First, let’s look at the big picture. The exchange rate out here fluctuates daily, but right now, the colón is sitting in a fascinating spot.
As June 2026, One US Dollar gets you roughly 460 colones, one Euro gets you around 535 colones, and one Canadian Dollar gets you about 330 colones.
Now, the currency has strengthened quite a bit over the last couple of years, making it incredibly important to know the current math so you aren’t surprised by prices.
A quick tip for my North American and European travelers: while US dollars are widely accepted almost everywhere in Costa Rica, Euros and Canadian dollars are not. If you’re coming from Canada or Europe, local shops won’t take your physical cash. You’ll definitely want to use a travel credit card, pull colones directly from a local ATM, or exchange your currency at a bank when you land.”

The US dollar has taken a beating against the Costa Rican Colone in the last 3 years, so it is time for a new video to talk about the value of the Colone vs the US dollar, Euro and Canadian dollar.
USD vs CRC
💰💲We look at the Costa Rica Colon CRC 💴 💵 💷 and compare its value vs the US dollar USD $ Canadian Dollar CAD and the European Euro € . Is it better to exchange dollars for Colones in the us, at a bank or ATM? What does Costa Rican money look like? 💴 💵 💷