What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in Costa Rica?

When visiting Costa Rica, it is typically cheapest to rent your car in San José where rental cars typically will cost around $84/day (0% less than the country average). The absolute cheapest rental car price in Costa Rica was found in San José for just $74/day.

What side of the road do you drive on in Costa Rica?

Cars in Costa Rica are to be driven on the right side of the road.

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Costa Rica car rentals in 2025

Most popular company	Alamo
Most common car type	Economy
Average price per day	$84
Cheapest price per day	$100

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Popular car types in Costa Rica

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There are 63 hire agencies servicing Costa Rica. These agencies, altogether, have 671 hire locations available. Need an affordable hire? small car is the cheapest car type to hire in Costa Rica with prices from $100 a day in the previous 7-day period. Here are 3 car types you can hire in Costa Rica:

Economy

$100+

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Compact

$151+

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Intermediate

$152+

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SUV

$252+

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Full-size SUV

$497+

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Mini

$154+

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Premium SUV

$621+

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Compact SUV

$129+

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Here are the best Costa Rica small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best Costa Rica medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Here are the best Costa Rica SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Mazda Demio$100/day

A/C

Nissan Versa$102/day

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Holden Barina$151/day

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Best car rental deals found in Costa Rica

Mazda Demio$100/day

A/C

Nissan Versa$102/day

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Ford EcoSport$129/day

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Cheapflights insights for Costa Rica car rentals

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in Costa Rica, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in Costa Rica?

For the best savings on car rentals in Costa Rica, make your reservation 7 days before pickup. The average price then is just $32/day – about 29% less than the yearly average.

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What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Costa Rica?

At Costa Rica, the best time to rent a car is at September, with an average daily rate of just $21. Conversely, December is the priciest month, averaging $94 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.|1#In Costa Rica, the best time to rent a car is in September, with an average daily rate of just $21. Conversely, December is the priciest month, averaging $94 per day. Below youll find the monthly average rental prices. Note that costs can fluctuate depending on availability, booking time, and vehicle type.

January

$64

February

$60

March

$52

April

$41

May

$28

June

$27

July

$37

August

$34

September

$21

October

$23

November

$30

December

$94

What car do most people hire in Costa Rica?

The most popular types of cars to hire in Costa Rica are the following: SUV cars (Hyundai Santa Fe or similar), Economy cars (Hyundai Accent or similar), and Full-size cars (Hyundai Santa Fe or similar).

Which car hire company has the most locations in Costa Rica?

Both Alamo and Enterprise Rent-A-Car have 62 locations in Costa Rica, more than any other rental company in the area.

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Top rental agencies in Costa Rica

Avis

5.2

Fair

111 reviews•22 locations

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Recent reviews

8.0

Very Good|Jan 2025

Friendly easy pick up. But only open 9-5 so difficult to return.

2.0

Poor|Apr 2023

un desastre, nunca mas contrato ni con uds ni con avis nos quisieron cobrar cualquier cosa, me retuvieron 500 dolares que no me estan devolviendo, no pudimos contratar el auto perdimos mas de dos horas, malos modos y malos tratos una verguenza, nunca los voy a recomendar

2.0

Poor|Mar 2023

The Avis in Liberia sent us off the lot with an old, dilapidated tire that came apart in pieces as we were driving. The office did not pick up the phone or respond to us when we called in with the problem, but thankfully we were able to get in touch with the insurance provider who sent someone to change the tire. He was shocked at how old and rundown the tire was compared to the three others on the vehicle and told us we were very lucky it didn’t cause an accident. When I returned to Liberia and was finally able to connect to the Avis service people in person, they told me it was my fault for driving the car off the lot and charged me $280 for the tire. I have a report filed to try and resolve this, but this was one of the worst car rentals AND customer experiences I have ever had.

4.0

Mediocre|Mar 2023

Probably the worst condition rental car ever. Rusted, bad tires, high mileage. Yet expensive.

8.0

Very Good|Mar 2023

Pretty happy with the service including the shuttle to the airport. The location has a coffee machine on site which is nice for travelers, however, the trash can was way too full and the table where the sugar and cups were kept wasn't wiped. This area could be kept cleaner. All the rest was good.

2.0

Poor|Mar 2023

Price ended up being 3x what was quoted on your website. Had to pay over $40 a day for insurance. $12.50 a day for a phone that did not work. Also charged $100 for a 1/4 tank of gas. The staff was rude on pickup and drop off. I will never use Avis again. Very disappointed.

1 out of 37

Avis Locations in Costa Rica

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.6

Very Good

31 reviews•62 locations

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car Locations in Costa Rica

Alamo

7.9

Good

71 reviews•62 locations

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Alamo Locations in Costa Rica

Budget

5.8

Fair

48 reviews•20 locations

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Recent reviews

2.0

Poor|Jun 2023

I had 2 cars reserved with my brother, our plane was delayed by 6 hours, once we arrived there was no staff at budget. When I tried the following day, they only have 1 car available but needs a $3000 security deposit.... that was mever mentioned anywhere durong the booking. terrible experience and would never try to rent a car from budget ever again.

