Cost of Living Comparison Between Managua and Durres Cost of Living Comparison Between Managua and Durres

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $938 in Managua versus $1,026 in Durres.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,545 in Managua versus $1,569 in Durres.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,152 in Managua versus $2,113 in Durres.

Living in Managua costs roughly 9% less than in Durres, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Managua 30% lower, Durres 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 NIO 179

$9.65 ALL 787

-49.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.67 NIO 1,270

$34.76 ALL 2,835

-0.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 NIO 260

$6.94 ALL 566

2.31%

Cappuccino

$2.44 NIO 89.2

$1.94 ALL 159

25.77%

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

$0.81 NIO 29.67

$1.57 ALL 128

-48.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NIO 25.28

$0.78 ALL 63.7

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 NIO 49.13

$2.42 ALL 198

-44.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 NIO 74.0

$3.19 ALL 260

-36.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 44.59

$1.95 ALL 159

-37.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 NIO 89.6

$0.90 ALL 73.6

172.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 NIO 68.5

$1.95 ALL 159

-4.10%

Eggs

$2.27 NIO 83.2

$3.04 ALL 248

-25.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.03 NIO 404

$10.67 ALL 870

3.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 NIO 236

$7.63 ALL 622

-15.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 NIO 291

$13.01 ALL 1,061

-39.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 NIO 141

$1.20 ALL 97.8

220.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 NIO 32.81

$2.34 ALL 191

-61.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 NIO 67.5

$1.29 ALL 105

42.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 NIO 81.1

$1.16 ALL 94.7

91.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 NIO 143

$1.14 ALL 93.1

242.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 NIO 80.1

$0.98 ALL 79.9

123.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 NIO 37.39

$1.10 ALL 89.6

-7.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 NIO 38.44

$0.66 ALL 54.1

59.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.68 NIO 98.2

$3.95 ALL 322

-32.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 NIO 542

$11.03 ALL 900

34.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 NIO 50.9

$1.69 ALL 137

-17.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 NIO 79.9

$1.73 ALL 141

26.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.92

$0.49 ALL 39.98

-73.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.90 NIO 216

$18.02 ALL 1,470

-67.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 NIO 53.5

$3.58 ALL 292

-59.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 NIO 19.76

$2.14 ALL 175

-74.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 NIO 250

$17.67 ALL 1,441

-61.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 NIO 48.09

$2.10 ALL 171

-37.62%

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

$22.6K NIO 829.4K

$15.3K ALL 1.3M

47.55%

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

$26.7K NIO 979.7K

$25.5K ALL 2.1M

5.05%

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

$98.0 NIO 3,588

$67.8 ALL 5,529

44.50%

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

$16.68 NIO 611

$17.88 ALL 1,458

-6.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.05 NIO 1,357

$15.58 ALL 1,271

137.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.43 NIO 1,298

$36.70 ALL 2,993

-3.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.02 NIO 550

$57.9 ALL 4,720

-74.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 NIO 286

$7.24 ALL 590

7.73%

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

$123 NIO 4,501

$177 ALL 14.5K

-30.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,934 NIO 217.3K

$4,459 ALL 363.6K

33.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 NIO 2,810

$38.02 ALL 3,101

101.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.4 NIO 2,652

$39.07 ALL 3,186

85.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,879

$86.5 ALL 7,053

54.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,036

$156 ALL 12.7K

-29.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 NIO 9,456

$424 ALL 34.6K

-39.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 NIO 6,994

$316 ALL 25.8K

-39.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$431 NIO 15.8K

$614 ALL 50.0K

-29.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 NIO 16.1K

$430 ALL 35.0K

2.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,189 NIO 43.6K

$1,809 ALL 147.5K

-34.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 NIO 23.7K

$1,130 ALL 92.1K

-42.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$358 NIO 13.1K

$939 ALL 76.6K

-61.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

5.33

92.31%

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

Last update for Managua: July 11, 2026

Last update for Durres: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Managua and $424 in Durres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Durres pays 162% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Managua vs $35.00 in Durres. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $240, with Durres 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

Managua vs Durres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Managua wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Durres. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Managua the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 162% lower in Durres. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $258 in Managua versus $424 in Durres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $938 per month in Managua versus $1,026 in Durres – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Managua runs roughly 205% less than in Durres. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Managua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Managua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Durres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.