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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $631 (excluding rent), and $1,056 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,462 (excluding rent), and $2,470 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.18 NIO 153

$3.25 NIO 119

$9.93 NIO 364

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 NIO 1,221

$24.75 NIO 907

$79.2 NIO 2,901

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.76 NIO 211

$5.61 NIO 205

$8.21 NIO 301

Cappuccino

$2.43 NIO 89.1

$1.11 NIO 40.83

$4.14 NIO 151

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

$0.86 NIO 31.44

$0.5 NIO 18.4

$1.42 NIO 52.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NIO 25.2

$0.46 NIO 16.92

$0.98 NIO 36

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.33 NIO 48.81

$1.11 NIO 40.61

$4 NIO 146

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 NIO 72.7

$1.89 NIO 69.1

$3.97 NIO 145

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 NIO 44.32

$0.88 NIO 32.17

$1.38 NIO 50.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 NIO 56.3

$2.51 NIO 91.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 NIO 44.5

$1.92 NIO 70.5

Eggs

$1.91 NIO 69.8

$1.65 NIO 60.4

$2.47 NIO 90.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.63 NIO 279

$4.37 NIO 160

$13.23 NIO 485

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.3 NIO 231

$2.91 NIO 107

$6.65 NIO 244

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 NIO 284

$6.96 NIO 255

$10.51 NIO 385

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 NIO 144

$3.4 NIO 125

$5.03 NIO 184

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 NIO 31.06

$0.58 NIO 21.42

$2.15 NIO 78.9

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 NIO 64.7

$1.47 NIO 53.9

$5.33 NIO 195

Tomato (1kg)

$2.17 NIO 79.5

$1.92 NIO 70.3

$2.97 NIO 109

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 NIO 117

$2.19 NIO 80.2

$4.18 NIO 153

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 NIO 82.3

$2.13 NIO 77.9

$3.05 NIO 112

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 NIO 39.13

$0.73 NIO 26.71

$1.71 NIO 62.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 NIO 38.83

$0.8 NIO 29.4

$1.54 NIO 56.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.7 NIO 99

$2.51 NIO 91.9

$3.65 NIO 134

Wine (Bottle)

$9.89 NIO 362

$9.7 NIO 355

$14.65 NIO 536

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 NIO 51.6

$1.06 NIO 38.95

$1.67 NIO 61.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 NIO 82.5

$1.76 NIO 64.3

$2.41 NIO 88.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 NIO 54.4

$1.35 NIO 49.31

$1.61 NIO 59.1

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 NIO 245

$5.37 NIO 197

$9.84 NIO 360

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 NIO 47.74

$1.22 NIO 44.74

$1.38 NIO 50.4

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

$23.1K NIO 846.7K

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

$26K NIO 951.5K

$28.6K NIO 1M

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

$43.12 NIO 1,579

$25.36 NIO 929

$110 NIO 4,033

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

$10.61 NIO 389

$6.06 NIO 222

$19.31 NIO 707

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.18 NIO 1,325

$30.15 NIO 1,104

$60.3 NIO 2,209

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.59 NIO 1,120

Cinema Ticket

$8.08 NIO 296

$6.21 NIO 227

$12.12 NIO 444

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

$125 NIO 4,582

$67.2 NIO 2,460

$262 NIO 9,595

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,939 NIO 217.5K

$4,157 NIO 152.2K

$14.8K NIO 543.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 NIO 2,789

$53.9 NIO 1,973

$88.5 NIO 3,241

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.2 NIO 2,681

$40.22 NIO 1,473

$121 NIO 4,438

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,838

$79.7 NIO 2,918

$149 NIO 5,471

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 3,992

$55.4 NIO 2,030

$151 NIO 5,537

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 NIO 16.9K

$395 NIO 14.5K

$493 NIO 18.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 NIO 14.8K

$148 NIO 5,433

$618 NIO 22.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 NIO 34.7K

$648 NIO 23.7K

$1,196 NIO 43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$975 NIO 35.7K

$908 NIO 33.2K

$1,009 NIO 36.9K

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: November 22, 2025

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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.