It all depends on what your looking for.
In Costa Rica as in any country getting a sea-side place will cost a premium.
If your looking to get a very very comfortable high scale place in Escazu or some place like that you can find for the $150K-$350K mark very easily. These same types of places in LA or USA would at least 2x the cost if not 3x.
Here is a good resource for getting a feeling for the true costs of properities - not by a broker.
http://www.forsalebyownercostarica.com/