Until the late 1980s, agriculture was the main economic sector in Costa Rica.

Due to the rise of the high-tech industry, which is responsible for 5.6% of GDP, agriculture is now only responsible for 6.5% of the gross national product. About 14% of the Costa Rican labor force works in agriculture, of which 50,000 in banana production. Thanks to better methods, agricultural production increased by 20%.

Traditionally, the main agricultural products that Costa Rica produces are bananas, coffee, sugar, pineapple, cocoa and meat. After Ecuador, Costa Rica is the second largest exporter of bananas in the world. In Costa Rica, bananas are grown in endless plantations in the Caribbean lowlands. The pineapple in the north and in the Valley of the General.
Coffee cultivation is concentrated in the Central Valley and takes place on relatively small plantations owned by the local population.

Since the eighties of the last century, people have been striving to specialize and diversify the range of agricultural products in order not to be solely dependent on traditional products. People are increasingly aiming for fruit, specialty coffees and floriculture.
The Costa Rican fishermen mainly catch sardines, tuna, shark and shrimp. The cultivation of freshwater fish, in particular the tilapia, is on the rise.
The livestock farms for meat production are located in the north and northwest of Costa Rica. Animal husbandry is in the hands of a small number of powerful farmers with extensive estates with large herds of Brahman cows. Milk production in the Central valley is of little importance. Cattle ranching had the major disadvantage that large areas of forest were cleared throughout Costa Rica for grazing land, resulting in extensive soil erosion.

At present, industry and tourism are the main economic sectors of the country.

General information:

Area: 51,000 km2

Number of inhabitants: 5,000,000 (2018 )

Average age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.9 years

Age expectancy
total population: 77.02 years
male: 74.43 years
female: 79.74 years

Unemployment: 7.6%

Inflation: 3 % (2017)

Agricultural products: coffee, pineapple, bananas, sugar, grain, rice, beans, potatoes, meat and wood

Industrial products: microprocessors, food, textiles, construction materials, fertilizers, plastic products

Export commodities: coffee, pineapple, bananas, sugar, textiles, electronic components, medical equipment

Main export countries: Canada 31%, USA 25.7%, China 14.1%,

Netherlands 10.9%, UK 6.3%, Mexico 5% (2007)

Imported goods: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, oil

Main import countries: USA 41%, Mexico 6.1%, Venezuela 5.7%, Japan 5.4%,

China 5.1%, Brazil 4.3% (2007)

PRICES IN COSTA RICA

THIS LIST IS INTENDED TO GIVE YOU AN IMPRESSION OF THE PRICE LEVEL IN COSTA RICA.

General:

The exchange rate on November 15, 2019: 1US$ = 580 Colones. Price level is also from November 15, 2019.

Daily exchange rate and petrol price: Costaricainside. In the right column.

NB:

• The prices of hotels on their websites, but also at the reception, are usually indicated excluding tax. You must then add 13% to the price. It is indicated in Spanish with: mas impuesto. If the tax is included, it is always there. Impuesto incluido.
• Prices in many restaurants also do not include tax and service charges. A 23% surcharge will be added to the bill for this.
  Cinema visit: 3500 col.

Bus within town or short distance: 550 col.

Taxi ride within town 1800 to 3000 col.

Taxi Airport - San Jose 8000 col.

Supermarket: (medium price supermarket. There are more expensive and cheaper ones)

Meat is cheaper at the butcher, fruit and vegetables are cheaper at the greengrocer.

It is even cheaper at a market or a street vendor.

1 loaf (baguette) 650 col.

1 loaf (packed) 950 col.

1 liter milk 660 col..

1 can of Coca Cola 490 col.

1 can of beer (imperial) 680 col.

Small bag of peanuts 550 col.

1 pack of Marlboro 2200 col.

newspaper 400 col (Sunday edition 600 col.)

1 banana 35 to 70 colones (depending on the time of year)

kilo mangoes 500 col. to 1500 col. (depending on time of year)

1 pack 500 gr. filter coffee gold 2500 col.

1 liter fruit yoghurt 990 col.

Restaurant: Prices are for average restaurants, not luxury establishments. In a soda (very simple eatery) the prices of the food may be lower.

Breakfast depending on the location: from 1500 to 3000 col. Breakfast is Gallo Pinto (rice with beans) or fried egg with bread and coffee or tea.

Hot meal: The Tico meal is a casado. This is chicken or beef or fish with rice, bean puree, platanos, and warm vegetables, sometimes with some salad. Costs between 2000 and 3000 col.

A European hot meal from the menu costs between 3500 and 7000 col. (main dish)

Wine is expensive 2500 colones in a restaurant for a glass is normal. A bottle of beer costs between 1200 and 1500 colones in a restaurant or bar.

Fresh fruit juices are available everywhere. Costs in restaurant or bar between 900 and 1300 colones.