$140 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica departing on 11/18. 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.
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Cheap Flights from San Diego to Costa Rica

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
San José
San José1 stop$300
Liberia
Liberia2 stops$437
San José
San José1 stop$300
Liberia
Liberia2 stops$437

Book Cheap San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica

Wed, Dec 3 - Sun, Dec 7
Copa Airlines Logo
8:12 pm - 1:53 pmSAN-SJO
15h 41m1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
4:08 am - 5:37 pmSJO-SAN
15h 29m1 stop
$300Copa Airlines
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Sun, Mar 29 - Mon, Apr 6
Copa Airlines Logo
9:11 pm - 4:47 pmSAN-SJO
18h 36m3 stops
Copa Airlines Logo
8:48 am - 6:10 pmSJO-SAN
10h 22m1 stop
$305Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Dec 8 - Thu, Dec 11
Copa Airlines Logo
8:12 pm - 7:10 amSAN-SJO
8h 58m1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
6:07 pm - 5:37 pmSJO-SAN
25h 30m1 stop
$308Copa Airlines
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Mon, Jan 26 - Tue, Feb 3
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 8:39 pmSAN-SJO
12h 24m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 4:36 pmSJO-SAN
9h 51m1 stop
$312United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, Feb 3 - Wed, Feb 11
American Airlines Logo
10:45 pm - 1:54 pmSAN-SJO
13h 09m2 stops
American Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 6:31 pmSJO-SAN
14h 31m2 stops
$316American Airlines
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Tue, Nov 11 - Tue, Nov 18
United Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 8:39 pmSAN-SJO
12h 24m2 stops
United Airlines Logo
2:20 pm - 11:44 pmSJO-SAN
11h 24m2 stops
$331United Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Nov 27 - Sat, Dec 6
American Airlines Logo
6:20 am - 6:15 pmSAN-SJO
9h 55m1 stop
American Airlines Logo
3:01 pm - 10:33 pmSJO-SAN
9h 32m1 stop
$333American Airlines
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Sun, Jan 25 - Tue, Feb 10
Delta Logo
10:30 pm - 1:50 pmSAN-LIR
13h 20m1 stop
Delta Logo
2:05 pm - 10:47 pmLIR-SAN
10h 42m1 stop
$513Delta
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Sun, Jan 25 - Tue, Feb 10
Delta Logo
7:55 pm - 1:24 pmSAN-LIR
15h 29m2 stops
Delta Logo
2:05 pm - 10:47 pmLIR-SAN
10h 42m1 stop
$517Delta
Find Deal
Mon, Apr 6 - Sat, Apr 11
Southwest Logo
8:40 pm - 1:15 pmSAN-LIR
15h 35m2 stops
Southwest Logo
2:15 pm - 7:30 amLIR-SAN
18h 15m2 stops
$737Southwest
Find Deal
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Diego to Costa Rica flights

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

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Costa Rica?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica is October, when tickets cost $323 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and February, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $970 and $680 respectively.

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

The average price of all round-trip flights from San Diego to Costa Rica clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

For San Diego to Costa Rica, Monday is the cheapest day to fly on average and Saturday is the most expensive. Flying from Costa Rica back to San Diego, the best deals are generally found on Thursday, with Sunday being the most expensive.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 15% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 18 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonAugust
Cheapest flight$140
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 8% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 7% increase in price.
Flight from San Diego to San José

FAQs - booking Costa Rica flights

  • Where can you dine at the departure airport?

    There are both dine-in and grab-and-go dining options at the San Diego airport. There is a fair mix of well-known and regionally-owned restaurants at the airport. Nearly all of the city's gastronomic staples, including Phil's BBQ, The Prado, and Elegant Desserts, are present along with several locally-produced alcoholic beverages like Ballast Point Bar and Stone Brewing. Each has a different opening and closing hour, though. You can also order food from the airport restaurants through the At Your Gate app.

  • Where can you shop at the departure and arrival airports?

    MAC Cosmetics, MindWorks, which sells toys and games, and Gaslamp Marketplace, where you can buy regional goods and souvenirs, are just a few of the well-known stores at the San Diego airport where you can shop. At Terminal 2 near gates 20–21, there are duty-free shops. In addition, there are five duty-free stores at the SJO airport, four on the airside and one on the landside, for travelers who want to shop when they arrive. Other airside stores that sell jewelry and cosmetics are also available.

  • Where can you get a spa treatment at the departure and arrival airports?

    If you're looking for spa services at the San Diego International Airport, you can also stop by The Be Relax Spa in Terminal 2 which provides massages, facials, oxygen and light therapy, and other treatments. You can also get a spa treatment on arrival at SJO airport. Spa Mioderma offers a variety of spa services, including as massages, facials, pedicures, and more. This spa is located on the airside at gates 5 and 10.

  • Where can you exchange currency at SJO airport?

