WhatsApp Coexistence in Costa Rica: availability and Meta's rates
Coexistence is available in Costa Rica, since Meta's onboarding documentation for WhatsApp Business app users sets no geographic restriction. Costa Rica has no line of its own on Meta's rate card: +506 numbers are charged the Rest of Latin America rates, which from October 1, 2026 are USD 0.074 per marketing template and USD 0.0113 per utility or authentication template.
Meta's Rest of Latin America marketing rate, which applies to +506 recipients, effective October 1, 2026.
Meta's Rest of Latin America utility and authentication rate, effective October 1, 2026.
Countries Meta groups into its Rest of Latin America pricing region, Costa Rica among them.
Currencies Meta enables on the WhatsApp Business Platform as of July 1, 2026; the Costa Rican colón is not one.
Can a Costa Rican number use WhatsApp Coexistence?
Yes. Meta's documentation for onboarding WhatsApp Business app users places conditions on the number and the app, and none on the country. A +506 number qualifies if it is already in use on the WhatsApp Business app, the app is on version 2.24.17 or newer, and the connection is made with Embedded Signup by a Tech Provider or Solution Partner.
The phone keeps working with its existing chats, and the number gains Cloud API access. Meta fixes throughput at 20 messages per second for numbers shared between the app and the API.
Why is Costa Rica priced as Rest of Latin America?
Meta's rate card names 39 individual countries and groups the rest into 8 regions. Costa Rica (+506) is one of 15 markets in the Rest of Latin America region, together with countries such as Panama, Guatemala, Ecuador and Uruguay. Any message delivered to a number in one of those markets is charged the region's rate.
The region also matters for volume tiers on utility and authentication. Tiers are counted per market and category, so messages to every Rest of Latin America country count toward the same regional tier rather than a Costa Rica one.
| Rest of Latin America, USD | Applies to +506 | |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing template | USD 0.074 | Yes |
| Utility template | USD 0.0113 | Yes |
| Authentication template | USD 0.0113 | Yes |
| Service, after 1,000 free per month | USD 0.0113 | Yes |
Which messages are free for a Costa Rican business?
Whatever is typed in the WhatsApp Business app on the phone. Meta's documentation says app messages stay free after onboarding and Cloud API pricing covers API sends only.
On the API side, each business phone number gets 1,000 free service messages a month, which are non-template replies inside the 24 hour customer service window, with no roll over. A conversation started from a Click to WhatsApp ad opens a free entry point window of up to 7 days in which Meta does not charge for marketing, utility, authentication or service messages. Utility templates sent inside the customer service window are charged since October 1, 2026.
Which currency does Meta bill a Costa Rican account in?
Meta enables 16 billing currencies on the WhatsApp Business Platform, and the Costa Rican colón is not among them. A Costa Rican business picks one of the published currencies when the Messaging account is created, such as USD, and Meta publishes the Rest of Latin America rate in each of its rate cards.
The currency cannot be changed freely after the account exists. Meta provides a Currency Migration API for switching. Meta's pricing page lists no local billing programme for Costa Rica.
How to set it up
- Check the numberThe +506 number must be on the WhatsApp Business app, version 2.24.17 or newer, and not attached to another provider.
- Set up billingChoose one of Meta's supported currencies, such as USD, and add a payment method in Billing Hub.
- ConnectComplete Embedded Signup with the portfolio and the number, and confirm the link from the app.
Common mistakes
- Searching the rate card for a Costa Rica line. There is none: +506 is billed under Rest of Latin America.
- Assuming Central American neighbours share a rate with Mexico. Mexico is a named market with lower marketing rates than the region.
- Spending utility templates on replies. A service message inside the open window is free up to 1,000 a month per number.
EasyCoexistence connects a Costa Rican number through Meta's Embedded Signup and monitors the connection once it is live. Meta charges your own account for messaging, and we never mark it up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Costa Rica cheaper than Mexico to message?
Not for marketing. Rest of Latin America is USD 0.074 per marketing template on the October 1, 2026 card, against USD 0.0397 for Mexico.
Can I pay Meta in colones?
No. The colón is not one of the 16 currencies Meta enables for the WhatsApp Business Platform.
Do customers' messages to me cost anything?
No. Meta charges only for messages businesses deliver.
Does connecting the API stop the app?
No. The WhatsApp Business app keeps working on the phone with its chats.
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