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 $935 per month in Managua vs $1,058 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,511 per month in Managua vs $1,734 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,087 per month in Managua vs $2,410 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

Managua is about 12% 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 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 NIO 186

$4.08 NIO 151

23.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.78 NIO 1,282

$33.82 NIO 1,246

2.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 NIO 252

$5.63 NIO 207

21.14%

Cappuccino

$2.47 NIO 90.9

$2.36 NIO 87.2

4.66%

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

$0.78 NIO 28.73

$0.81 NIO 29.77

-3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 NIO 27.11

$0.68 NIO 24.96

8.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 NIO 46.88

$1.32 NIO 48.83

-3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 NIO 72.3

$1.95 NIO 72.0

0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 NIO 45.28

$1.22 NIO 45.13

0.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.38 NIO 87.6

$1.53 NIO 56.5

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 NIO 66.1

$1.23 NIO 45.25

45.53%

Eggs

$2.28 NIO 83.9

$1.87 NIO 69.1

21.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 NIO 415

$7.94 NIO 293

41.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 NIO 242

$6.42 NIO 237

2.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 NIO 300

$8.17 NIO 301

-0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 NIO 140

$4.00 NIO 147

-5.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 NIO 31.14

$0.86 NIO 31.59

-2.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 NIO 67.3

$1.78 NIO 65.5

2.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.9

$2.29 NIO 84.6

-0.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 NIO 141

$3.30 NIO 121

15.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 NIO 83.4

$2.23 NIO 82.2

1.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 NIO 39.04

$1.01 NIO 37.32

4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 NIO 36.92

$1.01 NIO 37.19

-0.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NIO 99.7

$2.60 NIO 95.9

3.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.55 NIO 536

$9.97 NIO 367

45.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 NIO 52.3

$1.40 NIO 51.6

1.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 NIO 81.0

$2.20 NIO 81.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 NIO 4.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.93 NIO 219

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 NIO 54.6

$1.54 NIO 56.6

-3.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 NIO 20.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 NIO 247

$6.97 NIO 257

-3.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NIO 50.3

$1.25 NIO 46.06

9.60%

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

$23.2K NIO 854.9K

$22.6K NIO 831.8K

2.78%

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

$26.2K NIO 966.6K

$25.9K NIO 955.0K

1.21%

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

$96.8 NIO 3,568

$43.25 NIO 1,594

123.82%

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

$16.79 NIO 619

$10.71 NIO 395

56.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.50 NIO 1,382

$36.69 NIO 1,352

2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.43 NIO 1,306

$30.06 NIO 1,108

17.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.91 NIO 550

Cinema Ticket

$8.03 NIO 296

$7.84 NIO 289

2.42%

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

$124 NIO 4,555

$125 NIO 4,603

-1.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,969 NIO 220.0K

$6,054 NIO 223.1K

-1.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.9 NIO 2,836

$78.2 NIO 2,884

-1.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.6 NIO 2,713

$73.0 NIO 2,689

0.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$135 NIO 4,962

$132 NIO 4,852

2.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,949

$106 NIO 3,917

0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$254 NIO 9,366

$474 NIO 17.5K

-46.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 NIO 6,945

$414 NIO 15.3K

-54.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 NIO 16.0K

$942 NIO 34.7K

-53.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 NIO 16.5K

$978 NIO 36.1K

-54.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 NIO 45.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$643 NIO 23.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$359 NIO 13.2K

$279 NIO 10.3K

28.61%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for San Juan del Sur: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Managua versus $474 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 29% 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 $35.00 in Managua versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $226 – 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 13% 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 $1,402 per month in Managua and $1,587 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 $935 in Managua and $1,058 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 $125 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 $935, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,058. 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 $935 in Managua to $1,058 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.