    Since the currency used in San Diego is the dollar while in Costa Rica it is the colon, you may have to exchange some money. In SJO, currency exchange services are available at the airport lobby. These services are offered by Global Exchange and BAC San Jose. You can also withdraw at the BAC branch since they offer withdrawals in colones, euros, and dollars.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

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

    The cheapest time of day to fly to Costa Rica is generally in the evening, when round-trip flights cost $563 on average. Morning departures are around 100% cheaper 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 $672.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Costa Rica

  • The airport's lounges are available to passengers who want to unwind before their journey at San Diego International Airport. The lounges provide comfort, free refreshments, and food. The Airspace Lounge has shower facilities. Additionally, there are lounges including the United Club and the Delta Sky Club.
  • At the San Diego International Airport, lactation rooms are available for parents who prefer a private setting to nurse their children. In Terminal 1, there are two of them, and Terminal 2 has one more. In these rooms, you can find conveniences like a sink, a seat for kids, and comfortable seats.
  • If you wish to rent a car at SJO airport, there are various car rental providers at the airport such as Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, and SIXT. You can consider booking in advance since it may be cheaper and you might also get discounts.
  • There are only a few food concessions available at Liberia Airport if you wish to eat when you arrive. Bar Imperial, Britt Cafe & Bakery, and Cafe Players are a few places to eat.
  • There are numerous ways to go from the airport to the city center for those arriving at the Liberia airport. A public bus operates between the airport and the city. There are both private and shared taxis in the ground transportation area for individuals who desire them. Additionally, there are several car rental companies at the airport, including Avis, Budget, and Economy.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Diego to Costa Rica

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from San Diego 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.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4242 reviews
8.0Comfort
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.6Crew
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

8.0 ExcellentGreg, Oct 2025OAK - BUR
Read more Southwest reviews

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

Sacrament staff are always polite and helpful. Airport is easy to maneuver and boarding is straightforward.

As always, the entire Southwest experience was wonderful, from online booking to flight to baggage retrieval. Very grateful.

The weather could have been better. There was a 40 minute ATC delay in SFO because of marine fog and a micro cell storm delayed landing and take-off at Nashville. The gate was changed 5 minutes from boarding from gate B3 to gate C23 at Nashville airport.

The cabin was quiet for the redeye flight. The area was clean. The staff was great. The 787 Max was in good condition. Drawbacks were that the seat widths were tight for some passengers. The seat padding was at best average and for a long flight uncomfortable.

Delayed flight. Nicest crew member was a SW pilot flying seated next to me who kindly move to seat the final passenger. Flight extra delayed. My cup of refreshment of ginger ale was so packed with ice it was literally 2 sips.

No trays in our seats, we sat in first row, purchased a business class fare. Had to hold our drinks and snack in our hands. No plugs for our cell phones. Had to pay for it a drink cocktail each. Seats so uncomfortable.

Flight wasn’t even full, but too many carry-ons caused us to run out of bin space. New bag fee has folks who would usually check their bags carrying on. Watching Southwest morph into Spirit/Frontier is so sad to watch

Southwest is Southwest. No frills. If you're luck enough to get a happy crew (we did), then it makes for a nicer flight.

It was a perfect flight in all aspects! Both legs!

Staff were friendly and happy. Delta could make sure passengers that don't have the app know of changes. Without Kayak I would not have known about the change of gate or the delay. Kayak was faster to notify me.

The flight used a B767 with a very old interior from before 2014. The entertainment system did not work at all during the flight despite attempts to reset the system. It was like they flew this route just to be competitive.

Delayed flight (1hour) plus a long layover after an overnight flight with no backup plane available.

Flight delayed for two and half hours and then canceled altogether due to mechanical issues. No mechanic onsite to fix so had to send one from LAX.

My husband upgraded our seats and I don't know if it was due to the type of planet was or if they didn't upgrade our seats. We were supposed to be in I believe comfort seats and they were just as tight as any other seat- no leg room and we are very tall people but at least it wasn't extremely cold. My husband did put in a complaint about our seating because he paid extra and if we would have known that the space and the tightness would have been the same, we just would have gotten the emergency row emergency row seats that we normally get. We love Delta but both our flights coming home we're not good. Oh I forgot to mention that on our flight to Hawaii our luggage wheels got broke and we had to purse new luggage on vacation then we never had this problem so we didn't know protocol and reported it after we got home only for them to tell is we only had 24hrs to report the damage. Not sure what was going on with Delta this vacation trip.

Crew was excellent. Comfort seats not as nice as other kinds of planes.

It was a great flight and the stewards and stewardess were all kind and accommodating!! The seats were comfortable and entertainment screen excellent!

There are 4 flights in consecutive gates with about the same departure time. Two flights were boarding at the same time. One was delayed or boarding would be happening at the same time. I am not sure what Delta and LAX need to do to have a better layout at the end of Terminal 2

There was a security issue at the airport and we were unable to land. We circled endlessly and then landed at another airfield for fuel. We then circled the airport again, almost landed but didn’t fully touch down before circling again. I am thankful to the crew for keeping us safe- the issue was the airline and staff at the airport getting us seats on our connecting flights. That part was hours of searching for someone and getting in double my steps.

