Cost of Living in Nicaragua - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Nicaragua
Address: NI

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $596 (excluding rent), and $933 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,390 (excluding rent), and $1,976 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 NIO 151

$3.18 NIO 117

$9.73 NIO 358

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.71 NIO 1,093

$23.77 NIO 874

$69.3 NIO 2,550

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 NIO 241

$5.51 NIO 203

$8.07 NIO 297

Cappuccino

$2.18 NIO 80.2

$1.11 NIO 41.01

$4.13 NIO 152

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

$0.81 NIO 29.72

$0.55 NIO 20.32

$1.39 NIO 51.2

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 24.94

$0.52 NIO 19.19

$0.91 NIO 33.39

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 NIO 50.6

$1.10 NIO 40.55

$1.77 NIO 65.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 NIO 75.7

$1.87 NIO 68.9

$3.19 NIO 117

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 NIO 44.70

$0.88 NIO 32.20

$1.45 NIO 53.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.93 NIO 71.0

$0.59 NIO 21.74

$2.41 NIO 88.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 NIO 58.7

$0.99 NIO 36.47

$2.08 NIO 76.6

Eggs

$2.07 NIO 76.1

$1.42 NIO 52.4

$2.46 NIO 90.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 NIO 298

$1.92 NIO 70.7

$13.50 NIO 497

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 NIO 219

$2.88 NIO 106

$6.57 NIO 242

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 NIO 294

$6.55 NIO 241

$11.30 NIO 416

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 NIO 149

$2.74 NIO 101

$5.47 NIO 201

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 NIO 43.95

$0.56 NIO 20.49

$2.24 NIO 82.3

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 NIO 85.2

$1.48 NIO 54.6

$5.37 NIO 198

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 NIO 75.5

$0.87 NIO 32.09

$3.02 NIO 111

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 NIO 130

$1.77 NIO 65.1

$4.23 NIO 155

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 NIO 71.8

$0.97 NIO 35.72

$2.63 NIO 96.8

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 NIO 33.96

$0.74 NIO 27.09

$1.72 NIO 63.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 NIO 38.93

$0.80 NIO 29.48

$1.80 NIO 66.2

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 NIO 119

$2.79 NIO 102

$3.66 NIO 135

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 NIO 370

$7.93 NIO 292

$14.74 NIO 542

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 NIO 49.99

$1.06 NIO 38.84

$1.66 NIO 61.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 NIO 80.8

$1.53 NIO 56.4

$2.43 NIO 89.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 NIO 4.53

$0.25 NIO 9.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.89 NIO 217

$8.31 NIO 306

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 NIO 39.59

$0.59 NIO 21.60

$1.59 NIO 58.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 NIO 22.41

$0.55 NIO 20.24

$1.60 NIO 58.9

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.72 NIO 247

$5.39 NIO 198

$9.88 NIO 363

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 NIO 49.47

$1.26 NIO 46.49

$1.52 NIO 55.8

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

$22.7K NIO 834.7K

$21.7K NIO 799.3K

$22.7K NIO 834.7K

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

$26.7K NIO 981.4K

$26.3K NIO 967.7K

$26.7K NIO 981.4K

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

$74.5 NIO 2,740

$41.31 NIO 1,520

$107 NIO 3,949

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

$17.39 NIO 640

$10.95 NIO 403

$24.45 NIO 900

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.76 NIO 1,426

$30.45 NIO 1,120

$48.21 NIO 1,774

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 NIO 1,303

$16.62 NIO 612

$45.66 NIO 1,680

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.29 NIO 563

Cinema Ticket

$8.11 NIO 298

$6.24 NIO 229

$12.17 NIO 448

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

$108 NIO 3,961

$49.95 NIO 1,838

$200 NIO 7,350

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,223 NIO 302.5K

$4,186 NIO 154.0K

$15.0K NIO 550.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 NIO 2,479

$15.11 NIO 556

$90.6 NIO 3,335

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 NIO 1,840

$30.02 NIO 1,104

$120 NIO 4,418

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 NIO 3,688

$34.41 NIO 1,266

$147 NIO 5,425

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.3 NIO 3,506

$35.84 NIO 1,319

$151 NIO 5,572

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 NIO 13.1K

$203 NIO 7,451

$506 NIO 18.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 NIO 9,867

$148 NIO 5,444

$444 NIO 16.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 NIO 22.5K

$301 NIO 11.1K

$1,210 NIO 44.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 NIO 17.9K

$296 NIO 10.9K

$988 NIO 36.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,246 NIO 45.8K

$812 NIO 29.9K

$2,161 NIO 79.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$689 NIO 25.4K

$371 NIO 13.7K

$913 NIO 33.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$294 NIO 10.8K

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 20, 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		$555	$708	$1,646	$1,546	114.11	84.67
3	Diriamba	57542		$556	$705	$1,339	$1,540	22.86	62.17
4	El Viejo	33607		$620	$708	$1,313	$1,558	234.18	83.91
5	Granada	128937	41	$506	$810	$1,154	$1,610	259.32	67.64
6	Jinotega	144503	26	$360	$513	$913	$1,125	266.84	48.34
7	Jinotepe	53081		$19.79	$19.76	$38.95	$45.04	216.59	76.13
8	La Paz Centro	33228		$578	$722	$1,535	$1,560	248.23	62.27
9	Leon	207533	36	$658	$705	$1,393	$1,555	50.18	76.35
10	Managua	1039290	48	$668	$952	$1,597	$2,156	101.45	122.5
11	Masaya	178835		$575	$703	$1,360	$1,590	81.06	37.58
12	Matagalpa	159982	43	$479	$866	$1,164	$1,722	12.46	91.58
13	Nandaime	34288		$634	$710	$1,402	$1,580	31.42	35.67
14	Ocotal	34580		$527	$705	$1,549	$1,590	44.95	82.78
15	Rivas	53208	35	$605	$704	$1,367	$1,513	265.87	91
16	San Juan del Sur	14741	52	$620	$1,035	$1,247	$2,458	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.