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Costa Rica

$84+ Cheap flights from Houston to Costa Rica

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 5/22. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
HOU — SJO
Apr 21 — Apr 281
Tue 4/21
Tue 4/28
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Houston to Costa Rica

Cheapest flights from Houston to Costa Rica
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Houston to Costa Rica. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on March 22, 2026.

This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 5/16:00 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 33m
Spirit Airlines
Sun 5/1012:38 pm
SJO
-
IAH
2 stops21h 33m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 3/20$298
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 5/236:46 pm
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop17h 47m
Spirit Airlines
Sun 5/3112:38 pm
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop21h 46m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 3/20$299
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 4/85:45 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 29m
Spirit Airlines
Fri 4/1712:38 pm
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop9h 09m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 3/18$300
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/22. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/95:45 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 29m
Spirit Airlines
Sun 4/2612:38 pm
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop21h 49m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 3/22$301
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 4/45:45 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 29m
Spirit Airlines
Tue 4/711:38 am
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop9h 56m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 3/20$302
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 4/125:45 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 29m
Multiple Airlines
Wed 4/157:00 am
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop11h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/19$303
This Viva deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Viva is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/911:05 pm
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop27h 15m
Viva
Fri 4/172:20 am
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop12h 15m
Viva
Deal found 3/20$304
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/135:45 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 29m
Multiple Airlines
Fri 4/172:20 am
SJO
-
IAH
2 stops21h 28m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/18$305
This Volaris deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Volaris is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/2312:05 pm
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop12h 54m
Multiple Airlines
Tue 4/287:00 am
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop11h 25m
Multiple Airlines
Deal found 3/19$306
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/19. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 4/23:42 pm
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop16h 02m
Volaris El Salvador
Mon 4/64:17 pm
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop21h 00m
Volaris El Salvador
Deal found 3/19$307
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/17. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 3/213:37 pm
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop16h 13m
Volaris El Salvador
Mon 3/234:17 pm
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop20h 48m
Volaris El Salvador
Deal found 3/17$308
This CheapOair deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure CheapOair is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/235:45 am
IAH
-
SJO
1 stop6h 29m
Spirit Airlines
Fri 4/2412:38 pm
SJO
-
IAH
1 stop9h 09m
Spirit Airlines
Deal found 3/20$309

Find flight deals from Houston to Costa Rica

Keep the following information in mind while searching for Houston to Costa Rica flight deals. Data was last updated March 22, 2026.

Round-trip from

$298
(CheapOair)

One-way from

$84
(Frontier)

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

October

Average price

$585
From Houston to Costa Rica
Search Deals
One-way flight from Houston to Costa Rica
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 13% potential increase in price ($78 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 4% potential price decrease ($21 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in March 2026
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Houston to Costa Rica that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated March 22, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Houston to Costa Rica that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

HoustonSan José

IAH - SJO

IAHSJO

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Thu 4/9

11:05 pm-1:20 am

1 stop27h 15m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Fri 4/17

2:20 am-3:35 pm

1 stop12h 15m

$304

HoustonSan José

IAH - SJO

IAHSJO

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Thu 4/23

12:05 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop12h 54m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Tue 4/28

7:00 am-7:25 pm

1 stop11h 25m

$306

HoustonSan José

IAH - SJO

IAHSJO

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Thu 8/6

12:05 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop12h 54m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 8/15

7:00 am-7:25 pm

1 stop11h 25m

$358
Quickest round-trip

HoustonLiberia

HOU - LIR

HOULIR

Houston Hobby

Mon 5/4

11:00 am-1:15 pm

Nonstop3h 15m

Liberia

Thu 5/7

2:10 pm-6:45 pm

Nonstop3h 35m

$413

HoustonSan José

HOU - SJO

HOUSJO

Houston Hobby

Tue 8/18

8:35 pm-12:45 pm

2 stops17h 10m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Wed 8/26

9:00 am-9:35 pm

2 stops11h 35m

$466

HoustonLiberia

HOU - LIR

HOULIR

Houston Hobby

Mon 4/13

11:00 am-1:15 pm

Nonstop3h 15m

Liberia

Fri 4/24

2:10 pm-6:45 pm

Nonstop3h 35m

$468

HoustonSan José

IAH - SJO

IAHSJO

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Sun 7/12

12:05 pm-11:59 pm

1 stop12h 54m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 7/18

7:00 am-7:25 pm

1 stop11h 25m

$477

HoustonSan José

IAH - SJO

IAHSJO

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Wed 8/12

4:58 pm-7:37 pm

Nonstop3h 39m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Wed 8/19

7:55 am-12:40 pm

Nonstop3h 45m

$501

HoustonLiberia

HOU - LIR

HOULIR

Houston Hobby

Wed 5/13

8:21 pm-1:10 pm

2 stops17h 49m

Liberia

Sun 5/17

2:40 pm-9:26 am

2 stops17h 46m

$501

HoustonSan José

IAH - SJO

IAHSJO

Houston George Bush Intcntl

Mon 5/25

7:57 pm-10:39 pm

Nonstop3h 42m

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 5/30

12:30 am-5:28 am

Nonstop3h 58m

$509

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/18

Showing 1-10 of 60 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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Best time to book a flight from Houston to Costa Rica

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Costa Rica from Houston with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Houston to Costa Rica

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Houston to Costa Rica?

Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Houston to Costa Rica (average of $167). Flying from Houston to Costa Rica in December is currently the most expensive (average of $289). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from HOU to CR?

Find hourly flight availability from Houston to Costa Rica. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated March 22, 2026.

Unlike at noon, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 7% on flights from Houston to Costa Rica by exploring options for tickets in the evening.

What is the cheapest day to fly from Houston to Costa Rica?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from Houston to Costa Rica. Price data was last updated on March 14, 2026.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their Houston to Costa Rica flight should consider departing on Wednesday mornings when fares are most often at their lowest. Sunday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from Houston to Costa Rica

Explore weekly flight availability from Houston to Costa Rica. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated March 22, 2026.

The most flights from HO1 to CR0 are scheduled on a Saturday (2 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (1 on average).

How often are flights from Houston to Costa Rica delayed?

About 24% of weekly flights between Houston and Costa Rica have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 101 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for Houston to Costa Rica flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the evening tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Sunday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on Houston to Costa Rica flights?

Over the last year, Southwest have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 24% of flights being delayed.

Reviews of airlines servicing Costa Rica

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Costa Rica. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Costa Rica. Reviews last updated March 22, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Southwest,United Airlines, andAmerican Airlines from Houston to Costa Rica by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,459 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
American Airlines
7.1
Good
11,487 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Avianca
6.5
Okay
2,505 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.
Spirit Airlines
6.3
Okay
8,536 reviews
Southwest
8.0
Very good
4,324 reviews

Overall

8.0

Boarding

8.1

Comfort

8.0

Food

7.0

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Dominic,Mar 2026

MCO - SMF

I had to try and sleep on the floor of the Austin airport. I spent 12 hours there. The airline policies were so poor, that a near violent argument broke out between the people in front of me and the flight attendants - making for a super stressful situation at 30,000 feet. Garbage airline choice by Kayak Garbage idea to book a flight with a layover. Next time I will pay for a quality booking myself, and somehow force the company to reimburse it.

Houston to Costa Rica Travel Guide

Juan Santamaria International Airport sits in Alajuela, which is 12 miles to the west of downtown San Jose. San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica. The airport is a focus city that serves Copa Airlines and a hub for Sansa Airlines. This is the second busiest airport in Central America. It’s been recognized as one of the best airports in Latin America.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Houston to Costa Rica. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airports serve Houston to Costa Rica flights?

    For a trip to Costa Rica from Houston, you’ll get on your plane at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and fly to the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, Juan Santamaria International Airport. While most of these flights will have one stop on the way, you will find a few direct flights down there.

  • Which airlines fly directly from Houston to Costa Rica?

    There aren’t a lot of options for direct flights, but there are a few. Because there are far fewer of these, they tend to cost more than those with stopovers. The flights are offered by United and they run 3h 38m. There are many more airlines to choose from if you’re going to make a stop somewhere.

  • What are the stopover options between Houston to Costa Rica?

    Spirit Airlines has a stop in Fort Lauderdale. Avianca offers a flight that stops in Salvador for most of a day. Delta has stops in Atlanta that range from 52 minutes to 11 hours. American Airlines also has one-stop flights that land in Dallas or Miami. Stopover times range from about an hour to 11h 35m. Copa stops in Panama City in Florida before going on to San Jose. There are many options to choose from with travel times that range from five hours up to almost 18 hours.

  • Do I need a passport or visa to fly from Houston to Costa Rica?

    You will need your passport to fly this route. It has to be valid for three months after your arrival. You’ll have to have a return ticket or one for going somewhere else. You will not need a visa if you’re staying for less than 90 days.

  • How long is the flight from Houston to Costa Rica?

    A quick flight from Houston to Costa Rica can take about 3h 15m. Spirit Airlines provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $413. The distance between Houston and Costa Rica is about 1457 mi. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from Houston to Costa Rica one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Spirit Airlines, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $74. Avianca flights start at $136 while deals on United Airlines start at $163 one-way.

  • What are the most popular routes from Houston to Costa Rica?

    When deciding which route to take from Houston to Costa Rica consider Houston Hobby - San José Juan Santamaria Intl, Houston George Bush Intcntl - San José Juan Santamaria Intl or Houston Hobby - Liberia as they are the most popular.

  • What are the cheapest flights from Houston to Costa Rica?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $129. While the most popular route (Houston Hobby - San José Juan Santamaria Intl) can be booked for $236 on average, our data indicates $441 when flying from Houston to Costa Rica.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Houston to Costa Rica that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Houston to Costa Rica flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Houston to Costa Rica?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Houston to Costa Rica.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Houston to Costa Rica?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Houston to Costa Rica by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Houston to Costa Rica?

    Currently, September is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Houston to Costa Rica (average of $167). Flying from Houston to Costa Rica in December is currently the most expensive (average of $289). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

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Top 5 airlines flying from Houston to Costa Rica

Discover the top 5 airlines that operate flights from Houston to Costa Rica. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated March 22, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
Spirit AirlinesCheapest$173Average$268FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time65%
AviancaCheapest$299Average$409FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
SouthwestCheapest$366Average$574FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
American AirlinesCheapest$406Average$917FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
United AirlinesCheapest$437Average$590FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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