Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicaragua and Lima
For one person, living is cheaper in Nicaragua: $946 a month against $996 in Lima, rent and utilities included – about $600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lima outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.
-
Nicaragua Living Index46Cost of Living Index in NicaraguaLearn more -
Lima Living Index49Cost of Living Index in LimaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Nicaragua is 2.6% more expensive than Lima without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Nicaragua is 5.5% more expensive than Lima without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.95 NIO 181
$4.42 PEN 15.16
11.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.88 NIO 1,131
$35.04 PEN 120
-11.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.80 NIO 286
$6.84 PEN 23.44
14.04%
Cappuccino
$2.36 NIO 86.5
$3.27 PEN 11.22
-27.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 NIO 32.75
$1.10 PEN 3.78
-19.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 NIO 24.09
$0.65 PEN 2.22
1.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 NIO 48.91
$2.58 PEN 8.85
-48.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 NIO 71.6
$4.47 PEN 15.34
-56.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 NIO 44.22
$1.59 PEN 5.46
-23.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 NIO 76.0
$2.58 PEN 8.86
-19.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 NIO 60.7
$1.36 PEN 4.65
22.06%
Eggs
$2.25 NIO 82.5
$2.95 PEN 10.11
-23.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 NIO 342
$9.10 PEN 31.19
2.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.96 NIO 218
$5.81 PEN 19.91
2.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.06 NIO 295
$9.83 PEN 33.68
-18.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.73 NIO 173
$2.01 PEN 6.89
135.32%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 NIO 29.68
$1.08 PEN 3.69
-25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 NIO 71.6
$1.37 PEN 4.70
42.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 NIO 85.7
$1.48 PEN 5.06
58.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 NIO 139
$0.96 PEN 3.30
295.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 NIO 83.9
$0.85 PEN 2.92
169.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 NIO 39.44
$0.88 PEN 3.02
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 NIO 37.95
$0.87 PEN 2.97
19.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 NIO 132
$5.90 PEN 20.24
-38.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.20 NIO 483
$8.81 PEN 30.21
49.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 NIO 53.8
$1.92 PEN 6.57
-23.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 NIO 79.2
$3.20 PEN 10.98
-32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 NIO 5.36
$0.68 PEN 2.33
-77.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.02 NIO 221
$26.74 PEN 91.7
-77.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 NIO 56.5
$3.81 PEN 13.06
-59.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 NIO 54.1
$2.04 PEN 7.00
-27.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.64 NIO 243
$7.14 PEN 24.49
-7.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 NIO 48.15
$1.65 PEN 5.65
-20.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K NIO 845.1K
$22.2K PEN 76.0K
4.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K NIO 947.3K
$25.7K PEN 88.0K
0.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 NIO 4,138
$73.0 PEN 250
54.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.92 NIO 656
$16.26 PEN 55.7
10.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87 NIO 1,350
$27.60 PEN 94.6
33.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.42 NIO 1,260
$33.07 PEN 113
4.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.17 NIO 556
$19.49 PEN 66.8
-22.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29 NIO 340
$7.39 PEN 25.33
25.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 NIO 8,583
$182 PEN 624
28.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,687 NIO 244.9K
$13.3K PEN 45.7K
-49.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 NIO 1,981
$52.6 PEN 180
2.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.45 NIO 1,628
$34.23 PEN 117
29.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 NIO 4,155
$83.8 PEN 287
35.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 NIO 4,514
$79.0 PEN 271
55.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$359 NIO 13.1K
$723 PEN 2,479
-50.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 NIO 7,768
$340 PEN 1,166
-37.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 NIO 22.4K
$1,184 PEN 4,060
-48.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 NIO 17.0K
$635 PEN 2,176
-27.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,205 NIO 44.1K
$2,449 PEN 8,394
-50.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$671 NIO 24.6K
$1,372 PEN 4,702
-51.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nicaragua
Lima
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$353 NIO 12.9K
$653 PEN 2,237
-45.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.94
8.94
33.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nicaragua: October 5, 2026
Last update for Lima: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Nicaragua $249 26.1%
Lima $226 22.4% 9.2% $23
Accommodation & Living
Nicaragua $212 22.2%
Lima $340 33.6% 60.4% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicaragua $168 17.5%
Lima $117 11.6% 30.3% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Nicaragua $151 15.8%
Lima $112 11.1% 25.5% $39
Eating Out
Nicaragua $108 11.3%
Lima $124 12.3% 14.7% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Nicaragua $53 5.5%
Lima $48 4.7% 9.7% $5.1
Getting Around
Nicaragua $16 1.6%
Lima $43 4.3% 180% $28
Groceries & Markets
Nicaragua $568 27.4%
Lima $517 24% 9% $51
Accommodation & Living
Nicaragua $463 22.4%
Lima $635 29.5% 37% $172
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicaragua $186 9%
Lima $133 6.2% 28.3% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Nicaragua $335 16.2%
Lima $250 11.6% 25.6% $86
Eating Out
Nicaragua $367 17.7%
Lima $417 19.3% 13.5% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Nicaragua $121 5.9%
Lima $115 5.4% 4.9% $6
Getting Around
Nicaragua $31 1.5%
Lima $88 4.1% 182% $57
Good to know
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
🇵🇪 Lima
Weather
Population
6,676,948
9,989,369 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Nicaragua Lima 2,880 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
- Nicaragua
- Lima
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
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