The colón hit another record this week, sitting around ₡481* to $1 (USD). It’s the strongest it has been in about twenty years, and if your income or savings are in dollars, you’re probably noticing the difference when you convert. And if you’re coming from Canada, the impact is even harsher.

Using ₡50,000 as an example makes this easier to see.

That shift from ₡690 down to ₡481 is roughly a 30% drop in how far your dollars stretch here.

Same errands. Same groceries. Same phone bill. The exchange rate is the only part that changed.

This is one of those practical realities of living abroad that people don’t often consider ahead of time, but it has an impact. A stronger colón changes what your dollars look like when you’re living here.

If you’re planning a move or already here and trying to make sense of how these shifts affect your daily budget, ​book a call and let’s chat​. Over the years, I’ve watched the exchange rate rise and fall many times, and I can help you prepare for how those changes show up in everyday life.

*Exchange rates differ from bank to bank. ₡481 was what BCR showed as their exchange rate a few days ago. Today’s exchange rate at Banco Promerica is ₡480 whereas BCR is ₡484 and Google will tell you it’s at ₡489.