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 $1,005 per month in Managua vs $1,053 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,590 per month in Managua vs $1,662 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,174 per month in Managua vs $2,271 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

Managua is about 5% cheaper than San Juan del Sur, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Managua and San Juan del Sur are more affordable than the global median – Managua 27% lower, San Juan del Sur 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.80 NIO 359

$4.24 NIO 155

131.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.22 NIO 1,400

$33.90 NIO 1,242

12.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 NIO 284

$5.62 NIO 206

38.26%

Cappuccino

$2.49 NIO 91.1

$2.56 NIO 93.8

-2.73%

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

$0.83 NIO 30.34

$0.90 NIO 32.79

-7.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.86

$0.73 NIO 26.56

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 NIO 53.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 NIO 71.9

$1.97 NIO 72.0

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 NIO 47.41

$1.24 NIO 45.33

4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 NIO 88.4

$1.49 NIO 54.6

61.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 NIO 63.3

$1.22 NIO 44.54

41.80%

Eggs

$2.29 NIO 83.9

$2.29 NIO 83.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 NIO 416

$7.77 NIO 285

46.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 NIO 249

$6.45 NIO 236

5.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 NIO 267

$7.21 NIO 264

0.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 NIO 135

$3.62 NIO 133

1.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 NIO 20.92

$0.57 NIO 21.05

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 NIO 65.2

$1.85 NIO 67.9

-3.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 NIO 83.1

$2.19 NIO 80.3

3.65%

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 NIO 146

$3.14 NIO 115

27.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 79.8

$2.20 NIO 80.5

-0.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 NIO 36.56

$1.00 NIO 36.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 NIO 39.27

$1.02 NIO 37.51

4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 NIO 98.5

$2.59 NIO 94.7

3.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.42 NIO 528

$9.74 NIO 357

48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 53.3

$1.41 NIO 51.6

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 NIO 82.0

$2.33 NIO 85.2

-3.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 NIO 5.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.95 NIO 218

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 NIO 60.9

$1.68 NIO 61.5

-1.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 NIO 60.3

$1.60 NIO 58.6

2.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 NIO 245

$6.68 NIO 245

0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NIO 50.1

$1.35 NIO 49.27

1.48%

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

$23.2K NIO 851.0K

$23.3K NIO 853.2K

-0.26%

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

$26.2K NIO 960.5K

$26.3K NIO 962.9K

-0.24%

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

$120 NIO 4,410

$60.4 NIO 2,212

99.37%

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

$17.32 NIO 634

$10.53 NIO 386

64.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.41 NIO 1,370

$36.64 NIO 1,342

2.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.71 NIO 1,235

$29.97 NIO 1,098

12.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 NIO 552

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 NIO 320

$8.38 NIO 307

4.30%

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

$238 NIO 8,706

$240 NIO 8,802

-1.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,082 NIO 222.8K

$5,957 NIO 218.2K

2.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 NIO 2,638

$70.3 NIO 2,574

2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.7 NIO 2,699

$71.9 NIO 2,633

2.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,819

$131 NIO 4,810

0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 3,996

$109 NIO 3,975

0.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 NIO 9,545

$424 NIO 15.5K

-38.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 NIO 6,968

$383 NIO 14.0K

-50.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 NIO 16.4K

$919 NIO 33.7K

-51.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 NIO 13.8K

$771 NIO 28.2K

-51.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,214 NIO 44.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$638 NIO 23.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 NIO 12.8K

$343 NIO 12.6K

1.44%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for San Juan del Sur: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Managua versus $424 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 1% 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 $38.00 in Managua versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $220 – 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 5% more than Managua, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,508 per month in Managua and $1,580 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 $1,005 in Managua and $1,053 in San Juan del Sur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $238 per month in Managua and $240 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 $1,005, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,053. 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 $1,005 in Managua to $1,053 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.