Cost of Living Comparison Between Masaya and Managua Cost of Living Comparison Between Masaya and Managua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $699 per month in Masaya vs $934 in Managua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,127 per month in Masaya vs $1,546 in Managua, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,556 per month in Masaya vs $2,158 in Managua, rent included.

Masaya is about 25% cheaper than Managua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Masaya and Managua are more affordable than the global median – Masaya 47% lower, Managua 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.82 NIO 177

$4.84 NIO 177

-0.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.70 NIO 1,307

$34.38 NIO 1,259

3.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.03 NIO 258

$7.10 NIO 260

-0.99%

Cappuccino

$2.44 NIO 89.3

$2.45 NIO 89.7

-0.41%

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

$0.78 NIO 28.63

$0.86 NIO 31.52

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NIO 25.42

$0.75 NIO 27.39

-8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 NIO 46.82

$1.29 NIO 47.34

-0.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 NIO 75.3

$2.02 NIO 74.0

1.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 44.67

$1.27 NIO 46.34

-3.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.35 NIO 85.9

$2.37 NIO 86.9

-0.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 NIO 65.9

$1.88 NIO 68.8

-4.26%

Eggs

$2.23 NIO 81.8

$2.24 NIO 82.1

-0.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 NIO 407

$11.35 NIO 416

-2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.67 NIO 244

$6.77 NIO 248

-1.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 NIO 292

$7.83 NIO 287

1.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 NIO 140

$3.95 NIO 145

-3.29%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 NIO 30.79

$0.88 NIO 32.40

-4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 NIO 64.0

$1.82 NIO 66.7

-3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 NIO 82.3

$2.29 NIO 83.8

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 NIO 145

$3.89 NIO 142

1.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.22 NIO 81.5

$2.18 NIO 79.7

1.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 NIO 38.54

$1.02 NIO 37.36

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 NIO 38.55

$1.05 NIO 38.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 NIO 96.8

$2.61 NIO 95.5

1.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.73 NIO 539

$14.88 NIO 545

-1.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 NIO 51.8

$1.40 NIO 51.4

0.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 NIO 82.8

$2.18 NIO 79.9

3.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.08 NIO 223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 NIO 56.4

$1.49 NIO 54.5

3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 NIO 19.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 NIO 249

$6.86 NIO 251

-1.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NIO 50.1

$1.31 NIO 48.16

4.58%

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

$22.6K NIO 829.2K

$23.0K NIO 841.8K

-1.50%

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

$26.3K NIO 962.1K

$25.9K NIO 947.2K

1.58%

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

$98.4 NIO 3,603

$99.7 NIO 3,649

-1.28%

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

$17.27 NIO 632

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.71 NIO 1,381

$37.55 NIO 1,375

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 NIO 1,301

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 NIO 554

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 NIO 301

$8.14 NIO 298

0.86%

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

$124 NIO 4,526

$122 NIO 4,482

0.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,952 NIO 218.0K

$5,884 NIO 215.5K

1.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 NIO 2,810

$75.9 NIO 2,780

1.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.7 NIO 2,625

$72.3 NIO 2,648

-0.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,807

$134 NIO 4,896

-1.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 NIO 3,942

$110 NIO 4,040

-2.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$252 NIO 9,226

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 NIO 6,834

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 NIO 16.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 NIO 16.4K

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

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 Masaya: July 25, 2026

Last update for Managua: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Masaya versus $34.00 in Managua. Groceries tell a different story – $259 in Masaya vs $262 in Managua – so Masaya 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

Masaya vs Managua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $699 in Masaya, $934 in Managua – roughly 34% apart. Managua costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,049 per month in Masaya and $1,401 in Managua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $699 in Masaya and $934 in Managua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $124 per month in Masaya and $122 in Managua. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $699 in Masaya and $934 in Managua, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Masaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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