Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Managua Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Managua

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 13.5% cheaper than Managua without rent, and 4% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 14.9% cheaper than Managua without rent, and 0.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$4.98 NIO 182
25.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$34.91 NIO 1,279
-7.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$7.16 NIO 262
3.21%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.38 NIO 87
-27.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.78 NIO 28.55
41.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.7 NIO 25.6
4.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.28 NIO 46.94
29.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$1.96 NIO 71.6
63.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.21 NIO 44.44
-9.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$2.46 NIO 90.2
-49.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.82 NIO 66.6
-26.92%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.32 NIO 85.1
-4.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$11.05 NIO 405
-58.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$6.64 NIO 243
-14.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.97 NIO 292
7.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$3.81 NIO 139
-40.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$0.91 NIO 33.21
17.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.82 NIO 66.7
-17.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$2.27 NIO 83.3
-37.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.84 NIO 141
-71.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.26 NIO 82.9
-47.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.02 NIO 37.45
-12.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.04 NIO 38.24
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.62 NIO 95.9
-10.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$14.48 NIO 530
-35.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.42 NIO 51.9
-16.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.25 NIO 82.4
10.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Managua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.16 NIO 5.81
418.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$5.89 NIO 216
611.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.49 NIO 54.5
-5.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.53 NIO 19.57
269.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$6.83 NIO 250
14.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.37 NIO 50.1
-25.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$22.7K NIO 832K
-22.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$26K NIO 951.5K
0.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$99.1 NIO 3,628
-16.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$17.31 NIO 634
-45.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$37.84 NIO 1,386
-37.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$36.4 NIO 1,333
-29.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$14.74 NIO 540
29.85%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$8.2 NIO 300
-51.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$125 NIO 4,568
144.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$5,884 NIO 215.5K
0.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$77.4 NIO 2,834
-25.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$71.5 NIO 2,620
-55.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$132 NIO 4,827
-21.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$106 NIO 3,899
-0.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Managua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$259 NIO 9,488
88.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$187 NIO 6,849
102.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$441 NIO 16.2K
87.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$446 NIO 16.3K
63.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,185 NIO 43.4K
84.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$439 NIO 16.1K
249.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$354 NIO 13K
55.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.25
31.02%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Managua: October 28, 2025

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