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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $654 (excluding rent), and $1,029 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,265 (excluding rent), and $2,409 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.32 NIO 159

$3.36 NIO 124

$10.26 NIO 379

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.04 NIO 1,218

$24.54 NIO 905

$78.5 NIO 2,896

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.51 NIO 203

$5.36 NIO 198

$7.85 NIO 290

Cappuccino

$2.43 NIO 89.7

$1.12 NIO 41.13

$4.14 NIO 153

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

$0.83 NIO 30.73

$0.49 NIO 17.99

$1.38 NIO 51.0

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.83

$0.49 NIO 18.01

$1.04 NIO 38.33

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 NIO 47.90

$1.08 NIO 39.86

$3.90 NIO 144

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.8

$1.88 NIO 69.2

$3.95 NIO 146

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 45.01

$0.89 NIO 32.67

$1.39 NIO 51.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.4

$2.50 NIO 92.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 NIO 45.13

$1.94 NIO 71.5

Eggs

$1.95 NIO 72.1

$1.69 NIO 62.3

$2.53 NIO 93.4

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.75 NIO 286

$4.44 NIO 164

$13.45 NIO 496

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 NIO 236

$2.95 NIO 109

$6.75 NIO 249

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 NIO 301

$7.31 NIO 270

$11.04 NIO 407

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 NIO 140

$3.29 NIO 121

$4.87 NIO 180

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 NIO 33.52

$0.63 NIO 23.12

$2.31 NIO 85.2

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 NIO 66.0

$1.49 NIO 55.0

$5.39 NIO 199

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 NIO 79.9

$1.91 NIO 70.6

$2.96 NIO 109

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 NIO 119

$2.23 NIO 82.1

$4.25 NIO 157

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 NIO 80.9

$2.07 NIO 76.5

$2.98 NIO 110

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 NIO 37.71

$0.70 NIO 25.74

$1.63 NIO 60.2

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 NIO 38.71

$0.79 NIO 29.32

$1.53 NIO 56.4

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 NIO 99.1

$2.50 NIO 92.0

$3.63 NIO 134

Wine (Bottle)

$9.67 NIO 357

$9.49 NIO 350

$14.32 NIO 528

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 54.0

$1.10 NIO 40.75

$1.74 NIO 64.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 NIO 80.1

$1.69 NIO 62.4

$2.33 NIO 85.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 NIO 53.9

$1.32 NIO 48.85

$1.59 NIO 58.6

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.66 NIO 246

$5.35 NIO 197

$9.80 NIO 361

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 NIO 47.84

$1.22 NIO 44.83

$1.37 NIO 50.5

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

$23.0K NIO 849.3K

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

$26.9K NIO 991.1K

$29.5K NIO 1.1M

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

$43.17 NIO 1,592

$25.39 NIO 936

$110 NIO 4,066

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

$10.60 NIO 391

$6.06 NIO 223

$19.29 NIO 711

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.30 NIO 1,302

$29.42 NIO 1,085

$58.8 NIO 2,170

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.48 NIO 1,124

Cinema Ticket

$7.82 NIO 288

$6.01 NIO 222

$11.73 NIO 433

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

$124 NIO 4,577

$66.6 NIO 2,458

$260 NIO 9,584

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,951 NIO 219.5K

$4,166 NIO 153.6K

$14.9K NIO 548.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.0 NIO 2,840

$54.5 NIO 2,010

$89.5 NIO 3,301

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.2 NIO 2,627

$39.14 NIO 1,443

$118 NIO 4,349

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,841

$79.2 NIO 2,920

$148 NIO 5,474

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 4,021

$55.4 NIO 2,045

$151 NIO 5,576

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 NIO 17.0K

$394 NIO 14.5K

$493 NIO 18.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 NIO 15.3K

$153 NIO 5,625

$636 NIO 23.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$960 NIO 35.4K

$657 NIO 24.2K

$1,212 NIO 44.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$948 NIO 35.0K

$883 NIO 32.6K

$981 NIO 36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 NIO 10.4K

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: February 28, 2026

San Juan del Sur Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

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

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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.