$182 Find Cheap Flights from San Diego to Costa Rica - Compare and Save

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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 5 days
San José
San José1 stop$411
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$397
San José
San José1 stop$411
Liberia
Liberia1 stop$397
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica cheaper or more expensive than last year?

Fares from San Diego to Costa Rica are running about 12% lower than they were around this time last year, averaging $533 round-trip.

What are the cheapest fares from San Diego to Costa Rica right now?

The cheapest fares from San Diego to Costa Rica on KAYAK in the last week were to Liberia (LIR) from $397 round-trip, and to San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) from $411 round-trip.

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

February is the cheapest time of year to fly, with average fares of $424. Prices are highest in December, when average flight costs increase to around $764.

When is the best time to book flights from San Diego to Costa Rica?

Book your flights 26 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data collected over the past 12 months shows that booking in this window can save you around 13% compared to booking last-minute (within 2 weeks of departure).

Which airport in Costa Rica is the cheapest to fly to from San Diego?

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 $510
• Liberia (LIR) from $674

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

Wednesday tends to be the cheapest day to fly from San Diego to Costa Rica, while Saturday is the most expensive. Fares run about 25% higher that day, based on the past 12 months of KAYAK data.

What's the cheapest time of day to fly from San Diego to Costa Rica?

Data from the past 12 months shows it's cheapest to fly to Costa Rica during the evening with average prices of $482. The afternoon is the most expensive time to fly, with average prices of $688.

Key details for San Diego to Costa Rica flights

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

$182
Beat the crowds with an average 42% drop in travelers.
One-way flight from San Diego to Liberia

Your San Diego 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 San Diego to Costa Rica?

    Yes. Fares from San Diego to Costa Rica are low right now. As a rule of thumb, a round-trip under $423 (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 San Diego to Costa Rica?

    Over the past 12 months, round-trip fares from San Diego to Costa Rica have ranged from $423 to $757.

  • What are the main airports serving Costa Rica?

    Flights to Costa Rica use two main airports, San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) and Liberia (LIR).

  • What airlines fly nonstop from San Diego to Costa Rica?

    Based on the flight schedule for the next 3 months, no airline regularly operates nonstop flights from San Diego to Costa Rica. One-stop options include:

    • United Airlines
    • American Airlines
    • Copa Airlines

  • Which cabin classes are available on flights from San Diego to Costa Rica?

    On flights from San Diego to Costa Rica you can book 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

  • 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.

Your guide to booking San Diego 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 26 weeks before your trip. KAYAK data shows fares in this window are around 13% 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 February when flights are typically cheapest and avoid December when prices are at their highest.
  • Flying on Wednesday is usually the cheapest. Flights on Saturday cost about 25% 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 San Diego. 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.
  • 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.
7.9
SouthwestOverall score based on 4222 reviews
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
7.4Entertainment
8.1Boarding
7.0Food
Airline reviews

I liked how it boarded fast. I do not like how the seats are just too narrow, and I’m not a big person.

6.0 GoodRobert, Oct 2026
Read more Southwest reviews

I liked how it boarded fast. I do not like how the seats are just too narrow, and I’m not a big person.

had to check bag at gate when there was still overhead bin space. As usual the WIFI didn't really work.

Red eye from San Diego. Temperature of the cabin was way too warm and the air duct flowed very little air.

Great job Southwest! My family doesn't fly often but we felt safe the whole time.

Comfortable. Easy. No problems. Just wish they had gf options for snacks.

The charges were ridiculous for an hour flight and the turbulence was very scary.

The seats are now more narrow. I paid for front row the seats in the front are even more narrow than before.

The boarding and seat assignment system no longer works for me, but I know it is being replaced. Otherwise, I am good with the overall experience.

San Diego airport is brand new, spacious, airy and very smooth checkin at SW baggage drop.

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.

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

It would have been better if they don't separate families in seating. We were seated in the aile row in the middle of a family of four. It would have been better if they they seat the family of four together than separated.

It was good, plane is a bit older so seats are somewhat flat

Very good flight and crew Food was a surprise on a short flight

Biggest issue was that they only had two restrooms in the back of the aircraft. Too many people for only two restrooms. The trash was overflowing and there was paper on the floor too. Long lines in the isle to use it. Food was also a bit meh. They don’t offer snacks with drinks, so you might want to buy a snack to hold you off on a longer trip, since the meals are very small.

Everything was smooth and crew was very polite and friendly.

I like that they served a mail, I’m not sure about the in-flight entertainment. I didn’t really check. staff helped me with my luggage. Smooth boarding smooth takeoff smooth flight

The seats had plenty of leg room and the staff were very nice.

Copa performed as expected for the amount of money I was willing to spend for the flight; it wasn’t exceptional but it was not bad in any way either. The crew was good; friendly and straightforward. The food was airplane food, so no expectations there and the entertainment was lacking but that was my fault for owning an IPhone with a charging port that’s not compatible with the rest of the world. I’d fly Copa again.

Left my bags in origin city on a business class ticket , spent about 2-3 days in the same clothes plus the flight .

Entertainment was great. Seats were good. They did not have my pre-ordered hot food product available but did comp me something cold in place of the item.

Food was good. Clean aircraft. But why do the airlines make the seats so narrow?! Your executives should have ride in a seat so restrictive for 11 hours and see how miserable it is! When.we got to MUC they changed my boarding gate 3 times for my next flight!!!!

Flight was on time, clean, etc. Despite connecting to your wi fi I was unable to use your app to watch entertainment.

The back to back mechanical delays from Denver to San Diego and then on my return flight from Denver to Great Falls it added extra time both ways

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Over 2.5 hour maintenance delay on first morning flight with no acknowledgement, compensation or even gesture of good will. Aircraft had overnighted at airport so issue should have been addressed prior to boarding. Over 3.5 hours before first slow and deliberate beverage service.

