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🇨🇷Shipping guide

Shipping from the US to Costa Rica — landed-cost calculator

Costa Rica receives more than $1B in personal imports from the US every year, yet most buyers find out about IVA, DAI duty, and casillero fuel surcharges only when their package arrives. This page lets you paste any Amazon, Walmart or Best Buy link and see the real delivered cost — including the fees the casilleros bury at checkout.

CR offers CAFTA-DR preferential duties on most US-origin goods (electronics, books, baby gear typically clear at 0% DAI), but apparel and footwear still hit ~14%. We model the full DGT tariff schedule plus IVA, Ley 6946 (1%), the customs-broker fee, and per-province last-mile surcharges (GAM vs outside-GAM delivery).

Calculate my landed cost → 🇨🇷 Costa RicaShipping from 🇨🇳 China to Costa Rica

Taxes & duties for imports into Costa Rica

ChargeRateNotes
IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado)13%Applied on CIF + DAI + selective.
DAI (import duty)0–14%CAFTA-DR brings most US-origin to 0%. Apparel/shoes 14%.
Ley 69461%Flat 1% on CIF.
Selective consumption0–95%Alcohol, tobacco, sugary drinks only.
De minimisNoneCR taxes from the first dollar — no duty-free threshold.
Customs broker$15–$50Casilleros usually waive on régimen simplificado (under $1k).

Top carriers shipping to Costa Rica

Aeropost

casillero

Aeropost (formerly known as TaCa Cargo) is the largest casillero network in Central America. Founded in Costa Rica, they operate Miami warehouses and offer door-to-door delivery in every country we cover.

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JetBox

casillero

JetBox is a Costa-Rica-focused casillero known for the lowest published per-lb rate ($2.60/lb) in the country. They charge a $1.50 handling fee plus 2% insurance — modest hidden fees compared to bigger players.

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Paper Plane

casillero

Paper Plane built a flat-fee model: $6.50/lb covers shipping, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery to anywhere in Costa Rica. No hidden surcharges, no broker fee, no insurance line item.

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Box Correos

casillero

Box Correos is operated by Correos de Costa Rica (the national postal service). They offer competitive rates with home-delivery options across the country and presence in Panama and El Salvador too.

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DHL Express

express

DHL Express Worldwide is the gold standard for international express. From the US to Central America: 3–6 business days. From China (Zone 25): 4–7 business days. The flat-rate tariff is public and verifiable.

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FedEx

express

FedEx International Priority is the main competitor to DHL Express for fast tracked delivery. Similar transit times, comparable rates, ~23% fuel surcharge.

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Quick tips for importing to Costa Rica

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to ship from the US to Costa Rica?▾
Expect $2.50–$8 per pound depending on the casillero. JetBox is usually cheapest at ~$2.60/lb plus $1.50 handling and 2% insurance. DHL/FedEx Express runs $14–$22/lb but lands in 3–5 days vs 5–10 days for casilleros.
What taxes do I pay on a $200 import to Costa Rica?▾
On a $200 electronics shipment with $30 freight: ~$1.30 Ley 6946, $0 DAI (CAFTA-DR), $30.20 IVA — total $231.50 landed. Apparel of the same value would add $32 DAI (14%).
Do casilleros really charge hidden fees?▾
Yes — fuel surcharges (5–15%), handling ($1–$5), pre-alert fees, insurance (1–2% of value), and weekend delivery upcharges are common but rarely shown until checkout. We surface all of them line-by-line.
Is there a duty-free threshold in Costa Rica?▾
No. Unlike Panama ($100 de-minimis) or Nicaragua ($200), Costa Rica taxes imports from the first dollar. Even a $20 item pays IVA + duty.

Ready to see your true landed cost to 🇨🇷 Costa Rica?

Paste any US retailer URL and we'll show every carrier, every fee, and the final delivered price in 10 seconds. No signup.

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