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 134

$3.18 NIO 104

$9.73 NIO 319

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.71 NIO 974

$23.77 NIO 779

$69.3 NIO 2,272

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 NIO 215

$5.51 NIO 181

$8.07 NIO 265

Cappuccino

$2.18 NIO 71.4

$1.11 NIO 36.53

$4.13 NIO 135

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

$0.81 NIO 26.47

$0.55 NIO 18.10

$1.39 NIO 45.58

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 22.22

$0.52 NIO 17.09

$0.91 NIO 29.74

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 NIO 45.07

$1.10 NIO 36.12

$1.77 NIO 58.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 NIO 67.4

$1.87 NIO 61.4

$3.19 NIO 105

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 NIO 39.82

$0.88 NIO 28.68

$1.45 NIO 47.58

White Bread (500g)

$1.93 NIO 63.3

$0.59 NIO 19.36

$2.41 NIO 79.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 NIO 52.3

$0.99 NIO 32.48

$2.08 NIO 68.2

Eggs

$2.07 NIO 67.8

$1.42 NIO 46.69

$2.46 NIO 80.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.09 NIO 265

$1.92 NIO 62.9

$13.50 NIO 443

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 NIO 196

$2.88 NIO 94.2

$6.57 NIO 215

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 NIO 262

$6.55 NIO 215

$11.30 NIO 370

Apples (1kg)

$4.06 NIO 133

$2.74 NIO 89.7

$5.47 NIO 179

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 NIO 39.15

$0.56 NIO 18.25

$2.24 NIO 73.3

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 NIO 75.9

$1.48 NIO 48.66

$5.37 NIO 176

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 NIO 67.2

$0.87 NIO 28.59

$3.02 NIO 99.1

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 NIO 115

$1.77 NIO 58.0

$4.23 NIO 138

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 NIO 64.0

$0.97 NIO 31.82

$2.63 NIO 86.2

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 NIO 30.25

$0.74 NIO 24.13

$1.72 NIO 56.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 NIO 34.68

$0.80 NIO 26.26

$1.80 NIO 58.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 NIO 106

$2.79 NIO 91.3

$3.66 NIO 120

Wine (Bottle)

$10.05 NIO 329

$7.93 NIO 260

$14.74 NIO 483

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 NIO 44.53

$1.06 NIO 34.60

$1.66 NIO 54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 NIO 72.0

$1.53 NIO 50.2

$2.43 NIO 79.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 NIO 4.04

$0.25 NIO 8.08

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.89 NIO 193

$8.31 NIO 272

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 NIO 35.27

$0.59 NIO 19.24

$1.59 NIO 52.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 NIO 19.96

$0.55 NIO 18.03

$1.60 NIO 52.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.72 NIO 220

$5.39 NIO 177

$9.88 NIO 324

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 NIO 44.06

$1.26 NIO 41.41

$1.52 NIO 49.69

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

$22.7K NIO 743.5K

$21.7K NIO 712.0K

$22.7K NIO 743.5K

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

$26.7K NIO 874.2K

$26.3K NIO 862.0K

$26.7K NIO 874.2K

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

$74.5 NIO 2,441

$41.31 NIO 1,354

$107 NIO 3,517

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

$17.39 NIO 570

$10.95 NIO 359

$24.45 NIO 801

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.76 NIO 1,270

$30.45 NIO 998

$48.21 NIO 1,580

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.41 NIO 1,160

$16.62 NIO 545

$45.66 NIO 1,496

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.29 NIO 501

Cinema Ticket

$8.11 NIO 266

$6.24 NIO 204

$12.17 NIO 399

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

$108 NIO 3,528

$49.95 NIO 1,637

$200 NIO 6,547

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,223 NIO 269.5K

$4,186 NIO 137.2K

$15.0K NIO 489.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.4 NIO 2,208

$15.11 NIO 495

$90.6 NIO 2,970

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.0 NIO 1,639

$30.02 NIO 984

$120 NIO 3,935

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 NIO 3,285

$34.41 NIO 1,128

$147 NIO 4,832

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.3 NIO 3,123

$35.84 NIO 1,175

$151 NIO 4,963

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$357 NIO 11.7K

$203 NIO 6,637

$506 NIO 16.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 NIO 8,789

$148 NIO 4,849

$444 NIO 14.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 NIO 20.0K

$301 NIO 9,870

$1,210 NIO 39.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 NIO 15.9K

$296 NIO 9,711

$988 NIO 32.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,246 NIO 40.8K

$812 NIO 26.6K

$2,161 NIO 70.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$689 NIO 22.6K

$371 NIO 12.2K

$913 NIO 29.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$294 NIO 9,636

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

Nicaragua Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

100

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

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.