Complimentary light meal would be appreciated. But great flight crew service on all legs

The food was terrible this time. Otherwise pleasant, quiet, on-time.

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.

I was assigned the last seat in the last row directly in front of the bathrooms at check-in when there were plenty of open non-upcharge seats available. That seat should not be given out unless it’s the absolutely last one available. I had traveled/waited for over 10 hours and to get that seat on my final of 3 flights from Rio was a slap in the face.

I bought the ticket as a work/ business issued ticket, meaning my company probably payed extra for a flight of I bought by myself I would avoid let gol manage the entire reservation with its partner America. The App from gol and America were not able to properly handle check-in and information about the trip. Creating unnecessary confusion, also preventing properly define seats even by paying the fee. The boarding on Miami was in a very disconnected gate, that had limited access to other gates and food. So, I would avoid this route in the future in my travel. There are better routes.

GOL turned out to be a very decent airline . To be honest better than I expected.

Was given all 3 boarding passes. Was refused boarding to Brasilia in Miami even though I had up to date Brazilian Visa and US passport. Had to return to Phoenix as trip was cancelled. Waiting for refund of the fare. Missed my son's birthday and visit with him and his wife.

The pilots landing and taking off was very bad on the first flight, the second one taking off was great but landing was also rough

The check in and on the ground experience is very poor. Their online check and trip management is the worst I have ever seen and they have long lines to check in at the airport, technology is glitchy/unusable and have exorbitant baggage fees. The flight itself is fine, although the food is about what you would expect and their was no functioning entertainment for an international flight.

My experience with this flight was extremely negative and resulted in serious financial and personal consequences. The flight departed with a significant delay, which caused me to miss my international connecting flight. As a direct result of this delay — which was entirely beyond my control — I was unable to reach my final destination on time, causing me to lose a previously scheduled hair transplant surgery that had been arranged months in advance. This was not a minor inconvenience. The surgery involved: • A reserved operating room • Medical and technical staff scheduled specifically for that date • Surgical instruments prepared in advance • Strict scheduling that does not allow for easy rescheduling Due to the airline’s delay and poor handling of the situation: • I lost already paid international flight tickets • I was forced to purchase new tickets, incurring duplicate expenses • I spent over six additional hours in airports, under stressful conditions • I incurred unexpected costs for meals and transportation • I lost a medical opportunity that cannot be easily recovered, along with the emotional distress associated with it Although the airline covered one night of hotel accommodation, this did not address the real impact of the delay, nor the significant damages caused by missing a critical medical procedure. The lack of punctuality, planning, and effective solutions reflects a serious lack of responsibility toward passengers, especially when international connections and time-sensitive medical commitments are involved. I do not recommend this airline for travelers with important schedules, medical appointments, or critical connections. In my case, the delay did not merely cause inconvenience — it resulted in the loss of a surgery and substantial financial damage.

I was not able to get on the flight due to delays out of Philadelphia. I arrived in MIA at 10:30pm and there was no one at the GOL Desk. Is there any flight credit available for this flight?

Unfortunately it was very disappointed experience. Our first flight our was delayed 2 hours, as a consequence we missed our connecting international flight. Customer server at Miami American Airlines was very disrespectful, gave us the worst replace itenarary for the next day that we had to spend 2 hours calling Gol to get a better itinerary otherwise we wouldn't make it on time to fulfill our trip purpose. We would have missed the reason to travel all the way to Brazil if we didn't change for a better itinerary. The worst thing is that our baggage was missing for 4 days. We had no cloths for all this time, plus the aggravation to locate our baggage. Nobody knew where our baggage was. We ended up picking it up at the airport when they said that they will bring them home. Unfortunately our experience was very dissatisfied.

Lost luggage, people are not very nice to help you , I was just instructed to fill out a baggage claim online, they were not helpful when I had additional questions after I completed the form on my phone.

I was truly shocked at how poor this flight went. The crew was not friendly during the checking process. The asked for people to gate check and were rude about it. They didn't handle my luggage with care. When I got to my seat I noticed a large section of the ceiling vent area was, no joke, TAPED TOGETHER WITH CLEAR PACKING TAPE! To add insult to injury, the back rest button was disabled on my seat and all the seats I could see. The wifi, never connected for me, despite troubleshooting it for a while. I did everything from restarting my wifi/phone to forgetting the network and restarting the app. But that didn't stop the mandatory 2 ads from playing every single time. Even the bags took over 45 mins to arrive at the carousel. Everything about this flight was a flop and I am beginning to notice that some of these events are becoming a trend. Perhaps it's time I switch loyalty programs.

Had to pay for WiFi, delayed start, and sat on the runway forever.

More space for economy, and the bathroom size is only for people with size XS

Well, true to American Airlines, both of my flights were delayed. But it’s a good thing that American is so consistently incompetent because if the first flight was delayed in the second flight was on time then I might’ve had a problem..

Was not able to do a online check-in because the American Airlines system doesn't store our visa or other passport information, allowing us to have a trouble-free check-in. We were forced to have to check-in at the counter which Changes are upgrade status given that we were not able to check in much earlier.

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.

Cramped seats. FAA should make airlines have more legroom, for even short people complain

Flight was full, and would have preferred an aisle seat, but due to getting a late ticket ,the seat I had was adequate. The flight crew were very help full and hard working. Food and drink were excellent for the 11hr flight. Overall I was pleased with flight, and would recommend British Airways again.

The plane was late and then sat on the runway for almost 45 minutes before taking off.

More options for your flight from San Diego to Costa Rica

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