$128 Find Cheap Flights from Chicago to Costa Rica

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Chicago to Costa Rica departing on 7/16. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Costa Rica

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
San José
San José1 stop$428
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$445
San José
San José1 stop$428
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$445

Book Cheap Chicago to Costa Rica Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Chicago to Costa Rica that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Chicago to Costa Rica

Mon, May 4 - Sun, May 31
Spirit Airlines Logo
5:05 am - 11:45 am
ORD
-
SJO
7h 40m
1 stop
Spirit Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 8:22 am
SJO
-
ORD
18h 22m
1 stop
$428Spirit Airlines
Sun, May 10 - Thu, May 14
Multiple Airlines Logo
3:44 pm - 11:45 am
ORD
-
SJO
21h 01m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 11:38 pm
SJO
-
ORD
9h 38m
1 stop
$429Multiple Airlines
Thu, May 7 - Mon, May 11
Spirit Airlines Logo
8:59 pm - 11:45 am
ORD
-
SJO
15h 46m
2 stops
Spirit Airlines Logo
1:00 pm - 9:54 am
SJO
-
ORD
19h 54m
2 stops
$431Spirit Airlines
Sat, May 9 - Fri, May 15
American Airlines Logo
5:00 am - 9:36 pm
ORD
-
SJO
17h 36m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
11:35 pm - 5:44 pm
SJO
-
ORD
17h 09m
1 stop
$432American Airlines
Thu, Jul 16 - Mon, Jul 20
Frontier Logo
6:55 am - 8:20 am
ORD
-
SJO
26h 25m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
9:35 am - 11:14 pm
SJO
-
ORD
12h 39m
1 stop
$433Frontier
Sat, Jul 25 - Sat, Aug 1
Frontier Logo
6:55 am - 8:20 am
ORD
-
SJO
26h 25m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
9:35 am - 11:14 pm
SJO
-
ORD
12h 39m
1 stop
$434Frontier
Thu, Jun 18 - Tue, Jun 23
Copa Airlines Logo
3:21 pm - 7:09 am
ORD
-
SJO
16h 48m
1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
6:19 pm - 2:06 pm
SJO
-
ORD
18h 47m
1 stop
$435Copa Airlines
Fri, Jun 26 - Wed, Jul 15
American Airlines Logo
8:19 am - 10:42 pm
ORD
-
SJO
15h 23m
1 stop
American Airlines Logo
3:19 pm - 9:10 am
SJO
-
ORD
16h 51m
1 stop
$437American Airlines
Sun, May 17 - Thu, May 21
United Airlines Logo
5:30 am - 12:10 pm
ORD
-
LIR
7h 40m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
1:20 pm - 12:45 am
LIR
-
ORD
10h 25m
1 stop
$494United Airlines
Fri, Jun 12 - Sat, Jun 20
Avianca Logo
8:20 pm - 12:05 pm
ORD
-
LIR
16h 45m
1 stop
Avianca Logo
1:00 pm - 2:55 pm
LIR
-
ORD
24h 55m
1 stop
$495Avianca
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Chicago to Costa Rica flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Chicago to Costa Rica to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica flight route?

Data is based on round-trip flight searches on KAYAK over the past month.

The cheapest ticket to Costa Rica from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport found in the last 72 hours was to San José, at $467 round-trip. The most popular route is from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport (ORD) to San José (SJO), and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $467.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Costa Rica?

The average price for all round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to Costa Rica is generally in the evening, when round-trip flights cost $514 on average. Morning departures are around 16% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to Costa Rica is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $664.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $495 on average.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica is October, when tickets cost $358 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and March, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $681 and $604 respectively.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Chicago to Costa Rica?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from Chicago to Costa Rica, look for departures on Tuesdays and avoid leaving on a Saturday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from Costa Rica, Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly and Sunday is the most expensive.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport to Costa Rica, you should book around 2 weeks before departure, which saves you about 4% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 4 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonSeptember
Cheapest flight$128
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 8% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 17% increase in price.
Flight from Chicago O'Hare Airport to San José

FAQs - booking Costa Rica flights

  • Are there any onsite hotels at Costa Rican airports?

    There are various hotels within and near SJO and LIR where passengers landing late at the airport can spend the night. Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton San Jose Airport, situated approximately 0.7 miles from SJO, is your best bet. In addition, the hotel offers hotel shuttle transfers. On the other hand, if you are landing at LIR, you can make a reservation at Hilton Garden Inn Liberia, found 0.7 miles away from the airport.

  • How is parking at ORD?

    Passengers who want to leave their cars at the airport while flying out can use the multiple parking lot options available at Chicago O’hare International Airport. You can leave your car at the offsite parking lots, which are more affordable than onsite parking lots. Those who wish to leave their cars at the airport for a long can use the long-term parking lot and Economy Lot F. Alternatively, if you want to park short-term, you can take advantage of the hourly and daily parking lots found at the airport’s terminal parking.

  • Does ORD offer any pet facilities?

    ORD features three outdoor pet relief areas that passengers flying through the airport with their furry friends can utilize to make them comfortable before their flights to Costa Rica. The relief areas are located at terminals 1, 2 and 5.

