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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.26 NIO 302

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.45 NIO 1,372

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 NIO 272

Cappuccino

$2.48 NIO 90.8

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

$0.88 NIO 32.09

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 NIO 24.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 NIO 53.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 NIO 74.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 NIO 46.78

White Bread (500g)

$2.34 NIO 85.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 NIO 65.3

Eggs

$2.42 NIO 88.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.64 NIO 426

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 NIO 244

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 NIO 267

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 NIO 138

Banana (1kg)

$0.61 NIO 22.35

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 NIO 66.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 NIO 83.8

Potato (1kg)

$3.90 NIO 143

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 NIO 78.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 NIO 36.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 NIO 39.17

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 NIO 96.2

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 NIO 528

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 53.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 NIO 84.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 NIO 58.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 NIO 40.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.00 NIO 256

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 NIO 50.5

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

$23.2K NIO 850.5K

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

$26.2K NIO 958.9K

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

$113 NIO 4,125

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

$16.68 NIO 611

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.01 NIO 1,355

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 NIO 309

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

$170 NIO 6,220

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,154 NIO 225.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 NIO 2,506

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.7 NIO 2,664

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$134 NIO 4,905

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 NIO 3,971

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Diriamba: August 17, 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 Diriamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For families, San Rafael del Sur is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Diriamba, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

It comes down to priorities – San Rafael del Sur wins on affordability, Diriamba on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.