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 $934 per month in Managua vs $1,036 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,546 per month in Managua vs $1,716 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,158 per month in Managua vs $2,396 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

$4.84 NIO 177

$4.09 NIO 150

18.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.38 NIO 1,259

$34.15 NIO 1,251

0.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 NIO 260

$5.74 NIO 210

23.69%

Cappuccino

$2.45 NIO 89.7

$2.33 NIO 85.3

5.15%

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

$0.86 NIO 31.52

$0.78 NIO 28.73

10.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 NIO 27.39

$0.71 NIO 26.08

5.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 NIO 47.34

$1.32 NIO 48.50

-2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 NIO 74.0

$2.03 NIO 74.4

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 NIO 46.34

$1.27 NIO 46.61

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 NIO 86.9

$1.51 NIO 55.4

56.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 NIO 68.8

$1.18 NIO 43.16

59.32%

Eggs

$2.24 NIO 82.1

$1.91 NIO 69.9

17.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.35 NIO 416

$8.07 NIO 295

40.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.77 NIO 248

$6.34 NIO 232

6.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 NIO 287

$8.22 NIO 301

-4.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.95 NIO 145

$3.78 NIO 139

4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 NIO 32.40

$0.91 NIO 33.41

-3.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 NIO 66.7

$1.75 NIO 64.2

4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 NIO 83.8

$2.28 NIO 83.6

0.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.89 NIO 142

$3.11 NIO 114

25.08%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 79.7

$2.27 NIO 83.1

-3.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 NIO 37.36

$1.02 NIO 37.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 NIO 38.53

$1.06 NIO 38.65

-0.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 NIO 95.5

$2.60 NIO 95.0

0.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.88 NIO 545

$9.84 NIO 361

51.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 NIO 51.4

$1.40 NIO 51.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 NIO 79.9

$2.28 NIO 83.4

-4.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.08 NIO 223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 NIO 54.5

$1.54 NIO 56.3

-3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 NIO 19.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 NIO 251

$6.61 NIO 242

3.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 NIO 48.16

$1.24 NIO 45.37

5.65%

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

$23.0K NIO 841.8K

$23.4K NIO 856.1K

-1.66%

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

$25.9K NIO 947.2K

$26.0K NIO 953.0K

-0.61%

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

$99.7 NIO 3,649

$43.22 NIO 1,583

130.56%

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

$17.27 NIO 632

$10.70 NIO 392

61.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.55 NIO 1,375

$36.53 NIO 1,338

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 NIO 1,301

$30.26 NIO 1,108

17.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 NIO 554

Cinema Ticket

$8.14 NIO 298

$8.24 NIO 302

-1.21%

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

$122 NIO 4,482

$126 NIO 4,606

-2.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,884 NIO 215.5K

$6,030 NIO 220.8K

-2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 NIO 2,780

$77.8 NIO 2,849

-2.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.3 NIO 2,648

$72.9 NIO 2,670

-0.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 NIO 4,896

$133 NIO 4,857

0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,040

$108 NIO 3,972

1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 NIO 9,226

$472 NIO 17.3K

-46.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 NIO 6,834

$410 NIO 15.0K

-54.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 NIO 16.2K

$967 NIO 35.4K

-54.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 NIO 16.4K

$962 NIO 35.2K

-53.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,189 NIO 43.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$654 NIO 23.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$359 NIO 13.1K

$353 NIO 12.9K

1.79%

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: July 26, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $252 in Managua versus $472 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 2% 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 $34.00 in Managua versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $262 in Managua vs $225 in San Juan del Sur – so San Juan del Sur wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 11% 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 $1,401 per month in Managua and $1,555 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 $934 in Managua and $1,036 in San Juan del Sur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $122 per month in Managua and $126 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 $934, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,036. 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 $934 in Managua to $1,036 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.