😐A single person spends $1,022 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,010 in Zelenograd, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,719 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,612 in Zelenograd, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,417 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,214 in Zelenograd, rent included.
😐San Juan del Sur costs about 1% more than Zelenograd, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both San Juan del Sur and Zelenograd are more affordable than the global median – San Juan del Sur24% lower, Zelenograd25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.25NIO 156
$12.90₽942
-67.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.80NIO 1,238
$58.7₽4,281
-42.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.52NIO 202
$6.23₽454
-11.40%
Cappuccino
$2.35NIO 86.0
$1.99₽145
18.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85NIO 31.14
$1.00₽73.3
-15.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68NIO 25.06
$0.57₽41.69
19.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30NIO 47.48
$1.36₽99.4
-4.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02NIO 73.9
$1.53₽112
32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26NIO 46.20
$1.14₽83.2
10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48NIO 54.1
$0.55₽40.30
169.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17NIO 42.88
$1.30₽95.2
-10.00%
Eggs
$1.96NIO 71.7
$1.70₽124
15.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.79NIO 285
$7.60₽555
2.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39NIO 234
$3.25₽237
96.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.97NIO 292
$3.79₽277
110.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.85NIO 141
$1.85₽135
108.11%
Banana(1kg)
$0.84NIO 30.90
$2.03₽148
-58.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78NIO 65.1
$2.28₽166
-21.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26NIO 82.8
$4.21₽307
-46.32%
Potato(1kg)
$3.14NIO 115
$1.02₽74.6
207.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17NIO 79.5
$0.84₽61.1
158.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01NIO 36.99
$1.03₽75.4
-1.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01NIO 36.93
$0.65₽47.77
55.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61NIO 95.4
$3.11₽227
-16.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.65NIO 354
$8.79₽641
9.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46NIO 53.5
$1.12₽81.7
30.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23NIO 81.9
$2.34₽171
-4.70%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.60₽43.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.10₽1,394
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47NIO 53.9
$0.60₽44.05
145.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.48₽35.24
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.83NIO 250
$8.01₽584
-14.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25NIO 45.66
$0.81₽59.5
54.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KNIO 838.0K
$37.8K₽2.8M
-39.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KNIO 948.6K
$28.1K₽2.0M
-7.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.71NIO 1,528
$97.3₽7,099
-57.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.58NIO 388
$5.88₽429
79.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.56NIO 1,339
$8.02₽585
355.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.69NIO 1,087
$35.55₽2,595
-16.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$38.53₽2,813
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.80NIO 286
$6.43₽469
21.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$123NIO 4,505
$319₽23.3K
-61.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,973NIO 218.8K
$7,057₽515.1K
-15.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.8NIO 2,884
$72.7₽5,307
8.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.8NIO 2,702
$52.9₽3,860
39.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130NIO 4,761
$134₽9,803
-3.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110NIO 4,025
$113₽8,252
-2.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$461NIO 16.9K
$436₽31.8K
5.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409NIO 15.0K
$301₽22.0K
35.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$955NIO 35.0K
$770₽56.2K
23.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$958NIO 35.1K
$502₽36.7K
90.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,521₽184.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,649₽120.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan del Sur
Zelenograd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280NIO 10.2K
$1,091₽79.7K
-74.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.25
13.5
-24.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Juan del Sur: May 31, 2026
Last update for Zelenograd: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $461 in San Juan del Sur versus $436 in Zelenograd. 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 290% higher in Zelenograd, 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 $59.0 in Zelenograd. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in San Juan del Sur vs $176 in Zelenograd – so Zelenograd wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Zelenograd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Juan del Sur and Zelenograd compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,022 in San Juan del Sur, $1,010 in Zelenograd – roughly 1% apart. San Juan del Sur costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in San Juan del Sur compared to Zelenograd?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,532 per month in San Juan del Sur and $1,515 in Zelenograd. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Juan del Sur and Zelenograd?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Zelenograd, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in San Juan del Sur and $59.0 in Zelenograd. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 27% more in San Juan del Sur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zelenograd, where all-in costs run around $1,010, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,022. In Zelenograd it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan del Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between San Juan del Sur and Zelenograd?
It depends on your priorities. San Juan del Sur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,010 in Zelenograd to $1,022 in San Juan del Sur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is San Juan del Sur or Zelenograd safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between San Juan del Sur and Zelenograd?
If budget matters most, go with Zelenograd. 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.
San Juan del Sur vs other spots: cost of living compared