  • Can I have accessibility services at Costa Rican airports?

    Upon request, you can have access to extra assistance and wheelchair services at LIR and SJO if you are flying with a companion with reduced mobility. However, you need to contact your airline earlier before travel date to have the services arranged.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Chicago to Costa Rica?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Chicago to Costa Rica.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Chicago to Costa Rica?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from Chicago to Costa Rica is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Chicago to Costa Rica?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly from Chicago to Costa Rica with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Chicago to Costa Rica?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from Chicago to Costa Rica up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Costa Rica

  • Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), situated approximately 6.2 miles away from San Jose in Costa Rica, is the main airport in the city, serving many international and domestic flights. However, from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), you can also land at Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR), which is approximately 8 miles from Liberia, Costa Rica.
  • If you want to freshen up at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) before boarding your flight to Costa Rica, there are shower amenities in terminals 1 and 3. These shower facilities are found at the American Airlines Admirals Club, United Polaris Lounge and Hilton Athletic Club. However, if you want to access these facilities, you need to have a lounge pass.
  • ORD features a family lounge with a play area where your kids can burn off steam before boarding their flights to Costa Rica. It is equipped with climbing structures, toys and games and is located in the Main hall in terminal 2. Additionally, it features comfortable benches with charging stations where parents can sit and monitor their kids.
  • LIR and SJO feature a few lounges where passengers can unwind and relax upon arrival at the airports. These lounges offer exceptional services such as meals, drinks, entertainment, comfortable seats, internet access and flight information monitor. However, you need to have a lounge pass if you want to take advantage of these services and amenities.
  • If you are flying from ORD to Costa Rica, you can opt for one-stop flight options or airlines offering multiple layover options. Fly with Spirit Airlines, Copa Airlines, American Airlines and Jetblue Airlines, offering short layovers with stops at DFW, FTY, JFK, MIA and FLL airports.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Chicago to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Chicago to Costa Rica? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.5
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1580 reviews
6.8Entertainment
6.8Food
7.4Comfort
7.8Boarding
8.1Crew
Airline reviews

Entire experience from check in to landing was amazing the flight crew was excellent and friendly. Seats were comfortable.

10.0 ExcellentK Anson, Apr 2026
POS - PTY
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

Entire experience from check in to landing was amazing the flight crew was excellent and friendly. Seats were comfortable.

Copa staff at PTY and one particular crew member were unhelpful & rude.

There should be a warning regarding the quality of the aircraft on the website as we reserve the tickets. There was no TV or any type of screen onboard. The wifi they offer is good for nothing. Traveling 9 hours straight with kids and no type of entetainment was horrible. I wish I had been informed prior so I could buy a ticket with another airline. The food was a joke too. A very tiny portion per passenger. They also charged $100 per checked bag. With United I used to pay $60. So, fair to say that I wont be flying Copa anymore. Their aircraft was super old, outdated, no entertainment, with nearly no onboard food.

Very strict carry on rules meant most of the plane had to gate check their luggage. As is often the case had things that were broken because of this, but I appreciated not being charged to gate check. Otherwise good flight and great crew once on the plane

Simply as follows:- First, there was no vegetarian option for the meal Second, only 2 washrooms for the entire economy class.

I liked the meatloaf the chicken was awful but the plane was on time and got there and the staff was nice.

Boarding was quick & efficient; they gave boarding groups due priority; staff & air crew were very cordial and helpful, pleasant flight.

As always, Copa Airlines is great to fly on. The flights are always on time, the staff are pleasant and helpful and it's always a wonderful flying experience.

We had a great flight just wished they had a tv so we can see a movie that would of made my trip excellent.

the food served was an embarrassment. No connection for charging the cellphone... What a crappy airline.

The crew was great. Very friendly and responsive. The plane was old, small and tight. We ran out of overhead space and I had to check. Middle seat was particularly tight.

Several missed and almost missed connections. It felt like everything was being patched together last minute without enough resources and it ended up being an extremely stressful experience that basically ruined our weekend on the west coast. What a waste.

Crew was friendly. Seats are too narrow, particularly when a big person is in the adjacent seat, but I understand this is due to smaller planes usually flight into Lincoln. I have experienced several flight delays going out and coming into Lincoln airport, I say maybe 50% or higher of the flights I've taken out of this airport have been delayed.

Great flight. Boarded efficiently. Arrived early at CLT. There was no in flight entertainment on this aircraft. Great crew.

The seat was comfortable. There was a lot of turbulence. If it weren't for that,it would have been okay.

Poor communication, flight was delayed for preventable reasons. I missed my connection.

The boarding timing needs to be improved. The flight was delayed again because it took way too long to board. I was already exhausted from sleeping at the airport and spending all day there due to delay from my previous flight that connected in Chicago.

Great until we got to FRA. The next trip leg we were put in Business Class where seats had minimal padding!!!! They were awful and United Airlines needs to have their Lufthansa partner up their game or I won’t fly with them again!!

No meal service to the back of the plane as it started late or was too slow to get it out before it was time to land.

Terrible, if possible won't be flying again anytime soon!

