Costa Rica, paid in JPY.
Wildlife and stability, at a price: the colón has made it Central America's most expensive stop.
Pricier. Exchange rate alone: −12.8%. Local prices: −0.7%.
- Lean
- ¥8,877
- Comfort
- ¥46,200
The short answerIn JPY, as of November 12, 2026
Costa Rica: as of November 12, 2026, 10.3% more expensive than a year ago for travelers paid in JPY (Japanese yen), after adjusting for inflation at home and there. The exchange rate on its own moved −12.8%, and prices in the country rose −0.7%. A mid-range day costs about ¥20,400 per person, excluding international flights. Across the 18 currencies we track, AUD gained the most ground there (−1.1%) and SEK did worst (−12.9%).
What JPY buys there
30 monthsSame trip, different wallets
The real 12-month change for this one country, by the currency you earn. The spread is the part of the story that has nothing to do with the destination.
- Australian dollarA$187−1.1%
- Norwegian kronekr 1,222−1.3%
- South African randR 2,123−2.1%
- British pound£96−5.1%
- UAE dirhamAED 469−5.3%
- Singapore dollarS$164−5.8%
- US dollar$128−5.9%
- Mexican pesoMX$2,379−7.1%
- New Zealand dollarNZ$230−7.2%
- Canadian dollarC$182−8.1%
- Hong Kong dollarHK$1,002−8.2%
- Indian rupee₹12,000−10.0%
- Brazilian realR$713−10.3%
- Japanese yen¥20,400−10.3%
- Euro€115−10.4%
- Danish kronekr 862−11.5%
- Swiss francCHF 106−12.0%
- Swedish kronakr 1,275−12.9%
Booking a trip: Costa Rica
Partner links- FlightsKiwi.com ↗Compare fares across airlines, including the low-cost carriers that booking sites often leave out.
- Places to stayBooking.com ↗Hotels, guesthouses and apartments, most with free cancellation.
- Mobile dataAiralo ↗An eSIM you install before you land, usually far cheaper than roaming.
- Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing ↗Worth having here: serious care may mean evacuation to another country.
- Spending moneyWise ↗A multi-currency card that converts at the mid-market rate, the one this index uses.
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide ↗Day trips, guides and entry tickets, bookable ahead with free cancellation on most.
These go to outside companies we think are useful for this trip. Nothing here affects a score or a ranking. How we make money