Dollar Slumps Below ₡450 in Costa Rica

The U.S. dollar has continued its downward trend in Costa Rica, reaching a new low of ₡449.24 on Tuesday. This is a decline of nearly 10% from the beginning of 2026 when the Monex rate stood at about ₡497.

For foreign residents earning dollars who pay bills in colones, this means a significant loss of purchasing power. For example, someone living in Costa Rica on a $3,000 monthly pension or other dollar-based income would have had around ₡1.49 million to spend at the beginning of 2026. At Tuesday's rate, that same income is worth roughly ₡1.35 million.

The actual rate consumers receive is generally worse because banks and exchange houses make money on the difference between their buying and selling rates. Today, several major banks in Costa Rica were buying dollars at around ₡442 and selling them at around ₡456.