Original flight was on time, then late, then changed gates...4 times. Once our newest plane came in, it was fine.

I almost missed my flight and they helped me out enormously

Delays experienced in boarding/take off due to incoming plane delayed. However, the boarding time/depart time in the app was significantly delayed in providing these updates. Usually not updated until an hour after we should have already boarded. Poorly managed.

Moved to earlier flight which unexpectedly had maintenance issues initially indicated as quick fix to ultimately plane changes. Moved back to original flight, also delayed. In all cases customer updates and communication very unclear, no updates on drivers for delays.

Typical AA - late by 90+ mn. Gate changed twice... Changed the departure time 6 times No explanation, no communication on reasons for delay I travel with AA twice a year... and it is consistently very poor.. I will continue to use AA only when i have to.

The gate got changed several times and the flight was delayed over an hour. Awful experience

American continues to decline in their customer service and its beyond disappointing.

It was an older plane. First Class was not especially roomy or comfortable. It was a short flight so there were no meal but they did offer mixed nuts which used to be normal but now is rare. Crew member was very polite and professional.

Flight to Tampa was delayed taking off due to plane arriving late but no other issues

As previously stated the delay I experienced flying from Wichita to Chicago caused a host of issues. When I finally was able to be booked on the last remaining American flight from Chicago to Cincinnati, the gate changed four times with the last change occurring very near the scheduled boarding time. While I didn't have a problem moving from gate to gate, I did notice and make note of others that had mobility issues and had to move each time for the gate change.

They should provide water to passengers who ask for it

The worst experience I've ever had because the "people" @ Avianca wouldn't let me fly because they said I needed a round trip ticket

Seating was tight. Seats don't recline. Initial flight was cancelled. Lost two days of vacation.

Horrible experience with Avianca, they delayed their flight and when we arrived to NYC, AVIANCA took 1 hr y 30 mins to park the airplane and all passenger get off the plane, it made me lost all my trains to get back home and I came back to my place at 3 am instead of 12 am. On the top of that their plane seat are so uncomfortable and is not enough space and killed my legs and knees, Avianca used to be good when it was a Colombian company, now after Brasilian company bought them, their service quality is bad and their flights are delayed and oversold.

It was delayed and I lost my connection flight to Cali and I missed my Mom's funeral

I upgraded to businesses class. Because of that the flight was comfortable.

I actually upgraded to the medium level of seats from basic and even doing that it may have been physically the most uncomfortable flight I have ever had. They packed everyone like is a train to death camp. It was a red eye so I hoped to get some sleep but it was physically impossible to find a comfortable way to rest. I met other folks on the same flight and they said the same thing. It was an utterly miserable flight and if I have any other options I will never fly with them again

Avianca has transitioned from full service legacy airline to "low cost" but has now became a strange hybrid (minimum leg space, started offering business class in domestic flights again, charges passenger for printing boarding pass, etc.). National and international coverage and destinations are really wide but service is not at its best

Deplaning was a mess, I sat in business (seats are horrible) and the front door had a problem so we had to deplane from the rear exit. The stairs were not tall enough to reach so there was a large step down from the plane to the top of the stairs.

Staff are the rudest in the industry … awful customer service … will never fly Avianca again

They canceled my flight and never told me. There was no follow up email. I had to buy another ticket the day of.

Easy to get our TSA pre check #added. Flight crew was great and entertaining and we landed early!

Flight was delayed 6plus hours Did not take flight Customer service was terrible Will never fly again and will spread how terrible you are You stink

They cancelled our flight. 2 hours before we were supposed to take off and offered us nothing! We got our money back and that was it. No other flight to get to our cruise no working with another airline or with us to get there. Terrible customer service, no apology.

We get stuck in the plane when landed during 45min and no communication from the crew People were listening to their phone and music out loud and nobody told them anything I definitely want stop booking spirit flight it is a disaster

Good: It was cheap and they got us to our destination safely. Not so Good: Gates experience with many, many nauseatingly (almost) threatening announcements about bags size and how much they were going to charge us if our bag was too big, even to the point of having a gate agent roaming around through the passengers eyeballing bags size and making people go check their bags in the sizers.

Terrible. The flight was randomly delayed in Chicago causing us to miss our connection and they offered us a flight the next day at 6 am and it would have taken till 345 to get to Pensacola. They didn’t cover any fees. Our bags also supposedly were on the flight to Pensacola and we tried to get them yesterday after driving 6 hours and nobody was available. Worst company ever and will never use them again. Had to pay for a rental. Spirit is claiming in climate weather for the delay but there wasn’t any weather issuesz it’s a bunch of bullshit and I am not happy

Checking in at desk in Chicago was horrible. Person was not friendly never smiled and said my flight was not paid for so I had to give another credit card. Then it ended up that I was charged twice. Then after arriving at my destination had to wait on the phone a long time to speak to a person to fix the double charge! Thank goodness the flight was perfect.

Flight was delayed for 12 h. They should stop overlooking flights.

All of our flights were canceled, though every other airline was flying out and in

Everything you need to know for your flight from Chicago to Costa Rica

Information on your arrival and departure airports