Costa Rica Power Plugs, Wall Sockets & Electrical Outlets
In Costa Rica, power plugs and sockets (electrical outlets) of Type A (NEMA 1-15, two flat parallel pins, ungrounded) and Type B (NEMA 5-15, two flat parallel pins plus round grounding pin, grounded) are used. Wall sockets run at 120V and 60Hz. Check if you need a travel adapter, electrical adapter or voltage converter before travelling to Costa Rica.
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Costa Rica uses:
Power Sockets and Plug Types in Costa Rica
A Costa Rica power plug will almost always be either a Type A or Type B design, the same two plug standards used throughout North America. Type A plugs have two flat parallel pins and are ungrounded, while Type B plugs add a round grounding pin for extra safety. Costa Rica's electrical system runs on 120 volts at 60Hz, so travelers coming from countries with similar voltage will find their devices work without any need for a converter.
Do All Sockets in Costa Rica Look the Same?
Not every wall socket in Costa Rica looks identical. Older buildings and budget accommodations may only have two-pin Type A outlets that accept ungrounded plugs, while newer construction, hotels, and commercial buildings are more likely to feature three-pin Type B outlets. Because Type B outlets are backward compatible and accept both Type A and Type B plugs, most visitors won't run into compatibility issues regardless of which socket style they encounter.
- Type A (NEMA 1-15): two flat parallel pins, ungrounded, 15A, 100-127V
- Type B (NEMA 5-15): two flat parallel pins plus a round grounding pin, grounded, 15A, 100-127V
Costa Rica Travel Adapter Guide
Whether you need a travel adaptor for Costa Rica depends entirely on the shape of your home country's plugs. Visitors from the United States, Canada, and other nations that already use Type A or Type B plugs can plug their devices in directly, since the plug top on their chargers and appliances will fit Costa Rican outlets without modification. Travelers from countries using round-pin or other plug styles, such as much of Europe, Asia, or Australia, will need an adapter to reshape their plug to fit Costa Rica's flat-pin sockets.
Where to Buy a Travel Adapter for Costa Rica
Travel adapters for Costa Rica are widely available before you even leave home, including at airport shops, electronics retailers, and online marketplaces. Once in Costa Rica, larger supermarkets, pharmacies, and shops catering to tourists in popular destinations sometimes stock basic adapters, though selection may be limited outside major towns. It's generally more reliable to pack a universal travel adaptor in your luggage rather than count on finding one locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your home plug type. If your devices already use Type A or Type B plugs, as found in the United States and Canada, no adapter is needed; otherwise, a travel adapter is required to fit Costa Rica's flat-pin outlets.
Yes, in most cases. Costa Rica runs on 120V at 60Hz, which matches the electrical standard used in the US, Canada, and several other countries, so phone chargers designed for that voltage range will work without a converter.
If your plugs aren't already Type A or Type B, pack a suitable adapter to match Costa Rica's flat-pin sockets. It's also worth bringing a grounded Type B adapter if you're traveling with laptops or other equipment that requires a grounding pin for safety.
Some are and some aren't. Costa Rica uses both ungrounded Type A outlets and grounded Type B outlets, with newer buildings more likely to feature the three-pin grounded Type B version.
