Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan del Sur and Managua Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan del Sur and Managua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,053 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,005 in Managua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,590 in Managua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,271 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,174 in Managua, rent included.

San Juan del Sur costs about 5% more than Managua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Juan del Sur and Managua are more affordable than the global median – San Juan del Sur 23% lower, Managua 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 NIO 155

$9.80 NIO 359

-56.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.90 NIO 1,242

$38.22 NIO 1,400

-11.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 NIO 206

$7.77 NIO 284

-27.67%

Cappuccino

$2.56 NIO 93.8

$2.49 NIO 91.1

2.81%

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

$0.90 NIO 32.79

$0.83 NIO 30.34

8.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.56

$0.73 NIO 26.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 NIO 53.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.0

$1.96 NIO 71.9

0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 NIO 45.33

$1.29 NIO 47.41

-3.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 NIO 54.6

$2.41 NIO 88.4

-38.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 NIO 44.54

$1.73 NIO 63.3

-29.48%

Eggs

$2.29 NIO 83.7

$2.29 NIO 83.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.77 NIO 285

$11.37 NIO 416

-31.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 NIO 236

$6.80 NIO 249

-5.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 NIO 264

$7.28 NIO 267

-0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 NIO 133

$3.69 NIO 135

-1.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 NIO 21.05

$0.57 NIO 20.92

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 NIO 67.9

$1.78 NIO 65.2

3.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 NIO 80.3

$2.27 NIO 83.1

-3.52%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 NIO 115

$3.99 NIO 146

-21.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 NIO 80.5

$2.18 NIO 79.8

0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 NIO 36.60

$1.00 NIO 36.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 NIO 37.51

$1.07 NIO 39.27

-4.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 NIO 94.7

$2.69 NIO 98.5

-3.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 NIO 357

$14.42 NIO 528

-32.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 NIO 51.6

$1.46 NIO 53.3

-3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 NIO 85.2

$2.24 NIO 82.0

4.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 NIO 5.76

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.95 NIO 218

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 NIO 61.5

$1.66 NIO 60.9

1.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 NIO 58.6

$1.64 NIO 60.3

-2.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 NIO 245

$6.69 NIO 245

-0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 NIO 49.27

$1.37 NIO 50.1

-1.46%

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

$23.3K NIO 853.2K

$23.2K NIO 851.0K

0.26%

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

$26.3K NIO 962.9K

$26.2K NIO 960.5K

0.24%

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

$60.4 NIO 2,212

$120 NIO 4,410

-49.84%

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

$10.53 NIO 386

$17.32 NIO 634

-39.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.64 NIO 1,342

$37.41 NIO 1,370

-2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 NIO 1,098

$33.71 NIO 1,235

-11.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 NIO 552

Cinema Ticket

$8.38 NIO 307

$8.74 NIO 320

-4.12%

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

$240 NIO 8,802

$238 NIO 8,706

1.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,957 NIO 218.2K

$6,082 NIO 222.8K

-2.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 NIO 2,574

$72.0 NIO 2,638

-2.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.9 NIO 2,633

$73.7 NIO 2,699

-2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,810

$132 NIO 4,819

-0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 3,975

$109 NIO 3,996

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 NIO 15.5K

$261 NIO 9,545

62.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 NIO 14.0K

$190 NIO 6,968

101.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 NIO 33.7K

$449 NIO 16.4K

104.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 NIO 28.2K

$376 NIO 13.8K

104.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,214 NIO 44.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$638 NIO 23.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 NIO 12.6K

$348 NIO 12.8K

-1.42%

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 San Juan del Sur: September 12, 2026

Last update for Managua: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in San Juan del Sur versus $261 in Managua. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1% higher in Managua, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in San Juan del Sur versus $38.00 in Managua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $257 – making San Juan del Sur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

San Juan del Sur vs Managua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan del Sur costs about 5% more than Managua, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,580 per month in San Juan del Sur and $1,508 in Managua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Managua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,053 in San Juan del Sur and $1,005 in Managua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $240 per month in San Juan del Sur and $238 in Managua. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Managua, where all-in costs run around $1,005, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,053. In Managua it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan del Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Juan del Sur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,005 in Managua to $1,053 in San Juan del Sur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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