Costa Rica is a country with no army. Instead, it spends funds on education and medical facilities.[1]USA Today Why getting rid of Costa Rica’s army 70 years ago has been such a success “The country’s secret is something that virtually no other country in the world can claim — no standing army. It has used the savings from defense spending to improve education, health care and a durable social safety net.” View in Article Safety and low prices make dental work in Costa Rica, one lucrative option for dentistry abroad.
Costa Rica is a global leader in the Medical Tourism industry. The major share of medical tourists come for dental tourism in Costa Rica. This accounts for about 42% of the total medical tourists visiting CR.[2]PROMED Why Costa Rica “Costa Rica has become a global leader in Medical Tourism the big three are Quality, Convenience and especially Savings. Costa Rica is within a 3-5 hour flight from most places in the United States. The specialties most requested in Costa Rica by medical tourists are dental services (42%)” View in Article
About 95% (83% US; 11% Canada) of these tourists are North Americans. There are various reasons for Americans to opt. for dentistry in CR. Affordability compared to home country and flexible appointments being top two.[3]Havard Business School Medical Tourism Cluster “more than 95% of its customer base is from North America (US 83% and Canada 11%). The driving force behind tourists’ demand for medical services abroad is, as one might suspect, the significant cost differences. Moreover, the waiting times are much less which is attractive to patients from Canada and Germany.” View in Article
Clinics spend considerably less on salaries, insurance, and dental supplies. These savings allow them to offer rates that are much less than in the U.S.A.[5]Nation Master Average monthly disposable salary “Costa Rica: $779.04, Ranked 68th; U.S.A.: $3,258.85, Ranked 12th – 4 times more than Costa Rica” View in Article
Dentists in Costa Rica are highly educated. Nearly 80% of the physicians have received their education in the U.S. or Europe.[6]PROMED What Is Medical Tourism? “Many of the physicians, dentists and surgeons in Costa Rica were educated or have received training in American or western European medical institutions.” View in Article
While every city continues to experience the growing effects of climate change, Costa Rica can get you a vacation in the lap of nature at its best![7]Tripping 1. Costa Rica “The country undoubtedly most associated with ecotourism, Costa Rica has made a name for itself as a travel destination because of its well-protected natural beauty.” View in Article
Flights from the U.S.A. and Western Europe are relatively cheap, especially from the East coast areas like Miami, Dallas, and E.U. nations like Portugal.
If you’re wondering how much should you expect to pay for dental work in Costa Rica, study the cost table below:
Dental Work | USA | Canada | San Jose |
---|---|---|---|
Implantology | |||
Single Tooth Titanium Implant | $5,000 | $4,600 | $750 |
All-on-4 Implants (Zimmer) | $24,000 | $22,000 | $10,700 |
All-on-5 Implants (Zimmer) | $22,000 | $20,000 | $14,400 |
All-on-6 Implants (Zimmer) | $28,000 | $26,000 | $16,000 |
All-on-8 Implants (Zimmer) | $35,000 | $32,000 | $19,000 |
Implant Denture | $6,000 | $5,500 | $3,000 |
Crowns | |||
Porcelain fused to Metal Crowns (PFM) | $1,100 | $1,020 | $525 |
Zirconia Crowns | $2,000 | $1,840 | $400 |
Preventive Dentistry | |||
Tooth Extraction (Simple) | $300 | $270 | $80 |
Tooth Extraction (Surgical) | $650 | $500 | $180 |
Restorative Dentistry | |||
Root Canal Treatment (molars) | $1,500 | $1,300 | $400 |
Composite Filling | $250 | $230 | $120 |
Cosmetic Procedures | |||
Porcelain Veneers | $2,500 | $2,300 | $425 |
Laser Teeth Whitening | $1,500 | $1,380 | $400 |
Dental Implant prices in San Jose are for brand Zimmer, backed with a lifetime guarantee* ![]() |
While the price of a dental implant is around $4,000 in the U.S., it costs $750 in Costa Rica. You can save approximately 65% – 75% of your spending on dentures, from All on 4, 6, or 8 to Snap-on dentures. Moreover, some dentists accept dental insurance, which allows you to save even more!
We suggest you should do thorough research about the clinic and the treating dentist.
