Costa Rica Power Outlets: Plugs, Voltage and Adapters

Costa Rica power outlets are Type A and Type B, the same flat-pronged sockets used in the United States, at 120 volts and 60 Hz. Travelers from the U.S., Canada and Mexico don’t need an adapter. Visitors from the UK, Europe, Australia and most other places need a Type A or B plug adapter. Most phone, laptop and camera chargers handle any voltage, but single-voltage 220–240V devices such as many European hair dryers also need a converter, or are better left at home.

This guide is for travelers packing chargers, laptops and hair tools for a Costa Rica trip. It covers the plugs and voltage you’ll find, who needs an adapter or a converter, how to protect electronics from outages and storms, how to use Costa Rica’s electric showers safely and how to get online when you land.

Power in Costa Rica	At a glance
Plug types	A (two flat pins) and B (two flat pins plus a round ground pin)
Voltage	120V, 60 Hz, same as the U.S. and Canada
Adapter needed	No from the U.S., Canada or Mexico; yes from the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand
Converter needed	Only for single-voltage 220–240V devices
Outages	Usually brief; more common during rainy-season storms (May to November)
Worth packing	Small surge-protected travel strip, power bank, extension cord
Getting online	Tourist eSIM before you fly, or a local SIM with your passport

Plugs

Costa Rica Power Outlets: Plug Types and Voltage

Costa Rica follows the North American standard. A Type A plug has two flat parallel pins. A Type B plug adds a round grounding pin below them. Type A plugs fit Type B outlets, but a three-pin plug won’t fit a two-slot outlet.

That second point is the one that catches people. Newer hotels and homes usually have three-slot outlets, but two-slot outlets are still common in older buildings, budget rooms and rural lodges. If your laptop charger has a ground pin, a universal adapter or a small travel power strip with two-pin input gives you a way to plug in.

Outlets are also scarcer than many travelers expect, especially near the bed. A short extension cord or a compact power strip lets you charge a phone, camera batteries and a laptop from one socket.

Adapters

Do You Need a Plug Adapter for Costa Rica?

It depends on where your devices come from.

Coming from	Adapter?	Home standard
U.S. and Canada	No	Type A/B, 120V
Mexico	No	Type A/B, 127V
Japan	No	Type A/B, 100V
UK and Ireland	Yes	Type G, 230V
Continental Europe	Yes	Type C, E or F, 230V
Australia and New Zealand	Yes	Type I, 230V

A universal travel adapter with USB ports is the simplest buy, since it covers this trip and most others. Buy it before you leave; you won’t always find the right one at the airport.

Voltage

Voltage in Costa Rica: Adapter vs. Converter

An adapter only changes the shape of the plug. It doesn’t change the voltage. Plug a 230V-only device into a 120V outlet through an adapter and it will run weakly, overheat or not work at all.

Check the small print on the charger or device, next to the word “Input”:

• 100–240V: dual voltage. It works in Costa Rica with just a plug adapter, if you need one.
• 110–120V or 120V: built for North America. It works as is.
• 220–240V only: single voltage. It needs a step-down converter.

Phone, tablet, laptop and camera chargers are almost always dual voltage. Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons and small kitchen appliances are the usual exceptions. A converter for a high-wattage heating device is bulky, so most travelers either buy a dual-voltage travel model or use the hotel’s hair dryer, which many hotels provide.

Outages

Power Outages and Surge Protection in Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s grid runs almost entirely on renewable energy. Renewables supplied 97.3% of electricity demand in 2025, mostly from hydroelectric dams, with wind and geothermal making up most of the rest. Service is generally reliable, but it isn’t perfect.

• Short flickers happen, enough to reset a router or interrupt a video call.
• Rainy-season storms bring lightning and occasional outages, usually lasting minutes to a few hours. The rainy season runs from about May to November; see our guide to traveling in the rainy season.
• Drought can strain supply. Because so much power is hydroelectric, a dry year matters. In May 2024, after a severe drought, the state utility ICE announced rolling power cuts of a few hours.

If you’re working remotely or staying more than a week or two, plug your laptop into a small surge-protected travel strip rather than straight into the wall. For longer stays, a compact battery backup (UPS) keeps your router or laptop running through brief outages. No surge protector stops a direct lightning strike, so unplug expensive electronics during a heavy storm.

A charged power bank is useful everywhere, from long drives to lodges with limited outlets. Airlines generally allow power banks only in carry-on bags, and the common limit is 100 watt-hours per battery.

Showers

Electric Showers: What to Know

Many Costa Rican homes, hostels and budget hotels heat water with an electric shower head instead of a water heater. You’ll see wires running into the head. Visitors nickname them “suicide showers,” but a properly installed, grounded unit on its own breaker is safe to use.

Less water flow means hotter water, so turn the tap down if the shower runs cold. Our guide to Costa Rica’s electric showers covers how they work and the warning signs to watch for.

Connectivity

Staying Connected: SIM Cards, eSIMs and Wi-Fi

You have two good ways to get mobile data in Costa Rica:

• A tourist eSIM, bought and installed before you fly, so you have data when you land. It’s the easiest option for short trips, but it usually doesn’t come with a local phone number.
• A local prepaid SIM from Kölbi, Claro or Liberty. It’s cheaper for longer stays and gives you a +506 number for calling tour operators and restaurants. You need your passport to register it.

Kölbi, run by the state utility ICE, has the widest rural coverage, which matters if you’re heading to the Osa Peninsula or other remote areas. Carrier desks at the airports are unreliable, so many travelers buy a SIM at a mall store instead, such as City Mall in Alajuela near SJO airport. Our Costa Rica SIM card and eSIM guide compares plans and prices, and our airport guide covers both international airports.

Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, rentals and most cafes and restaurants. Avoid banking or entering card details on public networks without a VPN.

Pack

Power and Tech Packing List for Costa Rica

• Universal plug adapter if you’re coming from outside North America.
• Surge-protected travel power strip with USB ports.
• Short extension cord for outlets far from the bed or desk.
• Power bank, in your carry-on.
• Dual-voltage hair tools, or none at all.
• Dry bags and silica gel to protect electronics from humidity and rain; see our advice on camera gear for Costa Rica.
• Unlocked phone if you plan to use a local SIM.

For the rest of your bag, see our Costa Rica packing list, the Costa Rica travel checklist, our passport tips and our Costa Rica travel tips.

FAQ

Costa Rica Power Outlets: FAQ