Cost of Living in Nicaragua - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Nicaragua
Address: NI

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $587 (excluding rent), and $916 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,410 (excluding rent), and $1,953 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 NIO 152

$3.21 NIO 118

$9.80 NIO 361

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.96 NIO 1,103

$23.97 NIO 883

$69.9 NIO 2,574

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.58 NIO 242

$5.52 NIO 203

$8.09 NIO 298

Cappuccino

$2.21 NIO 81.3

$1.13 NIO 41.61

$4.19 NIO 154

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

$0.77 NIO 28.37

$0.53 NIO 19.39

$1.33 NIO 48.84

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 25.05

$0.52 NIO 19.27

$0.91 NIO 33.53

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 NIO 49.11

$1.07 NIO 39.36

$1.72 NIO 63.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 NIO 75.4

$1.86 NIO 68.6

$3.18 NIO 117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 NIO 43.05

$0.84 NIO 31.01

$1.40 NIO 51.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.94 NIO 71.6

$0.59 NIO 21.91

$2.43 NIO 89.5

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 NIO 60.5

$1.02 NIO 37.57

$2.14 NIO 78.9

Eggs

$2.03 NIO 74.7

$1.40 NIO 51.5

$2.42 NIO 89.0

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 NIO 299

$1.93 NIO 71.1

$13.57 NIO 500

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.20 NIO 228

$2.99 NIO 110

$6.83 NIO 252

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 NIO 285

$6.35 NIO 234

$10.94 NIO 403

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 NIO 148

$2.71 NIO 99.7

$5.40 NIO 199

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 NIO 42.99

$0.54 NIO 20.04

$2.19 NIO 80.5

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 NIO 88.7

$1.54 NIO 56.8

$5.59 NIO 206

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 NIO 75.5

$0.87 NIO 32.08

$3.02 NIO 111

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 NIO 131

$1.79 NIO 66.0

$4.27 NIO 157

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 NIO 72.9

$0.98 NIO 36.26

$2.67 NIO 98.3

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 NIO 31.68

$0.69 NIO 25.27

$1.60 NIO 59.1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 NIO 38.54

$0.79 NIO 29.18

$1.78 NIO 65.5

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 NIO 114

$2.66 NIO 98.0

$3.50 NIO 129

Wine (Bottle)

$10.02 NIO 369

$7.91 NIO 291

$14.70 NIO 541

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 NIO 50.2

$1.06 NIO 39.02

$1.67 NIO 61.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 NIO 77.1

$1.46 NIO 53.8

$2.32 NIO 85.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 NIO 5.27

$0.29 NIO 10.53

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.88 NIO 216

$8.30 NIO 305

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 NIO 39.62

$0.59 NIO 21.61

$1.59 NIO 58.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 NIO 22.18

$0.54 NIO 20.03

$1.58 NIO 58.3

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.86 NIO 253

$5.51 NIO 203

$10.09 NIO 372

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 NIO 48.20

$1.23 NIO 45.30

$1.48 NIO 54.4

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

$23.3K NIO 857.5K

$22.3K NIO 821.2K

$23.3K NIO 857.5K

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

$26.7K NIO 983.1K

$26.3K NIO 969.3K

$26.7K NIO 983.1K

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

$76.7 NIO 2,823

$42.52 NIO 1,566

$110 NIO 4,068

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

$17.14 NIO 631

$10.80 NIO 398

$24.10 NIO 887

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.47 NIO 1,416

$30.23 NIO 1,113

$47.85 NIO 1,762

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.48 NIO 1,307

$16.66 NIO 613

$45.77 NIO 1,685

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.92 NIO 549

Cinema Ticket

$8.23 NIO 303

$6.33 NIO 233

$12.35 NIO 455

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

$107 NIO 3,935

$49.57 NIO 1,825

$198 NIO 7,301

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,197 NIO 301.8K

$4,173 NIO 153.7K

$14.9K NIO 548.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 NIO 2,479

$15.09 NIO 556

$90.6 NIO 3,334

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 NIO 1,861

$30.35 NIO 1,117

$121 NIO 4,470

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 NIO 3,707

$34.56 NIO 1,272

$148 NIO 5,453

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.4 NIO 3,437

$35.11 NIO 1,293

$148 NIO 5,463

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 NIO 13.2K

$203 NIO 7,461

$507 NIO 18.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 NIO 10.2K

$153 NIO 5,623

$458 NIO 16.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 NIO 21.9K

$293 NIO 10.8K

$1,177 NIO 43.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 NIO 18.2K

$301 NIO 11.1K

$1,003 NIO 36.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,211 NIO 44.6K

