Cost of Living Comparison Between Managua and San Juan del Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Managua and San Juan del Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $937 per month in Managua vs $1,045 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,517 per month in Managua vs $1,739 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,097 per month in Managua vs $2,432 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

Managua is about 10% cheaper than San Juan del Sur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Managua and San Juan del Sur are more affordable than the global median – Managua 30% lower, San Juan del Sur 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.78 NIO 175

$4.22 NIO 155

13.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.66 NIO 1,306

$33.33 NIO 1,221

6.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 NIO 263

$5.54 NIO 203

29.60%

Cappuccino

$2.33 NIO 85.4

$2.47 NIO 90.3

-5.67%

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

$0.85 NIO 30.98

$0.84 NIO 30.95

1.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NIO 25.41

$0.69 NIO 25.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 NIO 46.62

$1.30 NIO 47.56

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 NIO 71.3

$2.04 NIO 74.7

-4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 NIO 46.29

$1.25 NIO 45.87

0.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 NIO 85.7

$1.49 NIO 54.6

57.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 NIO 68.1

$1.23 NIO 45.01

51.22%

Eggs

$2.24 NIO 82.0

$1.97 NIO 72.0

13.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.22 NIO 411

$8.07 NIO 296

39.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 NIO 249

$6.29 NIO 230

8.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 NIO 289

$8.02 NIO 294

-1.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.99 NIO 146

$3.85 NIO 141

3.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 NIO 30.45

$0.89 NIO 32.41

-6.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 NIO 67.3

$1.84 NIO 67.4

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 79.7

$2.28 NIO 83.6

-4.39%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 NIO 140

$3.18 NIO 116

20.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 79.8

$2.16 NIO 79.0

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 NIO 39.10

$1.01 NIO 37.09

5.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 36.82

$1.01 NIO 36.86

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.62 NIO 96.1

$2.64 NIO 96.5

-0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.59 NIO 534

$9.68 NIO 355

50.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 NIO 51.8

$1.46 NIO 53.3

-3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 NIO 81.7

$2.26 NIO 82.6

-1.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.04 NIO 221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 NIO 55.6

$1.49 NIO 54.5

2.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 NIO 19.75

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 NIO 251

$6.77 NIO 248

1.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 NIO 49.85

$1.29 NIO 47.32

5.43%

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

$23.4K NIO 856.7K

$22.9K NIO 840.3K

1.95%

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

$26.1K NIO 955.8K

$26.6K NIO 973.5K

-1.82%

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

$97.7 NIO 3,577

$42.02 NIO 1,539

132.41%

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

$17.22 NIO 631

$10.46 NIO 383

64.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.67 NIO 1,380

$36.59 NIO 1,340

2.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.30 NIO 1,329

$30.48 NIO 1,116

19.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 NIO 541

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 NIO 301

$8.12 NIO 297

1.11%

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

$124 NIO 4,540

$124 NIO 4,535

0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 NIO 219.5K

$6,023 NIO 220.6K

-0.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 NIO 2,829

$76.8 NIO 2,812

0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.6 NIO 2,697

$72.0 NIO 2,637

2.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,830

$132 NIO 4,823

0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,902

$107 NIO 3,915

-0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 NIO 9,315

$473 NIO 17.3K

-46.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 NIO 7,041

$416 NIO 15.3K

-53.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 NIO 15.7K

$948 NIO 34.7K

-54.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 NIO 16.4K

$956 NIO 35.0K

-53.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,186 NIO 43.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 NIO 24.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 NIO 13.0K

$281 NIO 10.3K

25.86%

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 Managua: June 9, 2026

Last update for San Juan del Sur: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Managua versus $473 in San Juan del Sur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Managua, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Managua versus $33.00 in San Juan del Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $224 – making San Juan del Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 San Juan del Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan del Sur costs about 12% more than Managua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,405 per month in Managua and $1,568 in San Juan del Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Managua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $937 in Managua and $1,045 in San Juan del Sur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $124 per month in Managua and $124 in San Juan del Sur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Managua, where all-in costs run around $937, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,045. In Managua it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan del Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Juan del Sur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $937 in Managua to $1,045 in San Juan del Sur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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