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Cheap Flights from New York to Costa Rica

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 5 days
San José
San José1 stop$389
Liberia
Liberia2 stops$301
San José
San José1 stop$389
Liberia
Liberia2 stops$301
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for New York to Costa Rica flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

Are flights from New York to Costa Rica cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from New York to Costa Rica are running about the same as they were around this time last year, averaging $531 round-trip.

What are the cheapest fares from New York to Costa Rica right now?

The cheapest fares from New York to Costa Rica on KAYAK in the last week were to Liberia (LIR) from $301 round-trip, and to San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) from $395 round-trip.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from New York to Costa Rica?

January is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $448. Prices are highest in August, when average flight costs increase to around $674.

When is the best time to book flights from New York to Costa Rica?

Book your flights 9 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 10% compared to booking last-minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Which airport in Costa Rica is the cheapest to fly to from New York?

Based on KAYAK data from the past 12 months, the cheapest airports to fly into Costa Rica are:

• San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) from $544
• Liberia (LIR) from $554
• Tamarindo (TNO) from $731

What’s the cheapest day to fly from New York to Costa Rica?

Tuesday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from New York to Costa Rica, while Saturday is the most expensive. Fares run about 15% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from New York to Costa Rica?

Data from the past 12 months shows it's cheapest to fly to Costa Rica during the night with average prices of $461. The morning is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $580.

Key details for New York to Costa Rica flights

Low season

October

Cheapest flight

$118
Beat the crowds with an average 64% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 45% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from New York John F Kennedy Intl Airport to Liberia

Your New York to Costa Rica flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • Is now a good time to book a flight from New York to Costa Rica?

    Yes. Fares from New York to Costa Rica are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $406 (cheaper than most fares this year) is a good deal, so if you spot one at or below that, it's a good time to book.

  • How much should I budget for a flight from New York to Costa Rica?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from New York to Costa Rica have ranged from $406 to $745.

  • What are the main airports serving Costa Rica?

    Costa Rica has 3 airports. The three busiest are San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) (71% of arrivals), Liberia (LIR) (29%) and Tamarindo (TNO) (0%).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from New York to Costa Rica?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, 4 airlines offer nonstop flights on this route:

    • United Airlines
    • JetBlue
    • American Airlines
    • Delta

  • Where in Costa Rica can I fly nonstop from New York?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, you can fly nonstop from New York to two destinations: San José and Liberia.

  • Is it cheaper to fly with a layover from New York to Costa Rica?

    Yes. Nonstop flights from New York to Costa Rica average $578 over the past 12 months, but flights with a layover can cost less. The most affordable connecting airports are:

    • Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) from $362
    • Santo Domingo Las Americas (SDQ) from $404
    • Guatemala City La Aurora (GUA) from $462

  • How long is a flight from New York to Costa Rica?

    Nonstop flights take 5h 27m on average. The fastest scheduled flight takes 5h 05m, from Newark (EWR) to Liberia (LIR).

  • How often are flights from New York to Costa Rica delayed and what's the average delay?

    22% of flights on this route are delayed by at least 15 minutes. The average delay is 2h 48m.

  • Which cabin classes are available on flights from New York to Costa Rica?

    On flights from New York to Costa Rica you can book Economy Class, Premium Economy Class, Business Class or First Class.

  • What are some popular landmarks in Costa Rica?

    KAYAK travelers' favorite landmarks in Costa Rica include:

    • Parque Metropolitano La Sabana
    • Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica
    • Museo de Oro
    • Morazan Park

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from New York to Costa Rica?

    The earliest nonstop flight from New York to Costa Rica departs at 6:59 am and the latest departs at 3:32 pm. Nonstop flights take about 5h 27m.

  • What Costa Rica airport should I fly to from New York City?

    Many tourists will visit San Jose because it is the capital of and the largest city in Costa Rica. Juan Santamaria Airport is just 20min from the center of the city. It is also within driving distance of San Ramon, located an hour away. Liberia Airport is about 17min from the city of Liberia. It is in the northwestern region of the country and a short drive from the city of Guardia and popular tourist destinations like Del Coco Beach.

  • How do I get from the airports in Costa Rica into the city?

    There is a bus that goes from Liberia Airport to the heart of the city. The bus picks up outside of the departure lounge and it will take about 27min to get to Liberia. If you'd prefer, you can also hail a taxi to get you to your hotel. For tourists traveling to San Jose Airport, there is a bus that you can catch to San Jose or nearby cities. For ease and convenience, the bus picks up passengers at the Ground Transportation Center, which is across the road from the arrival hall. There is also a taxi stand outside of the airport.

  • Where can I park my car at JFK Airport?

    If you need to park your car while you're traveling to Costa Rica, you can do so in the airport's long-term parking lot. The lot is located on Lefferts Boulevard (exit 18B on Belt Parkway West). Once you park your vehicle, you can take the AirTrain JFK to your terminal.

  • Is there a lounge at San Jose Airport?

