Power Plug Guide Will your devices work abroad?

Travel adapter from São Tomé and Príncipe to Costa Rica

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Adapter Required

Yes — coming from São Tomé and Príncipe, you will need a travel adapter for Costa Rica. São Tomé and Príncipe uses Type C/Type F plugs, and Costa Rica uses Type A/Type B, so the pin shapes will not fit any wall socket. Voltages differ (230 V at home vs 120 V abroad), so check the label on each device. Most modern dual-voltage chargers handle the swing without a converter, but heating appliances usually do not. The mains frequency is also different (50 Hz vs 60 Hz). This rarely matters for electronics but can affect motor-driven devices like clocks and shavers.

São Tomé and Príncipe (home)

Type C
Two round pins (Europlug)
Type F
Two round pins + side earth contacts

Costa Rica (destination)

Type A
Two flat parallel pins
About Type A ↗
Type B
Two flat pins + round ground
About Type B ↗

Electrical specs

São Tomé and Príncipe
230 V
50 Hz
⚡ Differs
Costa Rica
120 V
60 Hz
⚡ Voltage converter may be needed. Check your device label — most modern electronics (phones, laptops) support 100–240 V and only need a plug adapter. Hair dryers, kettles, and older appliances may need a step-up or step-down converter.
〜 Frequency differs (50 Hz vs 60 Hz). Rarely an issue for most electronics, but can affect motor-driven devices like clocks and shavers.

More about plugs in Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, the standard power plug is Type A and Type B. The country runs on 120 volts at 60 Hz. That means wall sockets in Costa Rica can be one of 2 different shapes — Type A, Type B, and your plug needs to physically match the socket to fit.

Full Costa Rica plug guide →