Planning a trip to Costa Rica or scheduling a call? Knowing the country’s time zone helps. Costa Rica uses Central Standard Time (CST), which is UTC-6, six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It aligns with the U.S. Central Time Zone, like Chicago or Dallas, but unlike many places, Costa Rica skips Daylight Saving Time (DST). The clock doesn’t change all year.
What’s the Local Time in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica mainly operates on CST across the mainland. The Cocos Islands, a remote Costa Rican territory, use Galápagos Time (COT, UTC-7), but most visitors will deal with CST. No DST means 12:00 PM in San José stays 12:00 PM every day, no spring forward or fall back.
How Does Costa Rica Compare to Other Cities?
Time differences vary based on your location and whether DST applies. Below is a table showing Costa Rica (CST, UTC-6) compared to major cities, assuming standard time unless noted: Look at this chart to get a better idea with a starting time of 12 noon.
| City | Time Difference | Example (12:00 PM CST) |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (PST, UTC-7) | -1 hour | 11:00 AM |
| Mexico City (CST, UTC-6) | 0 hours | 12:00 PM |
| New York (EST, UTC-5) | +1 hour | 1:00 PM |
| São Paulo (BRT, UTC-3) | +3 hours | 3:00 PM |
| London (GMT, UTC) | +6 hours | 6:00 PM |
| Berlin/Paris/Madrid (CET, UTC+1) | +7 hours | 7:00 PM |
| Mumbai (IST, UTC+5:30) | +11.5 hours | 11:30 PM |
| Hong Kong (HKT, UTC+8) | +14 hours | 2:00 AM (next day) |
| Tokyo (JST, UTC+9) | +15 hours | 3:00 AM (next day) |
| Sydney (AEST, UTC+10) | +16 hours | 4:00 AM (next day) |
Note: New York shifts to +2 hours during DST (March–November, EDT, UTC-4). For example, 12:00 PM CST is 2:00 PM EDT. Cities like London or Sydney may also adjust with their DST schedules.
Why No Daylight Saving Time (DST)?
Costa Rica doesn’t use DST because it’s near the equator, where daylight stays steady—about 12 hours daily, year-round. Unlike northern regions, where DST stretches evening light to save energy, Costa Rica sees little benefit. The country tested DST in 1991–1992 but ditched it, as it disrupted routines without saving much power. In a tropical climate, changing clocks twice a year just messes with sleep for no good reason.
Tips for Travelers
- Flights: Watch for DST in departure cities like New York or Miami, which can shift connection times.
- Calls: Plan meetings using Costa Rica’s fixed CST. A 9:00 AM call in San José is 11:00 AM in New York during DST.
- Jet Lag: Small time shifts (1–2 hours from the U.S.) make adjusting to Costa Rica’s time easy.
Costa Rica’s consistent time zone keeps things hassle-free for tourists and locals. Whether you’re watching a sunset in Tamarindo or joining a Zoom call in San José, you won’t need to touch your watch. Got trip-planning questions? Leave them in the comments!