Most aspects were good however if they assign boarding zones they ought to enforce them or why bother? My luggage from SAN-JFK-MAD was lost in NY so I without my main bag for two days upon arrival in Spain. They were helpful in tracking it and eventually delivered it to my hotel. The flub was because of a delay upon arrival in NYC. I had booked 2 1/2 hours between flights but we had to hold on the taxiway for an hour after landing while waiting for a clear gate which likely caused the baggage error.

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

Some of the Air hostesses are not that friendly. Need improvement

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.

Cops Airlines is fantastic! The level of care and professionalism provided by the entire crew was top rate.

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

Very happy with my flight. I would definitely recommend it.

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

Had to go through security at the gate again. Had to take off shoes and go through the whole thing again even though we have global entry. They asked us to check in items bought at duty free during our layover and since we checked our luggage at the original departure airport, they forced us to check in a small backpack. None of this ever happened with other airlines. In addition, no vegetarian food option and no snacks during a 7 hr flight. Luggage limits are unusually small. This is unacceptable. Will NEVER fly Copa again and will tell friends and family to avoid this airline.

We paid extra with copa for seats near one another The plane was changed and we lost our seats We were all Separated. We have not received a refund for our seats despite emailing and calling.

Same as last comment. Food sucks. Quality. Not surprising most people have no clue about nourishment Clearly

The flight attendants were great, I joked with one I can’t remember her name, a blond, really sweet. I thought it was run well very professional. This was great i survived Spirit, I know for which I speak.

We were in business class. the angled seats in that class do not have a real window view & the placement of the controls are bad. But we knew that. But the food options were mediocre. The taste was fine, but the size was for a child. It’s just really feels like United is skimping on everything. Even when we were in the Polaris lounge they did not have diet sodas. They said they were out no Coke zero no Diet Coke, etc. I do not think the portion of nuts they serve on the plane could get any smaller. Really a minimal service and offer for what you’re paying for in business.

I was in first class. The outlets at my seat did not work. The plane was shabby and run down. I had prepurchsed a day subscription for internet that was not redeemable. I had to repurchase the internet for my flight and then it didn’t work anyway. Quite disappointed in what was supposed to be the launch of a great vacation.

We had to deboard 2 times due to maintenance issues. They changed the plane, and then we got deviated to LAX due to maibtenance issues on the other plane, had to sleep at LAX and los a full day.

From the first moment you interact with United Airlines, you can expect nothing less but extreme frustration. The baggage handler at the bag drop seems completely unbothered by the presence of customers waiting in line. No help was extended to load the baggage whatsoever. And if any of your bags is overweight by 0.01 pound they will make you re-distribute everything in your suitcase just to play power trip. When it was time to board no help was extended to customers to locate their seats. Moreover. It was a chaotic mess at the gate when it was unclear who should board first and everyone just bunched up, trying to get on the plane. I am sure the crew was doing their best to perform their jobs while being paid their wages however it shouldn’t be that hard to smile once or twice when you’re in the business if serving customers. It is a shame for the United States of America to have a flagship carrier of such low caliber. Our flight was also delayed by about an hour and a half due to further delays prior to our inbound flight. Being someone who has travelled for both business and leisure in Asia, Europe, and South America I have never experienced such poor quality of service.

I understand stuff happens, but plane failures are likely due to lack of maintenance. Additionally, air conditioning wasn't working, no snack/drink service, no WiFi. Fortunately, the crew was communicative and light-hearted. United grabbed another plane and we were able to get to our destination.

The pilots were late and it made us 1 hour late. The meat was tough and bok choy was also tough.

Stuck on tarmac for two hours plus a 5.5 hour flight. Rude flight attendant. And no meals, not even for purchase!

I learned that seating towards the end of plane that a line forms for the restroom and people use your chair as a hand railing, bumping your seat consistently. I was seated in the aisle. I think that next time if I am towards the back row I would want to sit in the middle or window seat.

The flight was flawless and we even arrived between 20 and 25 minutes early!

Always seated jammed in rear of aircraft Admirals Club food at DFW terminal D was absolute worst food experience and I pay $600/year to eat this dried out junk

Mostly good. Flight was crowded but Airline personnel were very friendly & accommodating. It would be good to have savory snacks rather than just sweet Biscoff cookies.

It was a red eye flight, so no meals were provided, but it was fine with snacks. The seats felt cramped and almost too narrow.

Very crowded flight but what can you expect these days?? Crew was accommodating.

The seats in economy were appeared to be quite thin and lack sufficient cushioning to be comfortable. Perhaps it was my seating position but the plane seemed notably load.

The entertainment package was vast and the selections were very current. Keep updating it was great.

The seat was so hard my tailbone was aching The crew was kind of a b**** because I made a joke that I didn't care if they close the door I total c*** when she was trying to f****** act like she was mad at me because I said that The flight was bumpy. Sure you didnt have control over that.

4 hours late, including over +1 hour waiting in plane to take off. Baggage left behind too.

While waiting to claim my checked luggage, I discovered the airline had lost it. After a long wait and inquiries, I discovered it was on another flight. Fortunately, the airline finally sent my luggage home.

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Diego to Costa Rica

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