Costs
We take into account the program you choose — whether you’re going on a language trip, a High School Year, or enrolling in a study program. In Costa Rica, costs vary by region and lifestyle. Your monthly budget therefore depends on the number of weeks, the city where you stay (such as San José, Tamarindo, or Heredia), and what is included in your accommodation.
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How does our calculation work?
AtSkool uses a transparent, accurate, and experience-based method to calculate your monthly costs in Costa Rica as realistically as possible.
- First, we look at the program you are following. High School programs often include many fixed components, such as accommodation and meals. With language trips and study programs, packages can vary significantly — the more that is included, the lower your personal monthly expenses will be.
- Next, we analyze your destination within Costa Rica. San José is generally more expensive due to city living, while coastal towns such as Tamarindo, Jacó, and Manuel Antonio are more tourist-oriented — sometimes with higher prices for dining and activities. Rural areas and smaller cities are usually more affordable.
- We then take the duration of your stay into account. A short stay has different spending patterns compared to a full academic year. The longer you stay, the more accurately we can estimate your average monthly budget.
- Your type of accommodation also plays an important role: host family (often including meals), student residence, campus housing, or apartment. Accommodation with meal plans reduces variable expenses, while independent housing options typically increase daily living costs.
- In addition, we include up-to-date local prices for groceries, transportation (buses, taxis, and Uber are generally affordable), sports, excursions, surfing activities, school materials, and personal expenses. Costa Rica is known for being relatively affordable, although prices in popular beach regions can increase during peak seasons.
- Finally, we base our calculations on the experiences of previous AtSkool students. Their actual monthly expenses provide an honest and clear picture of what students typically spend per region and per type of program.
By combining all these factors, AtSkool creates a personalized, transparent, and realistic monthly budget for you — so you know exactly what to expect financially during your adventure in Costa Rica.
Would you like to know exactly how this works? Click the button below and discover how AtSkool creates your personal cost overview.