$789 NIO 29.1K

$2,102 NIO 77.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$679 NIO 25.0K

$366 NIO 13.5K

$900 NIO 33.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 NIO 11.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: January 13, 2026

By City in Nicaragua

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Bluefields	56618						210.21	85.36
2	Chinandega	135578		$626	$705	$1,589	$1,551	114.11	84.67
3	Diriamba	57542		$700	$709	$1,294	$1,596	22.86	62.17
4	El Viejo	33607		$662	$720	$1,467	$1,544	234.18	83.91
5	Granada	128937	41	$445	$820	$1,108	$1,597	259.32	67.64
6	Jinotega	144503	26	$425	$512	$1,062	$1,102	266.84	48.34
7	Jinotepe	53081		$20.14	$20.34	$43.17	$44.64	216.59	76.13
8	La Paz Centro	33228		$643	$716	$1,577	$1,557	248.23	62.27
9	Leon	207533	36	$630	$721	$1,636	$1,546	50.18	76.35
10	Managua	1039290	48	$651	$929	$1,603	$2,115	101.45	122.5
11	Masaya	178835		$579	$721	$1,280	$1,567	81.06	37.58
12	Matagalpa	159982	43	$595	$840	$1,268	$1,678	12.46	91.58
13	Nandaime	34288		$692	$707	$1,309	$1,580	31.42	35.67
14	Ocotal	34580		$671	$711	$1,544	$1,566	44.95	82.78
15	Rivas	53208	35	$614	$691	$1,514	$1,472	265.87	91
16	San Juan del Sur	14741	52	$540	$1,056	$1,403	$2,454	143.17	83.3
17	San Rafael del Sur	54846						65.43	66.91

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Nicaragua - Frequently Asked Questions

In Nicaragua, cost of living tends to be lower than in many other Central American destinations, making it attractive for travelers, expats, and digital nomads seeking longer stays. You'll typically find affordable housing options – from simple apartments to co-living spaces – plus inexpensive street food and local markets. Public transport is budget-friendly, while ride-hailing and casual taxis are common. Internet quality varies by area, so choose established expat-friendly neighborhoods for reliability. Overall, Cost of Living in Nicaragua can feel comfortable if you plan around seasonal tourism ebbs and local price variations. Tip: shortlist a few neighborhoods with reliable Wi‑Fi before committing to a long-term stay.

When you start your housing search, target cities with steady expat communities – Granada, León, or Managua suburbs – where rentals range from compact studios to larger apartments. For daily meals, you can balance street eats with local markets and occasional groceries. Public buses are common and inexpensive, while ride-hailing offers faster options when you’re short on time. For errands and coworking, look for areas with reliable power and solid internet; many venues offer day passes or coworking memberships. Nicaragua living cost tends to stay predictable when you anchor your stay to a neighborhood with consistent services. Tip: test a few coworking spaces during your first week to gauge connectivity and community.

To maximize value, adopt a simple budgeting framework: split your monthly spend into housing, food, transport, and activities, then set flexible targets for each category. For housing, look beyond price and assess location, safety, and internet reliability. Seasonal patterns matter: prices in tourist zones crest during holidays, while inland towns stay steadier. Save by cooking most meals, using local markets, and negotiating longer-term rents. Neighborhood fit matters more than sheer cost – choose areas with easy access to transport, groceries, and coworking spaces that fit your workflow. Tip: build a short 'trial map' of two to three neighborhoods to compare quality of life over two to four weeks.