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

$8.54 NIO 313

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.61 NIO 1,377

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 NIO 286

Cappuccino

$2.50 NIO 91.6

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

$0.84 NIO 30.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 NIO 24.37

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 NIO 53.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 NIO 47.34

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 NIO 84.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 NIO 63.3

Eggs

$2.33 NIO 85.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.39 NIO 417

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 NIO 245

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 NIO 255

Apples (1kg)

$3.61 NIO 132

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 NIO 22.51

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 NIO 67.2

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 NIO 82.9

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 NIO 142

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 NIO 81.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 NIO 38.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 NIO 37.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 NIO 96.3

Wine (Bottle)

$14.51 NIO 531

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 NIO 54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 NIO 83.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 NIO 61.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NIO 38.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 NIO 250

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 NIO 49.60

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

$22.8K NIO 834.5K

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

$26.5K NIO 970.0K

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

$102 NIO 3,735

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

$17.08 NIO 626

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.13 NIO 1,287

Cinema Ticket

$8.49 NIO 311

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

$176 NIO 6,429

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,036 NIO 221.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 NIO 2,499

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.5 NIO 2,617

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,885

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,039

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: August 15, 2026

Last update for San Rafael del Sur: August 17, 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.