2.0

Poor|May 2023

I booked my car , I bought extra insurance as suggested and when I got there they told me the extra insurance $65000 worth didn’t cover third party damages and therefore required a $3000 damage deposit . Why was this only brought to my attention upon arrival ?! I’m in Costa Rica at 8 pm and stuck with no car . I plan to make a lot of noise on social media about this experience and I will recommend everyone not ever use budget in any country !!

1 out of 16

Economy Rent a Car

4.8

Mediocre

89 reviews•30 locations

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Recent reviews

4.0

Mediocre|Aug 2024

The cost was exponentially higher than listed on Kayak.

2.0

Poor|Mar 2023

Before you make plans to go to Costa Rica, be aware of the countries car insurance scam. Our car insurance was over $100 per day. Stay away! It's not Economy, it's everyone.

4.0

Mediocre|Dec 2021

Do not rent from Economy in LIR.

2.0

Poor|Nov 2021

Bait & Switch. Forced you to take their vastly overpriced insurance. Links in email to provide your own insurance don’t work. At counter,the requirements kept escalating as we provided proof of insurance via credit card and domestic policy. Will be asking credit card co for help. To top it off, windshield was massively screwed up and we had to use a non standard cleaner just to be able to see out of it at night.

1 out of 30

Economy Rent a Car Locations in Costa Rica

Hertz

3.7

Poor

76 reviews•10 locations

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National

8.4

Very Good

19 reviews•61 locations

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Recent reviews

10.0

Wonderful|Dec 2024

From when we were greeted by the shuttle driver on arrival,to being served by Alex at the company, and receiving our car, to the final return with Ricardo and the young lady, everything was perfect! The price could be a bit lower, but we were very satisfied.

10.0

Wonderful|Feb 2024

You guys do what promise and that's usually what counts. No hidden surprises or secret up charges.

10.0

Wonderful|Jan 2024

Our experience with National was very good. The check out was quick and easy. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The car was new, clean and comfortable. Check in was easy and quick and we were on our way back to the airport in no time. Shuttle service to and from airport was easy and quick. Overall, I would recommend National Car Rental if visiting Liberia and Costa Rica.

6.0

Okay|May 2023

I had rented a car previously in Costa Rica and was able to wave the added protection as I am covered through other insurance and credit cards at national they would not let me so add an additional $15 a day to the price

10.0

Wonderful|Jan 2022

All good

1.9

Poor|Aug 2021

I bought car insurance from Kayak before the trip. National insisted that it was useless and that I had to repurchase car insurance from them for $ 24/ day minimum. I went to Atlas car rental where the service was excellent.

1 out of 7

Dollar

7.6

Good

12 reviews•10 locations

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Dollar Locations in Costa Rica

Car rental FAQs

What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in Costa Rica?
When visiting Costa Rica, it is typically cheapest to rent your car in San José where rental cars typically will cost around $84/day (0% less than the country average). The absolute cheapest rental car price in Costa Rica was found in San José for just $74/day.
What side of the road do you drive on in Costa Rica?
Cars in Costa Rica are to be driven on the right side of the road.

Car rentals by fuel type in Costa Rica

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Browse through car rental deals by fuel type in Costa Rica. There are currently 2 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest ($55+).

Electric

$156+

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Petrol/Diesel

$55+

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Airport car hires in Costa Rica

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Costa Rica car rentals in 2025

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in Costa Rica. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 9 November 2025.

Most popular company

Most common car type

Average price per day

Cheapest price per day

Popular car types in Costa Rica

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in Costa Rica and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 9 November 2025.

Compare car rental deals in Costa Rica by type

Best car rental deals found in Costa Rica

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in Costa Rica. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in Costa Rica with an average daily rate of $238. Data was last updated on 9 November 2025.

Cheapflights insights for Costa Rica car rentals

Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in Costa Rica, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.

How far in advance should I hire a car in Costa Rica?

What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Costa Rica?

What car do most people hire in Costa Rica?

Which car hire company has the most locations in Costa Rica?

Top rental agencies in Costa Rica

Explore the leading car hire agencies in Costa Rica known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in Costa Rica. Reviews were last updated on 9 November 2025.

Car rental FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in Costa Rica, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 9 November 2025.

What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in Costa Rica?

What side of the road do you drive on in Costa Rica?

Car rentals by fuel type in Costa Rica

Browse car rentals by fuel type in Costa Rica. Currently, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in Costa Rica. Deals were last updated on 9 November 2025.

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Airport car hires in Costa Rica

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