Current Time in Costa Rica
Costa Rica uses Central Standard Time (Central America) all year.
--:--:--
Saturday, September 19, 2026
CSTUTC-6
Costa Rica time zone
Central Standard Time (Central America)
Central Standard Time (CST)
--:--UTC-6- Daylight saving
- Not observed
- Cities
- San José
IANA time zone: America/Costa_Rica.
Major cities in Costa Rica
Time Difference
| Compared with | Local time | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica to New York | +2 hours | |
| Costa Rica to London | +7 hours | |
| Costa Rica to Dubai | +10 hours | |
| Costa Rica to New Delhi | +11 hours 30 minutes | |
| Costa Rica to Tokyo | +15 hours |
Positive values mean the other city is ahead. Differences update automatically when daylight saving time changes.
Time in Costa Rica: FAQs
What time zone is Costa Rica in?
Costa Rica uses Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) all year.
Does Costa Rica observe daylight saving time?
No. Costa Rica does not change its clocks for daylight saving time, so its time difference with places that do (such as the United States and most of Europe) changes twice a year.
What is the time difference between Costa Rica and New York?
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, New York is 2 hours ahead of Costa Rica. The difference can change when either place switches to or from daylight saving time.
What time is it in San José, the capital?
San José is on Central Standard Time (Central America), currently CST (UTC-6). The live time is shown at the top of this page and on the San José page.