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 $1,058 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $935 in Managua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,734 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,511 in Managua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,410 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,087 in Managua, rent included.

San Juan del Sur costs about 13% more than Managua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Juan del Sur and Managua are more affordable than the global median – San Juan del Sur 21% lower, Managua 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 NIO 151

$5.03 NIO 186

-18.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.82 NIO 1,246

$34.78 NIO 1,282

-2.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 NIO 207

$6.82 NIO 252

-17.45%

Cappuccino

$2.36 NIO 87.2

$2.47 NIO 90.9

-4.45%

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

$0.81 NIO 29.77

$0.78 NIO 28.73

3.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 24.96

$0.74 NIO 27.11

-8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 NIO 48.83

$1.27 NIO 46.88

3.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 NIO 72.0

$1.96 NIO 72.3

-0.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 45.13

$1.23 NIO 45.28

-0.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.5

$2.38 NIO 87.6

-35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 NIO 45.25

$1.79 NIO 66.1

-31.28%

Eggs

$1.87 NIO 69.1

$2.28 NIO 83.9

-17.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 NIO 293

$11.25 NIO 415

-29.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 NIO 237

$6.57 NIO 242

-2.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.17 NIO 301

$8.14 NIO 300

0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 NIO 147

$3.80 NIO 140

5.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 NIO 31.59

$0.84 NIO 31.14

2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 NIO 65.5

$1.83 NIO 67.3

-2.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 NIO 84.6

$2.28 NIO 83.9

0.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 NIO 121

$3.82 NIO 141

-13.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 NIO 82.2

$2.26 NIO 83.4

-1.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 NIO 37.32

$1.06 NIO 39.04

-4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 37.19

$1.00 NIO 36.92

1.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NIO 95.9

$2.70 NIO 99.7

-3.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.97 NIO 367

$14.55 NIO 536

-31.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 NIO 51.6

$1.42 NIO 52.3

-1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 NIO 81.2

$2.20 NIO 81.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 NIO 4.51

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.93 NIO 219

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 NIO 56.6

$1.48 NIO 54.6

4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 NIO 20.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 NIO 257

$6.70 NIO 247

4.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 NIO 46.06

$1.37 NIO 50.3

-8.76%

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

$22.6K NIO 831.8K

$23.2K NIO 854.9K

-2.70%

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

$25.9K NIO 955.0K

$26.2K NIO 966.6K

-1.19%

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

$43.25 NIO 1,594

$96.8 NIO 3,568

-55.32%

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

$10.71 NIO 395

$16.79 NIO 619

-36.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.69 NIO 1,352

$37.50 NIO 1,382

-2.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.06 NIO 1,108

$35.43 NIO 1,306

-15.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.91 NIO 550

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 NIO 289

$8.03 NIO 296

-2.37%

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

$125 NIO 4,603

$124 NIO 4,555

1.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,054 NIO 223.1K

$5,969 NIO 220.0K

1.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 NIO 2,884

$76.9 NIO 2,836

1.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.0 NIO 2,689

$73.6 NIO 2,713

-0.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,852

$135 NIO 4,962

-2.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 NIO 3,917

$107 NIO 3,949

-0.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 NIO 17.5K

$254 NIO 9,366

86.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 NIO 15.3K

$188 NIO 6,945

119.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$942 NIO 34.7K

$435 NIO 16.0K

116.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 NIO 36.1K

$449 NIO 16.5K

117.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 NIO 45.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$643 NIO 23.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 NIO 10.3K

$359 NIO 13.2K

-22.25%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Managua: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in San Juan del Sur versus $254 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 29% 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 $35.00 in Managua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $259 – 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 13% more than Managua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,587 per month in San Juan del Sur and $1,402 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 $1,058 in San Juan del Sur and $935 in Managua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $125 per month in San Juan del Sur and $124 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 $935, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,058. 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 $935 in Managua to $1,058 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.