Plug Adapter for Costa Rica: Plug Type & Voltage
Quick answer: Costa Rica’s sockets are types A and B, at 120 V and 60 Hz. Those are the US’s own types, so a US plug fits with no adapter; where a socket is type A only, a three-pin type B plug does not. 120 V is in the same family as the US’s 120 V, so US devices work there as they are.
Which plug adapter you need and whether you need a voltage converter: where you live, up to three places you are going, and what you are bringing.
United States → Italy
Bring a plug adapter: type C, F or LVoltage: Italy 230 V, against 120 V at home. Check each device’s label below.
- Italy
- Type C, F, Ladapter needed · 230 V · 50 Hz
- Phone charger and laptop charger: read the label. If it says “100–240V” (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a voltage converter.
- Hair dryer: read the label. If it says “100–240V” (or has a voltage switch, set for where you are), it needs no converter, only the adapter. If it names one voltage, never plug it straight in: it needs a converter rated above the watts on the label, or bring a dual-voltage travel model instead.
- Italy uses type C, F and L sockets; your type A and B plugs are not among them.
- More than one socket type is used there: an adapter for any of them works where that socket is on the wall. Many travel adapters take several; check which it lists.
- The frequency differs from home: chargers marked 50/60 Hz do not mind; clocks and some motors made for one frequency can run fast or slow on the other.
- Drawings are simplified. An adapter changes the shape of the plug, never the voltage: that is a converter’s job.
Plug types and voltage from Wikidata, frequency from the US International Trade Administration; checked 2026-09-25. Simplified drawings. Hotels and old buildings can differ: look at the socket.
The finder above opens on Costa Rica: add up to two more countries of your trip, and your devices, for the adapter and the converter you need.
Costa Rica’s plugs and voltage
Costa Rica’s sockets are types A and B, at 120 V and 60 Hz. Those are the US’s own types, so a US plug fits with no adapter; where a socket is type A only, a three-pin type B plug does not. 120 V is in the same family as the US’s 120 V, so US devices work there as they are.
| Costa Rica | The US | |
|---|---|---|
| Plug types | A, B | A, B |
| Voltage | 120 V | 120 V |
| Frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
What your devices need
- Phones and laptops: the same voltage range as home, so it works there.
- Hair dryers and straighteners: the same voltage range as home, so it works there.
Plan it
- 12 Popular Things to Do in Costa Rica
- What should I do on my first trip to Costa Rica?
- Do you need a visa for Costa Rica?
FAQ
What plug type does Costa Rica use?
Types A and B, at 120 V and 60 Hz. Those are the US’s own types.
Do I need a plug adapter for Costa Rica?
No: its sockets are the US’s own types A and B. A three-pin plug needs a type B socket.
Do I need a voltage converter for Costa Rica?
Not for the voltage: 120 V is in the same family as the US’s 120 V.
Will my phone charger work in Costa Rica?
Almost certainly: phone chargers are usually marked 100–240V. Its label decides; the plug fits as it is.
What do the outlets look like in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s outlets take types A and B plugs: type A has two flat parallel pins; type B has two flat parallel pins and a round earth pin. The finder above draws each outlet. A US plug fits them with no adapter; where a socket is type A only, a three-pin type B plug does not.
Where this comes from
The plug types and voltages are Wikidata’s (CC0), the same data as the Travel Adapter Finder; the frequency is the US International Trade Administration’s table. A plug is said to fit only where its own type is used: some sockets take other plugs too, but that depends on the socket, so this page does not promise it. An adapter changes the shape of the plug, never the voltage: that is a converter’s job.