🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $710 in Diriamba versus $1,061 in San Juan del Sur.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,140 in Diriamba versus $1,748 in San Juan del Sur.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,570 in Diriamba versus $2,434 in San Juan del Sur.
🌍Living in Diriamba costs roughly 33% less than in San Juan del Sur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Diriamba47% lower, San Juan del Sur21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94NIO 181
$4.25NIO 156
16.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.43NIO 1,261
$33.73NIO 1,235
2.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12NIO 261
$5.54NIO 203
28.52%
Cappuccino
$2.35NIO 86.0
$2.43NIO 88.8
-3.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84NIO 30.79
$0.79NIO 28.88
6.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69NIO 25.26
$0.67NIO 24.45
2.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29NIO 47.25
$1.33NIO 48.78
-3.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98NIO 72.6
$2.03NIO 74.5
-2.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27NIO 46.65
$1.26NIO 46.32
0.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38NIO 87.3
$1.53NIO 56.0
55.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86NIO 68.2
$1.17NIO 42.74
58.97%
Eggs
$2.35NIO 86.0
$1.87NIO 68.3
25.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13NIO 408
$7.78NIO 285
43.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.46NIO 237
$6.48NIO 237
-0.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78NIO 285
$8.15NIO 298
-4.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.80NIO 139
$4.00NIO 146
-5.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.85NIO 31.28
$0.83NIO 30.35
2.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78NIO 65.0
$1.83NIO 67.2
-2.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21NIO 81.0
$2.17NIO 79.4
1.84%
Potato(1kg)
$4.01NIO 147
$3.22NIO 118
24.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17NIO 79.4
$2.16NIO 79.2
0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07NIO 39.15
$1.07NIO 39.10
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01NIO 36.89
$1.06NIO 38.70
-4.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.68NIO 98.1
$2.71NIO 99.4
-1.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.60NIO 535
$9.99NIO 366
46.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40NIO 51.2
$1.42NIO 51.9
-1.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20NIO 80.7
$2.21NIO 80.8
-0.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53NIO 55.9
$1.47NIO 53.8
4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.93NIO 254
$6.85NIO 251
1.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31NIO 47.98
$1.24NIO 45.37
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KNIO 846.9K
$22.5KNIO 825.0K
2.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KNIO 967.5K
$26.2KNIO 958.4K
0.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.3NIO 3,565
$42.79NIO 1,567
127.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.80NIO 615
$10.45NIO 383
60.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.19NIO 1,362
$36.21NIO 1,326
2.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$30.32NIO 1,111
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.79NIO 285
$8.10NIO 297
-3.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$122NIO 4,459
$123NIO 4,499
-0.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,073NIO 222.4K
$6,022NIO 220.5K
0.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.0NIO 2,819
$75.9NIO 2,780
1.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.3NIO 2,648
$72.9NIO 2,668
-0.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NIO 4,775
$134NIO 4,914
-2.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109NIO 3,976
$108NIO 3,951
0.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$464NIO 17.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$402NIO 14.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$962NIO 35.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$961NIO 35.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Diriamba
San Juan del Sur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$354NIO 13.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.25
10.25
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Diriamba: July 12, 2026
Last update for San Juan del Sur: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Diriamba vs $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $226, with San Juan del Sur cheaper for home cooking.
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
Diriamba vs San Juan del Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Diriamba or San Juan del Sur?
Diriamba wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in San Juan del Sur. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Diriamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Diriamba and in San Juan del Sur?
You'd need roughly $1,066 in Diriamba and $1,592 in San Juan del Sur to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Diriamba and in San Juan del Sur?
Childcare runs $122 in Diriamba versus $123 in San Juan del Sur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Diriamba and in San Juan del Sur?
Dining out is cheaper in Diriamba – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Diriamba or in San Juan del Sur?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Diriamba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Diriamba or San Juan del Sur?
Both work as nomad bases, but Diriamba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $710 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Diriamba hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Diriamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in San Juan del Sur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.