Cost of Living Comparison Between Chinandega and San Rafael del Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Chinandega and San Rafael del Sur

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 NIO 184

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.01 NIO 1,282

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 NIO 252

Cappuccino

$2.34 NIO 85.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 NIO 28.71

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 NIO 25.69

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 NIO 48.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 NIO 44.11

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 NIO 90.2

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 NIO 65.9

Eggs

$2.22 NIO 81.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.34 NIO 415

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 NIO 236

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 NIO 286

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 NIO 146

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 NIO 32.66

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 NIO 65.4

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 NIO 83.9

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 NIO 143

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 NIO 83.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 NIO 39.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 36.99

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NIO 98.8

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 NIO 546

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 NIO 53.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 NIO 80.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 NIO 54.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 NIO 249

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 NIO 49.29

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K NIO 833.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K NIO 969.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$98.4 NIO 3,605

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.83 NIO 617

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.28 NIO 1,292

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 NIO 288

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$122 NIO 4,472

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,030 NIO 220.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 NIO 2,807

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 NIO 2,648

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,812

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,024

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chinandega: June 7, 2026

Last update for San Rafael del Sur: June 7, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chinandega vs San Rafael del Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael del Sur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Rafael del Sur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chinandega makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.