Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael del Sur and Chinandega Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael del Sur and Chinandega

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.81 NIO 359

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.81 NIO 1,385

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 NIO 274

Cappuccino

$2.59 NIO 94.7

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

$0.83 NIO 30.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 NIO 26.01

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 NIO 53.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 NIO 73.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 NIO 47.47

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 NIO 88.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 NIO 65.7

Eggs

$2.41 NIO 88.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.42 NIO 418

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.80 NIO 249

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.15 NIO 262

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 NIO 134

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 NIO 20.89

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 NIO 66.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 NIO 81.0

Potato (1kg)

$4.02 NIO 147

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 NIO 82.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 NIO 37.92

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 NIO 37.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 NIO 94.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 NIO 545

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 NIO 54.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 NIO 85.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 NIO 61.2

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 NIO 60.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 NIO 242

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 NIO 47.98

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

$23.3K NIO 853.1K

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

$26.6K NIO 972.7K

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

$101 NIO 3,704

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

$17.03 NIO 624

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.91 NIO 1,279

Cinema Ticket

$8.35 NIO 306

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

$236 NIO 8,626

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,051 NIO 221.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.1 NIO 2,640

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.6 NIO 2,733

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,812

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,022

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 Rafael del Sur: October 3, 2026

Last update for Chinandega: October 5, 2026

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 Rafael del Sur vs Chinandega: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael del Sur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

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