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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 15.4% cheaper than Managua without rent, and 10.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 14% cheaper than Managua without rent, and 1.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$4.86 NIO 179
24.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$35.04 NIO 1,288
-5.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$7.05 NIO 259
3.40%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$2.44 NIO 89.8
-33.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$0.83 NIO 30.65
26.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.74 NIO 27.06
4.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$1.29 NIO 47.25
34.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$1.96 NIO 72.2
62.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$1.27 NIO 46.55
-15.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$2.47 NIO 91.0
-46.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$1.80 NIO 66.1
-23.33%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$2.26 NIO 83.3
-0.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$11.07 NIO 407
-59.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$6.71 NIO 247
-14.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$7.92 NIO 291
11.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$3.88 NIO 143
-42.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$0.91 NIO 33.54
16.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$1.77 NIO 65.1
-14.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$2.29 NIO 84.4
-40.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$4.01 NIO 147
-72.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$2.24 NIO 82.3
-47.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$1.06 NIO 39.02
-15.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$1.00 NIO 36.75
-16.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$2.69 NIO 98.9
-15.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$14.70 NIO 540
-32.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.44 NIO 53.0
-18.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$2.17 NIO 79.7
10.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Managua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$0.15 NIO 5.61
473.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$6.17 NIO 227
571.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$1.51 NIO 55.6
-2.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$0.58 NIO 21.27
236.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$6.65 NIO 245
16.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$1.36 NIO 49.89
-28.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$23.0K NIO 846.1K
-22.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$26.2K NIO 962.0K
2.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$98.6 NIO 3,626
-17.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$17.02 NIO 626
-44.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$37.90 NIO 1,394
-37.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$36.08 NIO 1,327
-29.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$15.26 NIO 561
26.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$8.14 NIO 299
-49.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$125 NIO 4,612
144.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$6,015 NIO 221.2K
-1.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$77.0 NIO 2,833
-22.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$71.3 NIO 2,622
-55.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$135 NIO 4,965
-23.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$107 NIO 3,930
0.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Managua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$258 NIO 9,493
87.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$189 NIO 6,965
99.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$445 NIO 16.4K
84.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$457 NIO 16.8K
57.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,220 NIO 44.8K
128.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$645 NIO 23.7K
104.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Managua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$356 NIO 13.1K
51.08%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Managua: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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