How to send money to Costa Rica from Australia with the best AUD-CRC rate

Comparing based on your specific needs is the best way to send money from Australia to Costa Rica with confidence.

Right now, for AUD/CRC

• Wise is our top choice for AUD to CRC transfers. Sending 1,000 AUD to CRC will cost you $22.45 in fees, and you will receive 316,554.15 CRC. The delivery time usually is same day.

• Western Union offers the lowest fees of the 7 available options. This cost combines the exchange rate between the Australian Dollar and Cost Rican Colon that is 2% different to the mid-market rate and the fee of 0 AUD.

• Fastest way to transfer money to Costa Rica from Australia is with Revolut. For example, sending $1,000 to Costa Rica with Revolut will be within minutes. But, it can be quicker or longer depending on the exact amount, as well as the day and time of your transfer.

Our analysis, and search results, include 7 providers that operate between Australia and Costa Rica. These are ranked by speed, overall cost and ease of use.

Through this, you get a comprehensive view of all the options you have in Australia when you need to send money to Costa Rica.

The exchange rate determines the price you’ll pay for Cost Rican Colon when you send Australian Dollar to Costa Rica.

The current exchange rate between the Australian Dollar and Cost Rican Colon is 326.9387, but it constantly changes.

When calculating the costs of money transfers between Australia and Costa Rica, opt for the best combination of fees and exchange rates:

• The Mid-Market and Exchange Rates: Today, the AUD-CRC mid-market rate equals 326.9387 CRC per Australian Dollar.

• Fees: Fees are charged on top of a transfer. The company offering the lowest fee is Western Union, only 0 AUD. We would recommend searching for your exact send amount to get an idea of fees.

• Amount Received: The amount received in Cost Rican Colon is the biggest indicator the total cost of sending money from Australia to Costa Rica. Essentially, the more the recipient receives in Costa Rica, the less it is costing to send from Australia.

It’s possible that waiting a day or two can help you get more CRC for the same amount of Australian Dollar. But, the best way to lock in a price between Australia and Costa Rica is by using a forward contract.

A bank transfer is the our recommended option for money transfers between Australia and Costa Rica.

Here are all the ways to send money from Australia to Costa Rica:

Bank transfers

Paying via a bank transfer is often the better option for sending money from Australia to Costa Rica.

By using a money transfer company such as Western Union for transfers from Australia to Costa Rica, you can send money and while benefit from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates than you would get with a traditional bank. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from Australia to Costa Rica with a debit or a prepaid card is easy with Wise.


Wise is a one of the better options in the market for international debit card transfers from Australia to Costa Rica.

Credit cards

When it comes to credit card transfers from Australia to Costa Rica, we recommend comparing your options to get the best deal.

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities in both Australia and Costa Rica to ensure funds are protected.

Please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide for key regulatory bodies for money transfers between Australia and Costa Rica.

Some services have minimum or maximum thresholds on how much you can transfer from Australia to Costa Rica.

Companies will offer different rates and fees for different transfer amounts. Some companies will become more expensive after certain thresholds are hit.

We’d recommend using Wise if you need to send large amounts of AUD to Costa Rica. The combination of rates and fees when sending to Costa Rica is the most competitive, even at larger amounts.

Also, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving Australia, or entering Costa Rica. Mis-understanding these could result in a slower, or even failed, transfer.

There are different ways to receive money in Costa Rica. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account. It’s likely not all providers serving transfers from Australia to Costa Rica will offer every method, so it’s best to check ahead of time.

A direct transfer to a bank account is one of the more common ways to transfer from Australia into Cost Rican Colon. Wise is the best company for bank transfers between Australia and Costa Rica.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between Australia and Costa Rica.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Western Union.

When signing up to a money transfer company to send between Australia and Costa Rica, you will need to verify your ID.

The exact documents you need might vary and in some cases you will need more than one.

For the most part, in Australia this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. In Costa Rica it will be a similar set of documents, although this should only be needed if you are opening a new account in Costa Rica, or collecting in cash.

Big transactions between Australia and Costa Rica, are subject to additional checks. A provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where the money comes from.

We recommend Wise in part due to their easy sign up process in Australia.

When sending large amounts of money between Australia and Costa Rica there will be tax implications to consider.

Some transfers into Cost Rican Colon may need to be reported to tax authorities in Costa Rica, particularly where inheritance or property purchases are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in Costa Rica based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Australia or Costa Rica to discuss your personal circumstances.