Liquor – everything from beer to hard spirits – is sold in specific liquor stores, as well as at most supermarkets and even convenience stores. Avoid shopping for alcohol in touristic areas or you’ll overpay a significant amount. The cheapest option would probably be buying alcohol at duty-free shops at the airport, so if it’s convenient for you, go for it!
Drinking in bars in Costa Rica can be quite expensive. Local beer is typically 1,200 CRC (2 USD). Sometimes you can find it for around 900 CRC (1.60 USD), but that’s very rare and usually during a happy hour. At a convenience store, you can get a bottle of beer for 700 CRC (1.20 USD) and a bottle of Guaro (popular hard spirit) for 1,000 CRC (1.80 USD).