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 $1,036 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $934 in Managua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,716 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,546 in Managua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,396 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,158 in Managua, rent included.

San Juan del Sur costs about 11% 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

$4.09 NIO 150

$4.84 NIO 177

-15.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.15 NIO 1,251

$34.38 NIO 1,259

-0.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 NIO 210

$7.10 NIO 260

-19.15%

Cappuccino

$2.33 NIO 85.3

$2.45 NIO 89.7

-4.90%

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

$0.78 NIO 28.73

$0.86 NIO 31.52

-9.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 NIO 26.08

$0.75 NIO 27.39

-5.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 NIO 48.50

$1.29 NIO 47.34

2.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NIO 74.4

$2.02 NIO 74.0

0.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 NIO 46.61

$1.27 NIO 46.34

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 NIO 55.4

$2.37 NIO 86.9

-36.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 NIO 43.16

$1.88 NIO 68.8

-37.23%

Eggs

$1.91 NIO 69.9

$2.24 NIO 82.1

-14.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 NIO 295

$11.35 NIO 416

-28.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 NIO 232

$6.77 NIO 248

-6.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 NIO 301

$7.83 NIO 287

4.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 NIO 139

$3.95 NIO 145

-4.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 NIO 33.41

$0.88 NIO 32.40

3.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 NIO 64.2

$1.82 NIO 66.7

-3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.6

$2.29 NIO 83.8

-0.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 NIO 114

$3.89 NIO 142

-20.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 NIO 83.1

$2.18 NIO 79.7

4.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 NIO 37.35

$1.02 NIO 37.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 NIO 38.65

$1.05 NIO 38.53

0.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NIO 95.0

$2.61 NIO 95.5

-0.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 NIO 361

$14.88 NIO 545

-33.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 NIO 51.2

$1.40 NIO 51.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 NIO 83.4

$2.18 NIO 79.9

4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 NIO 4.65

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.08 NIO 223

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 NIO 56.3

$1.49 NIO 54.5

3.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 NIO 19.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 NIO 242

$6.86 NIO 251

-3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NIO 45.37

$1.31 NIO 48.16

-5.34%

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

$23.4K NIO 856.1K

$23.0K NIO 841.8K

1.69%

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

$26.0K NIO 953.0K

$25.9K NIO 947.2K

0.62%

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

$43.22 NIO 1,583

$99.7 NIO 3,649

-56.63%

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

$10.70 NIO 392

$17.27 NIO 632

-38.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.53 NIO 1,338

$37.55 NIO 1,375

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.26 NIO 1,108

$35.51 NIO 1,301

-14.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.12 NIO 554

Cinema Ticket

$8.24 NIO 302

$8.14 NIO 298

1.23%

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

$126 NIO 4,606

$122 NIO 4,482

2.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,030 NIO 220.8K

$5,884 NIO 215.5K

2.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 NIO 2,849

$75.9 NIO 2,780

2.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.9 NIO 2,670

$72.3 NIO 2,648

0.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,857

$134 NIO 4,896

-0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 NIO 3,972

$110 NIO 4,040

-1.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 NIO 17.3K

$252 NIO 9,226

87.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 NIO 15.0K

$187 NIO 6,834

119.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 NIO 35.4K

$443 NIO 16.2K

118.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$962 NIO 35.2K

$449 NIO 16.4K

114.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,189 NIO 43.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$654 NIO 23.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 NIO 12.9K

$359 NIO 13.1K

-1.75%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Managua: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $472 in San Juan del Sur versus $252 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 2% 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 $34.00 in Managua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $225 vs $262 – 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 11% 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 $1,555 per month in San Juan del Sur and $1,401 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 $1,036 in San Juan del Sur and $934 in Managua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $126 per month in San Juan del Sur and $122 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 $934, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,036. 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 $934 in Managua to $1,036 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.