    While waiting for your plane to leave San Jose, you can relax in the VIP Lounge. The lounge has a separate bar, comfortable seating and a workstation for individuals traveling on business. You can reach the VIP Lounge just outside of Gate 5. There is a fee for each passenger visiting the lounge.

Your guide to booking New York to Costa Rica flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If you can plan ahead, the sweet spot for booking your flight is 9 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 10% lower than last-minute bookings (made within 2 weeks of departure). Not ready to commit? Set a Price Alert and we'll let you know when prices change.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, book your trip for January when flights are typically cheapest and avoid August when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Tuesday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Saturday cost about 15% more on average, so being flexible with your travel dates could help you save.
  • If you're looking to save, San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) is the cheapest airport to fly into from New York. If you have onward travel, don't forget to factor in the cost of your journey by train, bus or domestic flight.
  • Start your trip in San José, which is the most popular destination in Costa Rica. From there, it's easy to continue on to other popular destinations such as La Fortuna, Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio.
  • If you want the shortest trip, choose the nonstop route from Newark Airport to Costa Rica. If you'd rather save money, the route from New York LaGuardia Airport via Chicago O'Hare Intl (ORD) is usually the cheapest.
  • There are just two airports in Costa Rica that offer international flights. This includes the Juan Santamaria/San Jose Airport (SJO) in Alajuela (a suburb of San Jose, Costa Rica) and the Liberia Airport (LIR) in Liberia, Costa Rica.
  • You can fly non-stop to both San Jose and Liberia, Costa Rica from New York City's JFK Airport. If you have a layover on your flight plan, it will likely be in Panama City, Miami, Charlotte, or Atlanta.
  • JFK, New York International Airport is less than an hour from Newark International Airport (EWR). You can also check flights from EWR to Costa Rica.
  • There are car rental agencies at both San Jose Airport and Liberia Airport. At Liberia Airport, the car rental offices are across the street from the airport. You can rent a car at San Jose Airport close to Terminal B.
  • At JFK Airport, there are four different chapels where you can go to pray or meditate, located in Terminal 4. There is one dedicated to the Catholic faith and the others cater to followers of Judaism, Islam and the Protestant faith.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from New York to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from New York 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.
7.6
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1546 reviews
8.1Crew
7.4Comfort
7.8Boarding
6.9Entertainment
6.9Food
Airline reviews

It is not a good experience with Copa Airlines: flight delay, luggage delay, etc.

6.0 GoodAnonymous, Aug 2026
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

It is not a good experience with Copa Airlines: flight delay, luggage delay, etc.

We where skipped for this flight will not head to Panama until tonight..

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

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

At JFK the Security line was extremely long and few checkpoints open.

Check in person said there would be lunch. We were first class passengers and lunch was chips.

It was first time fling in copa airline. In general I am satisfied except bag size. I got a email from copa with 17-10-6 for carry on bag. In airport the check in show 22-14-10 . However that mistake means $100,00 in over cost.

The flight was 6 hours delayed due to equipment problems, I had to spend my night in the airport terminal in tight quarters. A bag of chips was all they offered, Then I missed my connecting flight and waited another 2 hours. All in all that trip took me almost one day.

Copa definitely offers better service and price than other airlines.

Check in was chaotic with only one counter for business class and first class. The luggage conveyor belt at JFK airport was broken so the flight departure was delayed which made the flight stressful as I had a tight connection. Although the captain said they could make up the delay, they didn’t do so.

I had a good time. However, I paid for the wifi and it was in and out the whole flight.

3 hour delay…. Nearly 2 hours sitting on tarmac. Do better, United. Or at least have the sense to not say “we hope you enjoyed your flight with us” upon disembarking.

Everything except the food and entertainment. It was a great experience though

Flight was delayed from 35 minute delayed aircraft arrival to 90 minute delay causing us to miss international connecting flight on SWISS resulting in 16 hour delay to reach detonation causing significant angst, monetary loss and discomfort. SWISS transfer desk and staff was like robots not willing to help at all.

Best part: It’s operated by All Nippon Airways. It’s quite literally comfortable, reliable and respected from boarding to landing each and every time. It’s perfection without extremity in lavishness — it’s how flying should always be!

Delays!!! Serious delays. I was told by a member of staff in LGA that I would miss my DEN to LAX flight connection, so I was put on a later flight. Due to delays I would have been able to have made my original flight, where I was sat in business class - seat 1A: I was put on my original flight but bumped from business - 1A to economy 33C. I want a refund for paying business class but only flying economy

The plane was delayed coming in and on the tarmac. I was coming from another flight so it made for a very long day. The stewardess kept trying to slam the overhead bins closed and I was worried that she had damaged my new luggage. They ran out of snacks and lccdsddd me a hummus box which was nice. It took them a very long time to pick up the garbage so I could not go to the washroom and had little time. To prepare for disbarment. The TV system was hard to control from the armrest and picture wasn’t clear. The crew did apologize several times for the lateness. It took the Denver airport an unusually long time to de-ice the plane.

Their app did not recognize my Aeroplan frequent flyer number and would not allow me access to my boarding card. Ground staff was readily available at the airport to print it out to me.

