Costa Rican colon to Swiss francs, in your head
One rule, the error band that comes with it, and the point at which it stops being the right rule. Updated from the live rate feed.
Colones to Swiss francs. Accurate to within 0.0% at today's rate, which means it reads about 0.0% dearer than the real price.
The ladder
The middle column is what the rule gives you standing in a market. The right column is the real number, so you can see exactly where the shortcut costs you.
| Costa Rican colon | Rule of thumb | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| ₡200 | CHF 0.357 | CHF 0.357 |
| ₡500 | CHF 0.893 | CHF 0.893 |
| ₡1,000 | CHF 1.79 | CHF 1.79 |
| ₡2,000 | CHF 3.57 | CHF 3.57 |
| ₡5,000 | CHF 8.93 | CHF 8.93 |
| ₡10,000 | CHF 17.86 | CHF 17.86 |
| ₡20,000 | CHF 35.71 | CHF 35.71 |
| ₡50,000 | CHF 89.29 | CHF 89.28 |
| ₡100,000 | CHF 178.6 | CHF 178.6 |
Going the other way
Useful at the ATM, where you choose an amount in Swiss francs and want to know what lands in your hand.
| Swiss francs | Costa Rican colon |
|---|---|
| CHF 1 | ₡560 |
| CHF 5 | ₡2,800 |
| CHF 10 | ₡5,600 |
| CHF 20 | ₡11,201 |
| CHF 50 | ₡28,002 |
| CHF 100 | ₡56,004 |
What catches people out in Costa Rica
US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, but change comes back in colones at a rate the vendor chooses. Paying in colones is usually cheaper.
When this rule stops working
Rules of thumb rot quietly. This one holds while the rate stays roughly between 555 and 565 CRC to the franc. Outside that band a different divisor becomes the better one to memorise. We regenerate this page from the live rate feed, so the date above tells you how fresh the number is — if you are reading this a long way after August 2026, check it before you rely on it.
Or skip the arithmetic entirely
RoamRate does this conversion with no signal, in one hand, on a number pad built for a thumb. Free for CHF; CRC and 150+ other currencies unlock for $4.99, once.
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