Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Updated Prices & Insights

41.03

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $595 (excluding rent), and $1,051 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,396 (excluding rent), and $2,454 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.2 NIO 154

$3.26 NIO 119

$9.98 NIO 365

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.14 NIO 1,214

$24.61 NIO 901

$78.8 NIO 2,885

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 NIO 202

$5.37 NIO 197

$7.86 NIO 288

Cappuccino

$2.36 NIO 86.6

$1.08 NIO 39.67

$4.02 NIO 147

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

$0.8 NIO 29.12

$0.47 NIO 17.05

$1.32 NIO 48.3

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 24.95

$0.46 NIO 16.75

$0.97 NIO 35.64

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 NIO 48.84

$1.11 NIO 40.64

$4 NIO 147

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 NIO 75.2

$1.95 NIO 71.5

$4.11 NIO 150

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 44.61

$0.88 NIO 32.37

$1.38 NIO 50.7

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.2

$2.5 NIO 91.7

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 NIO 44.74

$1.93 NIO 70.8

Eggs

$1.98 NIO 72.4

$1.71 NIO 62.6

$2.56 NIO 93.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 NIO 285

$4.46 NIO 163

$13.52 NIO 495

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 NIO 229

$2.89 NIO 106

$6.6 NIO 242

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 NIO 289

$7.07 NIO 259

$10.69 NIO 391

Apples (1kg)

$3.86 NIO 141

$3.34 NIO 122

$4.95 NIO 181

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 NIO 30.8

$0.58 NIO 21.24

$2.14 NIO 78.3

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 NIO 67

$1.52 NIO 55.8

$5.52 NIO 202

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 NIO 82.6

$1.99 NIO 72.9

$3.08 NIO 113

Potato (1kg)

$3.12 NIO 114

$2.14 NIO 78.5

$4.09 NIO 150

Onion (1kg)

$2.2 NIO 80.5

$2.08 NIO 76.1

$2.98 NIO 109

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 NIO 38.52

$0.72 NIO 26.3

$1.68 NIO 61.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 NIO 38.25

$0.79 NIO 28.96

$1.52 NIO 55.7

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 NIO 100

$2.54 NIO 92.9

$3.69 NIO 135

Wine (Bottle)

$9.87 NIO 362

$9.68 NIO 355

$14.61 NIO 535

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 NIO 51.7

$1.07 NIO 39.02

$1.68 NIO 61.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 NIO 79.2

$1.68 NIO 61.7

$2.32 NIO 84.9

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 NIO 54.1

$1.34 NIO 49.07

$1.61 NIO 58.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 NIO 246

$5.4 NIO 198

$9.89 NIO 362

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 NIO 45.8

$1.17 NIO 42.92

$1.32 NIO 48.33

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

$23K NIO 842K

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

$26.1K NIO 957.5K

$28.7K NIO 1.1M

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

$42.36 NIO 1,551

$24.92 NIO 913

$108 NIO 3,962

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

$10.43 NIO 382

$5.96 NIO 218

$18.98 NIO 695

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.34 NIO 1,331

$30.29 NIO 1,109

$60.6 NIO 2,218

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.73 NIO 1,125

Cinema Ticket

$8.06 NIO 295

$6.2 NIO 227

$12.09 NIO 443

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

$123 NIO 4,502

$66 NIO 2,417

$257 NIO 9,427

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,012 NIO 220.2K

$4,208 NIO 154.1K

$15K NIO 550.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.2 NIO 2,789

$53.9 NIO 1,974

$88.5 NIO 3,242

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.2 NIO 2,682

$40.24 NIO 1,474

$121 NIO 4,440

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,833

$79.6 NIO 2,915

$149 NIO 5,465

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 NIO 3,943

$54.7 NIO 2,005

$149 NIO 5,468

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 NIO 17.4K

$407 NIO 14.9K

$509 NIO 18.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$402 NIO 14.7K

$148 NIO 5,412

$616 NIO 22.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 NIO 34.7K

$649 NIO 23.8K

$1,197 NIO 43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$950 NIO 34.8K

$884 NIO 32.4K

$982 NIO 36K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NIO 10.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.75

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

City tags:

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur offers a balanced mix of value and choice. Local markets and casual eateries let you stretch a budget without sacrificing flavor, while mid-range apartments near the beach or in hillside streets provide comfortable options for longer stays. Utilities and internet tend to be reasonable for a tourist-friendly town, though prices can shift with the season. For longer stays, negotiating rent and choosing longer leases can noticeably reduce monthly costs. A practical plan is to blend self-catering with inexpensive meals and pick a neighborhood that fits your pace and access needs. Tip: Start with a two- or three-week trial in one area to compare neighborhoods before signing a longer rental.

For a typical day, you combine practical errands with productive work time. When searching for housing, start with local listings online, then wander the central beachfront and hillside lanes to assess noise, light, and access. Food options run from budget mercados and pupuserias to midrange cafes with international dishes. Groceries come from mercados and small supermarkets; buy seasonal produce to keep costs steady. Getting around is straightforward on foot for short hops; tuk-tuks and scooter rentals handle longer coastal trips. There are coworking spaces and cafes with reliable Wi‑Fi for work calls. For a sense of San Juan del Sur living cost, observe price ranges across markets and eateries. Tip: set a weekly budget by category and track it.

Quality of life in San Juan del Sur comes from a relaxed pace, access to beaches and outdoor markets, and a growing community of travelers and remote workers. A practical budgeting framework helps you stay flexible: divide your month into housing, food, transport, and leisure, then adjust each category as the season shifts. Save by cooking with fresh, local produce, shopping at mercados, and choosing longer-term rentals with utilities included. Seasonal changes bring busier streets and fuller queues, especially in peak season, so plan around popular weekends and holidays. Neighborhood fit matters: beachfront zones are lively, while hillside lanes offer quieter mornings and sunsets. Tip: set a monthly review date to swap in cheaper options when possible.