Excellent as always. Service was excellent and fully bilingual. Cannot complain .Will travel again. Always have and will continue. Highly recommended.

The plane was filthy and worn - the seat pockets were stuffed with tattered food and torn pamphlets. The cleaning crew that came on as we were deboarding were grabbing handfulls of trash and perfunctorily wiping down tables with dishrags. It's been a while since I flew Jetblue and it used to be a great experience. After this flight I will avoid flying Jetblue again if there is any alternative.

JFK is the worst airport and JetBlue is the worst airline

Very poor help no one answering a question regarding seating. Very rude staff. They don’t care, as if it’s not part of their job. Flight was delayed for no good reason and no apologies given.

A more comfortable seat. Padding would be really helpful but I've read the airlines don't want customers to be satisfied with economy seats.

When I booked, I included my checked luggage and when the bill was sent there was no record of this. Its was costly since I am from Trinidad amd Tobago. Exchange rate over seven dollars to one US dollar.

Everything was good except checking bags . I had paid for two bags but it didn’t show so we had to do it again while people waited and we were struggling to get to our flight

Plane was delayed multiple times. I would like to request a refund. Was due to arrive Thursday evening ended up arriving Friday morning.

see my previous response about being kicked off the flight and having to fly the next day, ruining a planned vacation tour.

The flight departed more than 1 hour late. Leg room is bigger than most airlines

I booked this flight using JetBlue points and I was just so happy. The plane was so clean, I had every need met. Thank you!!

Another American Airlines flight, another significant delay. At least this one wasn't canceled like many others have been. This time we sat on the runway at LaGuardia for 2.5 hours. By my count that is 7 American flights the last three months that have been delayed 2 hours or more or canceled entirely.

Our trip to Spain turned into a stressful ordeal with cockpit issues and FAA air traffic disruptions. Our American Airlines flight from Raleigh to JFK was delayed nearly four hours, causing us to miss our connections to Madrid and Jerez. We were left stranded in New York with children, even running out of diapers while trying to sort everything out. American refused to cover hotels or rental cars, leaving us to arrange and pay for them ourselves. The delays also disrupted our prepaid rental car reservations in Spain. It was a frustrating and expensive start to a family trip we had spent months planning.

Unfortunately the flight was delayed by almost 2 hours, so I missed an appointment arriving into DFW

Very cold on board it was like having 16hours sitting in a fridge

My experience was excellent for a business trip. I like the smaller jets because everyone gets either a window or aisle seat and the boarding and de-planing goes much faster. I really like the schedule American Airlines has between Atlanta and NY - lots of options. Crews are great and very accommodating. Sometimes the flights are not full and they let people move around once the boarding doors are shut to spread out.

Primary flight attendant in FC wasn't that engaged throughout the flight. All other aspects of flight were good.

Confusion at boarding with my seat (there wasn't one) that I had to have corrected using my status; then because of that had to check bags. And then a very long delay on the tarmac with no air conditioning on a very warm day. It was just a miserable experience all around.

5 hours delay - minimum communication, no compensation, no support from Airline. Terrible customer experience

Old dirty plane but great lie flat seats in business class

Our flight from Chicago to Des Moines was the problem flight due to a dismissive flight attendant. His conduct was unnecessary and unprofessional.. I will avoid using Americam Airlines again because of the situation. Very disappointing.

We booked seats next to each other. When we got the boarding passes, they were for different rows. The crew were reluctant to help us, so we ended up sitting separately. 1. What’s the point of reserving by seat number if you’re not going to honor that reservation? 2. Even if it gets messed up between reservation and boarding, how is the crew going to deny us the opportunity to arrange to sit together. There were plenty of people flying alone. It could’ve been easily accommodated. Not very customer-friendly at all.

The seats were the worst I have ever flown Too narrow, did not recline and the actual seat was hard as a rock. I will tell all travelers to stay away from Avianca flights.

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

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

I like the crew they're very friendly. I don't like. on five hour flight they not offered snacks. Any drink. Not even coffee

Not even water is offered on the flight. You cannot lean back on the seats and the seats are so narrow you can’t avoid rubbing elbows with the person next to you.

I couldnt recline the seat. Other than that crew was very attentive and helpful. Thsnk you

The seats were uncomfortable and barely reclined at all. Very little leg room despite being business class. The crew was friendly and the food was good. Had to use my own phone for in-flight entertainment.

Boarding was excessively slow. They do it by groups in a way that it doesn’t make sense. After business class , ppl that need assistance and any other priority group they should have ppl board from the back to the front. First rows 20+. Then 15+. Then 10, etc. having ppl sitting in the back board last makes no sense. The libe backame long as soon as ppl on rows 10 or so where told to board. The line went all the way up the ramp and tunnel for 25 mins.

Lounge for business was closed. Boarding was rush and stand by. Seat for business is just the middle seat blocked and some more leg room.

More options for your flight from New York to Costa Rica

Complete your trip to Costa Rica with a hotel stay or car rental