The lot market in October: what rose and what fell

The median asking price for a lot in Costa Rica was US$165,000 in October 2026, down 4.9% from September. Guanacaste was the exception, up 11.2%, although the source's exchange rate affects the comparison. We review price, new supply, currency, demand and budget by province.

The median price fell and Guanacaste rose

In October 2026 the median asking price for a lot in Costa Rica was US$165,000, compared with US$174,000 in September. Guanacaste went from US$143,000 to US$159,000. Heredia fell 5.3%, Puntarenas 6.1% and Limón 9.8%. San José and Alajuela slipped 1.0% and 2.9%, and Cartago stayed at 0.0%.

There is an important caveat. The source's exchange rate went from ₡525 per dollar in September to ₡460 in October, and part of the change in dollar-priced listings comes from it. Our reading: do not take the 4.9% drop as a real discount from sellers; these are asking prices and the currency moves the figure. To see specific properties, browse the land & lots for sale in Costa Rica.

Our reading: Guanacaste's increase deserves caution, because it is the only province that rose and the one most tied to dollar prices. If you are searching there, the cheap land & lots for sale in Guanacaste show the low end of supply, where the movement of the median matters less.

Where the supply is and how much of it is new

The country has 3,255 lot listings, and 178 were published in the last 30 days. San José holds the largest supply, with 1,027 listings and 60 new ones, followed by Alajuela, with 847 and 44. Guanacaste has 297 listings and 22 new ones, and Heredia 451 with 18. Cartago and Limón added nine each.

Heredia has the highest median, US$288,000, and Limón the lowest, US$96,000. Per square meter of land, Cartago asks US$221 and Limón US$40. Our reading: a high median does not always mean expensive land per meter, because lot sizes vary widely. The detail by district is in land prices in Costa Rica, and anyone searching the priciest province can start with the land & lots for sale in Heredia.

How much of the supply is priced in dollars

In Costa Rica, 57% of lots are priced in dollars. San José reaches 72%, Guanacaste 65% and Puntarenas 63%. At the other end are Alajuela, at 41%, and Cartago, at 38%. Heredia sits at 56% and Limón at 43%.

The median of lots priced in colones is US$109,000 nationwide; that of lots priced in dollars is US$257,000, more than double. Our reading: they are two different markets inside the same listing. Buyers in colones compete for smaller or more remote lots, and buyers in dollars see higher-priced land. Always compare within the same currency.

Where there is more interest in each lot

Each lot received on average 2.0 views in 30 days, and the country logged 12.7 inquiries in 90 days per 100 listings. Heredia leads inquiries, with 19.5, and has 2.5 views per listing. Guanacaste logs 15.8 inquiries and Limón 15.2, with the highest views per listing, 2.9.

At the bottom are Puntarenas, with 8.4 inquiries, and Cartago, with 6.9. San José, despite having the largest supply, sits at 10.6. Our reading: more listings do not mean more interest. Where there are fewer inquiries per listing, the buyer has more room to negotiate; where there are more, it pays to decide quickly and with the paperwork reviewed.

How many lots fit within US$100,000

In Costa Rica, 992 of the 3,255 lots, or 30%, are listed at US$100,000 or less. Limón leads with 51%, followed by Alajuela with 43%. Guanacaste and Puntarenas reach 36%, and Cartago 34%. San José sits at 22% and Heredia at 12%.

Our reading: with that budget, supply is concentrated in Alajuela, which also has 365 lots, and in Limón. In Heredia and San José the amount covers only a small part of the market. The lots for sale in Costa Rica under US$100,000 let you see all results nationwide and filter by province.

What we would do with these numbers

• Compare prices within a single currency and do not conclude a drop from October's national median alone.
• With a tight budget, start with the land & lots for sale in Alajuela, where supply at US$100,000 or less is larger.
• If you want the lowest price per square meter, review the land & lots for sale in Limón and verify access and utilities.
• If you are also comparing housing, read the analysis of the housing market in October.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the median fall if Guanacaste rose?

The national median depends on all provinces, and most fell or stayed flat: Limón gave up 9.8%, Puntarenas 6.1% and Heredia 5.3%. In addition, the source's exchange rate went from ₡525 to ₡460 per dollar, which moves the figures of dollar-priced listings. That is why the change should be read as a signal, not as a confirmed drop in sale prices.

Is it worth searching for lots priced in colones?

It depends on the budget. Nationwide, the median of lots priced in colones is US$109,000, much lower than that of lots priced in dollars. If your budget is of that order, searching in colones cuts out the noise of high prices. Even so, a lot priced in dollars can be negotiated, and it pays to compare the price per square meter of land before deciding.

Where are the most new lots published?

San José was the province with the most new listings in 30 days, with 60, followed by Alajuela with 44. Across the country 178 were added. A large new supply usually offers more options, but it does not imply more interest: Heredia, with only 18 new ones, had the highest inquiries per 100 listings, 19.5.

Methodology: the source is active listings on Anuntico in October 2026. An area needs at least 10 listings to appear. Prices listed in colones are converted to dollars at the source's exchange rate, ₡460 per US dollar in October. These are asking prices in listings, not closed sale prices. Views cover the last 30 days and inquiries the last 90, as of October 1.