Website design in Costa Rica: what's included, how the process works and what it costs

In short: Website design in Costa Rica starts with choosing the type of site: informational (up to 5 pages), editable (you update it), online store or custom platform. Every professional site should be fast on mobile, have WhatsApp contact, be ready for Google, use HTTPS and be in your company's name. The process goes through a call, a written proposal with dates, design with review rounds, building on a test site, testing and launch. At WEB.CR, prices go from ₡384,500 + VAT for an informational site to ₡934,450 + VAT for an online store.

Asking for "a website" and nothing more is like asking for "a house": the price and the time depend on how many rooms it has, who will use it and what it has to do. This guide helps you define what you need before you get quotes, so you can compare proposals like for like.

Which type of site you need

Type of site	Who it's for	From (WEB.CR)
Informational site	Businesses that need to present themselves: up to 5 pages, we make the changes	₡384,500 + VAT
Editable site	Those who want to update text, photos or news themselves: up to 8 pages with a dashboard	₡659,500 + VAT
Online store	Those who sell products: cart, cards and SINPE Móvil, 50 products loaded	₡934,450 + VAT
Custom platform	Client portals, memberships, bookings or your own processes	₡1,649,450 + VAT, confirmed after a call

If you're torn between informational and editable, ask yourself how often the content will change. If it's once or twice a year, informational is enough. If you post promotions, menus or news every week, you need the editable site.

What good website design should include

Whoever builds it, check that the proposal includes:

• A design built for mobile first. Most of your visits come from a phone. See the responsive web design guide.
• Speed. Optimized images and Core Web Vitals measured before delivery. A slow site loses visitors before it loads.
• One-tap contact: a WhatsApp button, forms that reach your email and, if it applies, online booking.
• SEO from the start: titles and descriptions, clean addresses, a sitemap and a connection to Search Console and Analytics.
• Security: HTTPS on every page and backups.
• Everything in your name: the domain, the site and the accounts. If you ever switch providers, you take it with you.

If you serve tourists or foreign clients, add an English version, with each page in its language and its own address for Google.

How the process works, step by step

This is how we work at WEB.CR, and it's a good benchmark for any proposal:

1. A free video call of 30 minutes to understand your business and what the site has to achieve.
2. A written proposal with the scope, the dates for each stage and the price.
3. A 50% deposit to book the project, with 8 business days to cancel at no cost (see the deposit policy).
4. Design of the main pages, with two review rounds.
5. Building on a test site where you can see the progress.
6. Testing on phones and browsers, forms and payments.
7. Balance and launch: the remaining 50% is paid before launch.
8. Ongoing support, if you want it: hosting and maintenance from ₡25,000 + VAT a month.

In what to expect from a web agency we explain your part in each stage.

How long does website design take?

It depends on the type of site and, above all, on how quickly your text, photos and approvals are ready. That's why the dates for each stage go in the written proposal rather than a generic number. What delays a project most:

• The text. It's what takes longest. If you'd rather not write it, copywriting is quoted separately (₡20,000 + VAT per page).
• Photos and logo. Having them before design starts saves weeks.
• Approvals. Decide who approves and reply to the team within a few days.

If you have a date that can't move, there's delivery in half the time, with a 25% surcharge.

What website design costs in Costa Rica

Besides the base plan, these are the most common extras, with WEB.CR's published prices before VAT:

Extra	Price
Extra page	₡35,000 each
English version	35% of the plan and the extra pages
Copywriting	₡20,000 per page
Logo	₡120,000
Local SEO (Google profile and 3 pages for your area)	₡150,000
Blog with 4 launch articles	₡120,000
Booking or pay-online button	₡90,000
Hosting and maintenance	from ₡25,000 a month

The full detail, with real quote examples, is in how much a website costs in Costa Rica, and you can build your own in the price calculator.

Template or custom design?

A Wix template or similar works to start on a small budget, but the site stays tied to that platform and looks like thousands of others. A custom design fits your brand and what your customer needs to see, and it stays in your name. We compare the options in which platform to choose for your website and in Wix vs your own website.

How to choose who designs your site

1. Do they publish their prices, or give you one in writing before starting?
2. Do they have published work you can visit? Check that it loads fast on a phone.
3. Will the domain and accounts be in my name?
4. How many review rounds are included, and what if I want more?
5. What happens after launch? Hosting, backups, changes and who answers if something breaks.

Common mistakes

• Getting quotes without knowing which type of site you need, and comparing prices for different things.
• Starting without text or photos, and stretching the project for months.
• Choosing on price alone, without checking work or terms.
• Leaving the domain in the provider's name.
• Thinking the site brings customers on its own. It needs Google, content and measurement; see why a new website doesn't guarantee customers.

Frequently asked questions

How much does website design cost in Costa Rica?

At WEB.CR, an informational site costs from ₡384,500 + VAT, an editable site from ₡659,500 + VAT and an online store from ₡934,450 + VAT. Extra pages, the English version and copywriting are added depending on what you need.

How long does it take for a website to be ready?

It depends on the type of site and on how quickly your text, photos and approvals are ready. The written proposal gives you the date for each stage, and there's delivery in half the time with a 25% surcharge.

Are web design and web development the same thing?

Not exactly. Design defines how the site looks and how it's used; development builds it and makes it work. A professional site needs both, and at WEB.CR we do them together.

Can I update the site myself?

Yes, on the editable site, the online store and platforms. On the informational site, we make the changes.

Will my site show up on Google?

We leave it ready to rank and connected to Search Console. Showing up near the top also depends on the competition and on content over time; we explain it in the SEO guide for Costa Rica.

Which is the best web development company in Costa Rica?

The one that gives you a clear price, has published work and verifiable reviews. WEB.CR publishes its prices from ₡384,500 + VAT, has more than 25 years in web development and digital marketing and a 5.0 rating on Google (see the reviews). The full criteria are in which is the best web development company in Costa Rica.

Keep reading

See what our website design service in Costa Rica includes and the work in our portfolio. If you already know what you need, price it or book a free call of 30 minutes.

Prices current as of October 2026, in colones and before VAT.