EE Roaming in Costa Rica: Rates, Hidden Fees, and Alternatives (2026)
Updated May 2026 · By The Roaming Cost Desk
Short Answer:
EE charges £2.59/day for roaming in Costa Rica. A 7-day trip costs £18.13 in EE fees. A travel eSIM covers that same week for $6.99. You save $11.14 with HelloRoam. No contract changes needed.
EE Costa Rica roaming rates
All EE plans available for Costa Rica.
| Carrier | Daily | 7-day | 14-day | Data | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roam Abroad (EU) EU Roam Abroad confirmed at £2.47–£2.59/day. Charged per calendar day, not 24-hour rolling period. | £2.59 | £18.13 | £36.26 | 25GB fair use | Moderate |
Roam Further (USA/AU/NZ/CA) Roam Further zone (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand): £5.91/day. Pre-July 2021 customers may have legacy free EU roaming. | £5.91 | £41.37 | £82.74 | 25GB fair use | Expensive |
Roam Abroad (EU) Details
Roam Abroad (EU) costs £2.59/day in Costa Rica. Data is 25GB fair use at 4G/5G speed. EU Roam Abroad confirmed at £2.47–£2.59/day. Charged per calendar day, not 24-hour rolling period.
Roam Further (USA/AU/NZ/CA) Details
Roam Further (USA/AU/NZ/CA) costs £5.91/day in Costa Rica. Data is 25GB fair use at 4G/5G speed. Roam Further zone (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand): £5.91/day. Pre-July 2021 customers may have legacy free EU roaming.
What's included with EE in Costa Rica
Data, voice, and SMS details.
Data Allowance and Speed
25GB fair use at 4G/5G speed on Kolbi, Claro CR. Local networks in Costa Rica average 25 Mbps.
Voice and SMS Rates
EE includes voice and SMS in the daily roaming charge. The £2.59/day rate covers data, voice, and texts. Additional per-minute or per-message fees do not apply within the covered plan.
Hidden charges for EE in Costa Rica
EE in Costa Rica: GBP5.91/day with calendar day billing
EE Roam Further charges GBP5.91/day in Costa Rica. Calendar day billing means late arrivals trigger two charges.
EE calendar day billing in Costa Rica
EE is the only major UK carrier that bills by calendar day (midnight to midnight) rather than a 24-hour rolling period. This distinction matters for travelers arriving in Costa Rica late at night. If your flight lands at 11 PM and your phone uses data, that counts as one calendar day at GBP5.91. Using data the next morning at 8 AM counts as a second day at GBP5.91. Two charges for roughly eight hours of travel time. To minimize costs, keep data disabled until after midnight local time if arriving late in Costa Rica.
EE plan start date affects Costa Rica roaming
EE Roam Further charges GBP5.91/day for worldwide destinations including Costa Rica. This rate applies regardless of plan start date. No EE plan includes free roaming in worldwide destinations. A 7-day trip costs GBP41.37 in EE roaming charges.
EE fair use and data limits in Costa Rica
EE applies a 25GB monthly fair use cap on roaming data in Costa Rica. This cap is shared across all roaming destinations in the same billing period. Heavy data users who upload photos, use video calling, or tether devices can reach this cap within 10-14 days. Beyond 25GB, EE charges per-MB overage fees. For trips under two weeks with moderate usage (maps, messaging, email), the 25GB cap is rarely an issue. For longer stays or heavy data usage, a travel eSIM at $6.99 provides a predictable, prepaid data allowance.
EE vs travel eSIM for Costa Rica
A 7-day trip on EE costs GBP41.37 versus $6.99 for a travel eSIM. The eSIM eliminates EE's calendar day billing trap, removes the 25GB fair use cap concern, and runs on Kolbi and Claro CR at full LTE speed. For UK travelers to Costa Rica, switching to a travel eSIM for data saves GBP35.85 (approximate) while providing a faster, more predictable connection.
Does EE work in Costa Rica?
Yes. EE works in Costa Rica and charges £2.59/day for roaming through the Roam Abroad (EU).
EE works in Costa Rica at £2.59/day. You get 25GB fair use at 4G/5G speeds. Your phone connects through Kolbi, Claro CR, Movistar CR networks. Costa Rica has none 5G coverage. A 7-day trip costs £18.13 in roaming fees. A travel eSIM costs a fraction of that.
EE covers Costa Rica at £2.59/day. Costa Rica has none 5G coverage.
How much does EE charge in Costa Rica?
EE charges £2.59/day in Costa Rica. Moderate for short trips, but a travel eSIM still saves money on trips over 3 days.
| Trip | EE | eSIM | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-day trip | £7.77 | $6.99 | $0.78 |
| 7-day trip | £18.13 | $6.99 | $11.14 |
| 14-day trip | £36.26 | $6.99 | $29.27 |
| 30-day trip | £77.70 | $6.99 | $70.71 |
A HelloRoam eSIM for Costa Rica starts at $6.99 for the entire trip, with 1GB at local network speeds. No daily fees, no hidden charges, no contract.
eSIM alternative for Costa Rica
Same networks, fraction of the cost.
Why an eSIM beats EE roaming
A travel eSIM connects to Kolbi, Claro CR at full LTE speed for $6.99 total.EE charges £2.59 per day for the same networks. The eSIM has no daily charges, no auto-enrollment, and no hidden fees.
- ✓204+ carrier networks worldwide
- ✓180-day refund policy
- ✓Instant QR install
- ✓Instant QR install
- ✓5G where available
- ✓Keep your home number
- ✓Instant QR install
- ✓5G where available
- ✓Keep your home number
Setup Guide: eSIM Alongside EE
- 1Put your phone in airplane mode before takeoff.Prevents EE auto-enrollment in roaming passes.
- 2Buy a travel eSIM for Costa Rica.HelloRoam, Airalo, and Saily sell Costa Rica plans from $6.99.
- 3Install the eSIM via QR code.Label it "Costa Rica data." Keep your EE line for SMS.
- 4Switch data to the eSIM after landing.Disable EE data roaming. Enable eSIM for data only.
- 5Switch back when you return home.Return to EE for data. The eSIM stays for next time.
Cost comparison: EE vs eSIM in Costa Rica
Savings across different trip lengths.
| Trip Length | EE Cost | eSIM Cost | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | £7.77 | $6.99 | $0.78 |
| 7 days | £18.13 | $6.99 | $11.14 |
| 14 days | £36.26 | $6.99 | $29.27 |
| 30 days | £77.70 | $6.99 | $70.71 |
Costa Rica network and coverage context
Local Networks
EE roaming connects to Kolbi, Claro CR in Costa Rica. Average download speed is 25 Mbps. A travel eSIM connects to the same networks at the same speeds for a fraction of the cost.
5G Availability
5G coverage in Costa Rica is none. No 5G Both carrier roaming and travel eSIMs can access 5G where available, depending on your device.
Connectivity Quirks
Kolbi is former state monopoly with widest coverage
National park coverage unreliable
Some eco-lodges deliberately limit connectivity