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

$5.00 NIO 184

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.20 NIO 1,297

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.86 NIO 253

Cappuccino

$2.42 NIO 89.1

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

$0.84 NIO 30.80

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 NIO 25.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 NIO 49.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.8

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 44.97

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 NIO 90.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 NIO 69.3

Eggs

$2.25 NIO 82.8

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.98 NIO 405

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 NIO 248

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 NIO 300

Apples (1kg)

$3.81 NIO 140

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 NIO 33.08

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 NIO 67.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 NIO 83.4

Potato (1kg)

$3.99 NIO 147

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 80.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 NIO 39.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 NIO 38.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 NIO 99.1

Wine (Bottle)

$14.38 NIO 530

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 NIO 54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 NIO 84.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 NIO 55.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.72 NIO 248

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 NIO 49.43

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

$23.1K NIO 850.9K

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

$26.6K NIO 981.9K

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

$99.6 NIO 3,672

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

$17.24 NIO 636

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.59 NIO 1,312

Cinema Ticket

$8.02 NIO 296

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

$124 NIO 4,555

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,024 NIO 222.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.0 NIO 2,875

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.3 NIO 2,702

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,891

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 NIO 3,909

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Chinandega: April 26, 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.