Dental Training USA | Dental Training Costa Rica |
---|---|
Undergraduate degree + 4 years to get DDS | 6 years to get DDS degree |
Quicker access to the latest technology | Limited access to the latest technology |
Less patient exposure | Vast patient exposure |
Costa Rica intends to become the first carbon-neutral nation by nurturing its forests. The Costa Rican government is developing plans to begin offsetting all of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Can be reached by boat. As there is a lack of modern infrastructure, the region feels wonderfully peaceful. As you float down the river, you can spot manatees, caimans, and crocodiles, as well as sloths and a variety of monkeys.
Tortuguero is also one of the best places in the world to view sea turtles. The nearby beaches are key nesting sites.
Costa Rica is home to several volcanoes, including a handful of active ones. The most popular among tourists is the Arenal Volcano.
There is a good chance of seeing toucans, parrots, and tanagers. Costa Rica is one of the best places to see hummingbirds. To date, there have been 57 species recorded in the country.
Nestled in the extreme southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula is the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, one of the most scenically beautiful areas of Costa Rica. It was the country’s first area that was protected for nature conservation.
1,788 hectares of ocean belong to the Cabo Blanco nature reserve, protecting many species of fish, large quantities of lobster, giant conches and oyster. There are plenty of opportunities for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Costa Rica’s currency is the colon (₡). The exchange rate fluctuates daily but usually works out to between ₡500-550 per US dollar.
Here is what to do before you travel:
In addition to colones, US dollars are widely accepted throughout the country. However, bills larger than $20 may not be taken by some businesses. Also, when paying for goods and services in dollars, you’ll more than likely get your change in colones.
Look for the distinctive ‘five leaves’ rating system. It’s a sign that the organization is part of the Government-run CST (Certification for Sustainable Tourism). This is a program that encourages minimizing the impact on the environment.
The number of leaves depends upon:
In a nutshell, the more effort the hotel puts into sustainability, the more leaves it gets.
Main emergency number | 911 |
Police (Fuerza Pública) | 117 |
Fire Fighters (Bomberos) | 118 |
US Embassy | +506 2519 2000 |
Canadian Embassy | +506 2242-4400 |
Sea Turtle
Toucan
Manta Ray
Costa Rica is not just a well known dental tourism location, but also one of the best locations for Eco-Tourism!
Costa Rica is a short flight from major US cities such as Miami, Houston, Orlando, New Orleans, Dallas. Visitors traveling by plane usually arrive at San Jose International Airport (IATA: SJO) 3 km (14 mi) west of downtown, in the city of Alajuela.
Origin Destination | IATA Code | Time Duration |
---|---|---|
San Jose, California | SJC | 8hr 30 min (1-stop) |
Dallas, Texas | DFW | 4hr 10 min (Direct) |
Miami, Florida | MIA | 2hr 50min (Direct) |
New York City, U.S.A. | JFK | 5hr 30min (Direct) |
U.S.A., Canada, European Union: Do not require a Visa. However, they should comply with the following requirements:
With numerous microclimatic regions stashed in one country, you can always find a spot that suits your temperature and temperament. Costa Rica has two seasons- dry season (November – April) and wet season (May – November) and temperatures averaging in the 70 degrees.
Although the dry season is very popular, the wet season has the following advantages:
You will be safe as long as you use common tourist safety precautions and take advice from authorities, hotels, and tour operators. It is important to follow the news on television and radio closely.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times like you would in any large city. Due to crime, exercise increased caution in:
Uber is safe in Costa Rica. It’s especially great to use from SJO Airport to your accommodation.
The color of licensed taxis is red. That’s the legal type and anything else that calls itself a taxi most likely is not.
Street food stands are cheap and amazing. Things are cooked before your very eyes so you won’t have to worry about things sitting in the sun all day. If you’re still worried, don’t be afraid to ask for fresh food (Comida fresca).
Eating at a soda (not to be confused with the beverage, it is a local eatery) is usually a good idea. Street food is good and CHEAPER than restaurants.
For a 2-3 star property, in San Jose, expect to pay around $70- $100. A typical tourist can expect to spend $55 – $60 a day while in Costa Rica. The activities you decide on will effect your daily budget tremendously. For a 2-3 star property, in San Jose, expect to pay around $70- $100.
Pura Vida means pure life. Costa Ricans take every opportunity to enjoy life, and this carefree term expresses general satisfaction. Pura vida is used as greeting or farewell, to express thanks, and as a response to “how are you?”
The ‘rich coast’ has earned its name and stands apart from its Central American neighbors. One of the world’s most biodiverse countries in the world, it is an excellent dental tourism destination. For more info on dental work in Costa Rica, contact us!