Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

🙂 Solo nomad: Nicaragua is 37.3% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 39.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Nicaragua is 37.2% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 41.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 NIO 155

$9.65 ₡4,833

-56.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.94 NIO 1,096

$58.6 ₡29.3K

-48.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.49 NIO 238

$9.9 ₡4,957

-34.44%

Cappuccino

$2.14 NIO 78.3

$3.9 ₡1,954

-45.13%

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

$0.77 NIO 28.29

$2.2 ₡1,100

-65.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 NIO 22.99

$1.65 ₡827

-61.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 NIO 50.6

$3.03 ₡1,517

-54.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 NIO 71.9

$4.55 ₡2,278

-56.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.2 NIO 44.11

$2.06 ₡1,033

-41.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2 NIO 73.3

$3.06 ₡1,530

-34.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 NIO 60.1

$2.52 ₡1,261

-34.92%

Eggs

$2.04 NIO 74.9

$3.29 ₡1,646

-37.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 NIO 301

$9.29 ₡4,650

-11.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 NIO 224

$9.54 ₡4,775

-35.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 NIO 288

$13.6 ₡6,808

-42.21%

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 NIO 148

$4.67 ₡2,337

-13.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 NIO 44.35

$1.56 ₡782

-22.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 NIO 86.7

$3.34 ₡1,672

-29.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 NIO 75.3

$3.01 ₡1,507

-31.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 NIO 127

$3.04 ₡1,524

13.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 NIO 72.9

$2.85 ₡1,426

-30.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.9 NIO 32.97

$1.01 ₡506

-10.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1 NIO 36.65

$2.54 ₡1,273

-60.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 NIO 117

$4.86 ₡2,434

-34.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.19 NIO 373

$14.87 ₡7,442

-31.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 NIO 52.2

$2.27 ₡1,137

-37.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 NIO 78.3

$2.73 ₡1,366

-21.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.71

$0.95 ₡476

-86.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.13 NIO 225

$49.46 ₡24.8K

-87.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 NIO 39.84

$1.81 ₡904

-39.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 NIO 23.19

$1.93 ₡969

-67.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7 NIO 256

$7.69 ₡3,850

-8.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 NIO 48.17

$1.47 ₡735

-10.20%

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

$22.6K NIO 829K

$37.4K ₡18.7M

-39.47%

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

$27.4K NIO 1M

$34.8K ₡17.4M

-21.20%

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

$75.9 NIO 2,778

$86.9 ₡43.5K

-12.65%

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

$17.5 NIO 641

$25.46 ₡12.7K

-31.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.62 NIO 1,415

$54.7 ₡27.4K

-29.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.82 NIO 1,275

$57.8 ₡28.9K

-39.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.8 NIO 542

$28.42 ₡14.2K

-47.92%

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 NIO 285

$9.08 ₡4,546

-14.32%

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

$109 NIO 3,999

$551 ₡275.9K

-80.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,316 NIO 304.6K

$9,816 ₡4.9M

-15.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 NIO 2,402

$72.3 ₡36.2K

-9.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.4 NIO 1,847

$55.2 ₡27.6K

-8.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 NIO 3,738

$118 ₡59.3K

-13.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.3 NIO 3,525

$104 ₡52.1K

-7.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 NIO 13.2K

$817 ₡408.8K

-55.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 NIO 10.1K

$539 ₡269.6K

-48.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 NIO 22.5K

$1,495 ₡748.3K

-58.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$496 NIO 18.1K

$1,019 ₡510.2K

-51.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,163 NIO 42.6K

$2,511 ₡1.3M

-53.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$529 NIO 19.4K

$1,384 ₡693K

-61.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$288 NIO 10.5K

$996 ₡498.8K

-71.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

10.53

-2.66%

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

Last update for Nicaragua: October 29, 2025

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

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