Voice
How to Call Costa Rica
This guide provides helpful tips for calling Costa Rica from the U.S. Learn how to make calls to Costa Rica with confidence.
The Costa Rica country code is +506. Use +506 as the international dialing prefix for calls to Costa Rica from any country, then dial the 8 digits after +506. The ISO codes are CR and CRI.
COSTA RICA COUNTRY CODE
+506
Dial before any costa rican number from outside Costa Rica
What is the country code for Costa Rica?
| Quick reference | Detail | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Country Code | +506 | Dial before a costa rican number |
| ISO Code | CR / CRI | Country identifiers |
| International Prefix | +506 | Use for calls into Costa Rica |
| Trunk Prefix | 0 | Use only for domestic dialing |
| Number Length | 8 digits after +506 | Area or mobile code plus subscriber number |
| Emergency | 911 | Police, fire, and ambulance |
Good to know: Costa Rica uses 8-digit national numbers with no area codes. Mobile numbers start with 5, 6, 7, or 8.
For costa rican numbers, there is no trunk prefix or area code. Dial the national number directly within Costa Rica. From another country, place +506 before the number.
How to call Costa Rica
Use this universal format: exit code, then +506, then the 8 digits after +506.
- Dial your exit code, or press + on a mobile phone.
- Dial 506 for Costa Rica.
- Dial the 8 digits after +506.
International call flow:
1. Exit code
→
2. +506
→
3. Local number
→
4. Dial
Exit code by country
US and Canada
011
UK and most of Europe
00
Australia
0011
Mobile, any country
+
Costa Rican numbers have no area codes. 8-digit national numbers dial directly.
Dialing format and examples
The +CC format works on any mobile phone. Use +506 2100 1234 for a San Jose landline and +506 8123 4567 for a mobile number.
| Origin | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| US/Canada | 011 506 8 digits after +506 | 011 506 21001234 |
| UK | 00 506 8 digits after +506 | 00 506 21001234 |
| Australia | 0011 506 8 digits after +506 | 0011 506 21001234 |
| Mobile, any country | +506 8 digits after +506 | +506 21001234 |
For other dialing guides, see How to call the Netherlands or How to call Germany.
What a Costa Rica number looks like
A costa rican phone number in international format has two parts. The country code +506 and the national number.
Landline
+506 | 21 | 1234567
Mobile
+506 | 81 | 2345678
Number format and length
After +506, costa rican numbers contain 8 digits after +506. Landlines and mobile numbers follow the national format.
| Number type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose landline | +506 XX XXX XXXX | +506 2100 1234 |
| San Jose landline | +506 XX XXX XXXX | +506 2100 1234 |
| Costa Rican mobile | +506 XX XXX XXXX | +506 8123 4567 |
Format a Costa Rica number for WhatsApp
For WhatsApp, save the Costa Rican number in international format with +506. A Costa Rican mobile written as 8123 4567 becomes +506 8123 4567. You can also save it without spaces as +50681234567.
If your team needs a costa rican number for customer calls or local presence, see Telnyx Phone Numbers for numbers in 140+ countries with instant activation.
Good to know: WhatsApp needs the full international format. Costa Rican numbers have no trunk prefix to drop.
Costa Rica number formats and emergency numbers
Costa Rican numbers follow the national format. From another country, place +506 before the national number.
| City or region | Domestic code | International code |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | (none) | +506 |
| Alajuela | (none) | +506 |
| Cartago | (none) | +506 |
| Heredia | (none) | +506 |
| Limon | (none) | +506 |
| Puntarenas | (none) | +506 |
| Number type | Dialed in NL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 | Police, fire, ambulance |
| Toll-free | 0800 | Free from costa rican lines, not always reachable from abroad |
| Premium rate | 0900 | Can cost more than standard calls |
| Business numbers | 085 | Non-geographic business lines |
Keep in mind: 911 works inside Costa Rica only. If you are outside Costa Rica, call the emergency number for your current location. Some service numbers may not accept calls from outside Costa Rica.
Cost and best time to call Costa Rica
Call cost and timing depend on your carrier, your country, and whether you call a landline, mobile, toll-free, or premium-rate number.
How much does it cost to call Costa Rica
For business calling, Telnyx SIP Trunking gives per-minute pricing for calls to costa rican landline and mobile destinations with usage-based pricing and no monthly minimums. Your total cost can change based on call volume, destination type, and fees from your current provider.
| Calling method | Cost pattern | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile carrier | Plan rate or international fee | Personal calls |
| International add-on | Recurring fee plus lower per-minute rates | Repeat callers |
| VoIP or SIP | Per-minute pricing by destination type | Teams and high-volume calling |
Good to know: Ask your provider whether costa rican mobile calls are priced differently from landline calls. They often are.
Time zones and best time to call
Costa Rica follows Central Standard Time, UTC-6, year-round with no daylight saving. For business calls, aim for 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Costa Rican time.
| Calling from | Offset from NL | Best call window |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | CR offset varies | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. UK time |
| US Eastern | CR offset varies | 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET |
| US Pacific | CR offset varies | 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. PT |
Good to know: Time differences can shift for short periods because daylight saving dates do not match in every country.
Is calling Costa Rica free
Calling Costa Rica is not automatically free. It may be free if your mobile or landline plan includes Costa Rica calling, if both parties use an app over data, or if a company gives you a reachable local number.
WhatsApp and similar apps do not charge per minute for app-to-app calls, but your internet or roaming plan may charge for data. Business callers can use SIP Trunking with usage-based pricing for the lowest per-minute rates.
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