Orientation Week in San Ramon, Costa Rica

ACCOMMODATION, RENT & DEPOSIT, & EARLY ARRIVAL

It costs $200 USD for a shared room. If you would like to have your own room for the course, it will cost $400 USD for the month and is based on availability and first come, first serve.

Rent will start from the Sunday night prior to your course start.

If you arrive earlier, you will need to cover the cost of the additional nights.

Rent: $200

 

Deposit: $100

ENGLISH SCHOOL PRACTICAL SUPPLIES

As you will learn on the course, having colorful, creative, engaging materials for teaching enhances the experience for your students. During the teaching practical, you will need to make flashcards, props, and possibly some worksheets.

Most teachers spend about 4,500 – 9,200 CRC (8 - 16 USD) on their practical teaching supplies for flashcards, worksheets, activities, and games. You will be able to use these materials once you start teaching at your placement as well.

We do provide access to stationary (sticky tack, stapler, tape, scissors, and whiteboard markers) throughout the course to help you plan your homework and class presentations.

$8 - $16

START-UP ITEMS (TOILETRIES, PHONE, MISCELLANEOUS)

In Costa Rica, you can find all toiletries like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. at many convenience stores. We will provide you with a SIM card for your phone but you will need to top it up yourself.

$50 - $70

DAILY EXPENSES (FOOD, LAUNDRY,
TRANSPORTATION IN COSTA RICA)

One of the best ways to budget your cash while living in Costa Rica is eating the local Costa Rican food.

A local meal in Costa Rica is about 2,300 – 4,000 CRC (4 – 7 USD) per dish. There are restaurants that sell western style food but it is substantially more expensive. Western meals like hamburgers, pizza, etc. range from 2,900 – 6,300 CRC (5 - 11 USD) and up for a single meal.

There is laundry service available to use at the hostel.

You will not need to use public transportation often as many local conveniences are within walking distance. Local bus journeys are typically less than 3 USD.

Taxi rides are usually below $10 unless covering a significant distance.

$400 - $600

OPTIONAL EXPENSES (NIGHTLIFE,
WEEKEND TRIPS, SHOPPING)

One of the best ways to budget your cash while living in Costa Rica is by eating the local Costa Rican food. A local meal in Costa Rica is about 2,300 – 4,000 CRC (4 – 7 USD) per dish. There are restaurants that sell Western-style food but it is substantially more expensive. Western meals like hamburgers, pizza, etc. range from 2,900 – 6,300 CRC (5 - 11 USD) and up for a single meal.

There is a laundry service available to use at the hostel. You will not need to use public transportation often as many local conveniences are within walking distance.

Local bus journeys are typically less than 3 USD. Taxi rides are usually below $10 unless covering a significant distance.

$100 - $300
TOTAL $858 - $1,286

Important

On average those participating in the Placement and Support program will be placed within the first week after orientation, however, on occasion, the placement process can take an extra week longer. Therefore, it is important to be prepared and budget for a couple of weeks in San Ramon before heading to your placement.

 

1 month Teaching - Post Orientation week & TEFL Course

TRANSPORTATION TO YOUR PLACEMENT & VISA RUN

At the end of the course, the placement team will advise you on the best way to get to your placement.

They will assist you in purchasing the correct bus ticket.

The bus system in Costa Rica is the most common (and cheapest) form of transport. Most people will take a bus to their placement.

Most schools will ask you to do a visa run shortly before your 90 days are up. Most of the time you will need to pay for your own transportation for the visa run.

$0 - $30

ACCOMMODATION

When you get to your placement, you will need to pay rent and one month’s deposit.

Depending on your location, the rent will cost anywhere from $350 – $700 per month.

Typically, the deposit is equal to one month's rent, so please expect that in some cases, you may need to pay double.

$350 - $1,200

* includes deposit

WORK VISA COSTS & VISA RUN

Most schools will require a visa fee to be paid for the work permit processing. Some schools will ask you to do a visa run shortly before your 180 days are up. Most of the time you will need to pay for your own transportation for the visa run. You will usually be asked to contribute to either the work visa or a visa run. In rare circumstances schools might ask you to pay more for visa costs upfront but will likely reimburse you at the end of the contract.

$0 - $400

DAILY EXPENSES (FOOD, LAUNDRY, TRANSPORTATION AROUND TOWN)

$400 - $600
TOTAL $750 - $2,230

 

 

Budget Totals

Pre-Departure

Flights, insurance, documentation
(Notarization and Apostille)
$500 - $3,490

(country dependent)

In-class TEFL/TESOL course, Placement
& Support Program

1 month in San Ramon while completing the
in-class TEFL/TESOL course.
$858 - $1,286

Placement Only & Support Program

Budget for orientation week and approximately 2 weeks while placement is being secured, before heading to your school.
$550 - $770

First Month at Placement

 
$750 - $2,230

Pre-departure Total

 
$500 - $3,490

In-Class TEFL/TESOL, Placement &
Support Program Total

First month of course + first month at placement
$1,608 - $3,516

Placement Only & Support Program Total

Orientation week + first month at placement
$1,300 - $3,000

The amounts shown above are estimated for someone who has frugal spending habits. We highly recommend that you bring no less than $2800 for your program start. This will provide an additional $800 USD cushion.

 

We realize that moving abroad to teach English in Costa Rica is expensive at first, but remember that with TravelBud your teaching job placement is guaranteed.

  • You can focus on enjoying your new lifestyle knowing your monthly income of $1000 – $1800 USD is secured.
  • Once you start earning a salary, your living costs will be comfortably covered and you’ll start to learn how to cut down on your monthly expenses (for example, eating out less and finding the most affordable grocery store in your placement town).
  • You will be able to enjoy your time teaching and travelling in Costa Rica!