Costa Rica Technical Information for Travelers

Costa Rica Technical Information – In Short

Costa Rica Technical Information – In Details

Costa Rica Voltage

The voltage in Costa Rica is 120 V which makes it compatible with the 110 V voltage in the United States of America, Canada, and Japan.

120 V has an advantage over higher voltage such as the 230 V voltage that it is considered generally safer as it is less powerful. On the other hand, it costs more to transmit power to the end user using 120 V as copper lines must be thicker, hence lower voltages are generally used by wealthy countries.

Costa Rica Electrical Frequency

The electrical frequency in Costa Rica is 60 Hz.

Note that most household and electrical/electronic equipments nowadays support multiple frequencies, so generally, electrical frequency is not an issue compatibility wise.

Costa Rica Plug/Socket Type(s)

The plugs used in Costa Rica are A or B.

Plugs/sockets are usually an issue when it comes to traveling, so always make sure you travel with a universal plug adapter.

Costa Rica DVD Region

Costa Rica uses DVD Region 4.

DVD Region 4 is mainly used in Australia, South America (Mexico, Argentina), and Central America (Guatemala, Cosa Rica…).

Note that a region 4 DVD cannot play on a DVD player supporting another region. There are, however, some region free DVD players available that can be used to overcome this.

Costa Rica Blu-ray Region

Costa Rica uses Blu-ray Region A.

Blu-ray Region A is used in North/Central/South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

Theoretically, a region A Blu-ray disc should not play in Blu-ray disc players supporting another region. However, most Blu-ray discs are now region free (meaning they can work on any Blu-ray disc player), and most Blu-ray players are also region free. Hence, compatibility is rarely an issue (for now) when it comes to Blu-ray discs.

Costa Rica GSM Freqency(ies)

Costa Rica uses the following GSM frequencies: GSM 1800 / GSM 3G.

When travelling, make sure that your phone supports the GSM frequency of the country you’re traveling to. Usually the supported GSM frequencies are printed on the box of your phone as well as its manual.

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