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 $1,045 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $937 in Managua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,739 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,517 in Managua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,432 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,097 in Managua, rent included.

San Juan del Sur costs about 12% 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 22% lower, Managua 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.22 NIO 155

$4.78 NIO 175

-11.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 NIO 1,221

$35.66 NIO 1,306

-6.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 NIO 203

$7.18 NIO 263

-22.84%

Cappuccino

$2.47 NIO 90.3

$2.33 NIO 85.4

6.01%

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

$0.84 NIO 30.95

$0.85 NIO 30.98

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NIO 25.09

$0.69 NIO 25.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 NIO 47.56

$1.27 NIO 46.62

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 NIO 74.7

$1.95 NIO 71.3

4.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 NIO 45.87

$1.26 NIO 46.29

-0.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 NIO 54.6

$2.34 NIO 85.7

-36.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 NIO 45.01

$1.86 NIO 68.1

-33.87%

Eggs

$1.97 NIO 72.0

$2.24 NIO 82.0

-12.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 NIO 296

$11.22 NIO 411

-28.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 NIO 230

$6.81 NIO 249

-7.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 NIO 294

$7.88 NIO 289

1.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 NIO 141

$3.99 NIO 146

-3.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 NIO 32.41

$0.83 NIO 30.45

7.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 NIO 67.4

$1.84 NIO 67.3

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.6

$2.18 NIO 79.7

4.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 NIO 116

$3.82 NIO 140

-16.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 NIO 79.0

$2.18 NIO 79.8

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 NIO 37.09

$1.07 NIO 39.10

-5.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 36.86

$1.01 NIO 36.82

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 NIO 96.5

$2.62 NIO 96.1

0.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.68 NIO 355

$14.59 NIO 534

-33.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 53.3

$1.41 NIO 51.8

3.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 NIO 82.6

$2.23 NIO 81.7

1.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.04 NIO 221

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 NIO 54.5

$1.52 NIO 55.6

-1.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 NIO 19.75

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.77 NIO 248

$6.86 NIO 251

-1.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 NIO 47.32

$1.36 NIO 49.85

-5.15%

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

$22.9K NIO 840.3K

$23.4K NIO 856.7K

-1.91%

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

$26.6K NIO 973.5K

$26.1K NIO 955.8K

1.85%

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

$42.02 NIO 1,539

$97.7 NIO 3,577

-56.97%

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

$10.46 NIO 383

$17.22 NIO 631

-39.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.59 NIO 1,340

$37.67 NIO 1,380

-2.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.48 NIO 1,116

$36.30 NIO 1,329

-16.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.76 NIO 541

Cinema Ticket

$8.12 NIO 297

$8.21 NIO 301

-1.10%

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

$124 NIO 4,535

$124 NIO 4,540

-0.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,023 NIO 220.6K

$5,993 NIO 219.5K

0.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 NIO 2,812

$77.2 NIO 2,829

-0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.0 NIO 2,637

$73.6 NIO 2,697

-2.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,823

$132 NIO 4,830

-0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,915

$107 NIO 3,902

0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 NIO 17.3K

$254 NIO 9,315

86.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 NIO 15.3K

$192 NIO 7,041

116.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 NIO 34.7K

$429 NIO 15.7K

120.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 NIO 35.0K

$449 NIO 16.4K

113.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,186 NIO 43.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 NIO 24.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$281 NIO 10.3K

$354 NIO 13.0K

-20.54%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Managua: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 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 26% 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 $33.00 in San Juan del Sur versus $36.00 in Managua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $260 – 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 12% 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 $1,568 per month in San Juan del Sur and $1,405 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 $1,045 in San Juan del Sur and $937 in Managua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $124 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 $937, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,045. 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 $937 in Managua to $1,045 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.