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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $540 (excluding rent), and $1,056 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,403 (excluding rent), and $2,454 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 NIO 158

$3.33 NIO 123

$10.20 NIO 375

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.01 NIO 1,216

$24.52 NIO 903

$78.5 NIO 2,889

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 NIO 205

$5.41 NIO 199

$7.92 NIO 292

Cappuccino

$2.36 NIO 86.7

$1.08 NIO 39.75

$4.00 NIO 147

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

$0.86 NIO 31.59

$0.50 NIO 18.49

$1.42 NIO 52.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.97

$0.49 NIO 18.11

$1.05 NIO 38.53

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.34 NIO 49.44

$1.12 NIO 41.13

$4.03 NIO 148

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 NIO 71.9

$1.86 NIO 68.3

$3.91 NIO 144

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 NIO 46.53

$0.92 NIO 33.77

$1.44 NIO 52.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 NIO 56.0

$2.48 NIO 91.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 NIO 44.66

$1.92 NIO 70.7

Eggs

$1.88 NIO 69.2

$1.62 NIO 59.8

$2.44 NIO 89.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 NIO 284

$4.41 NIO 163

$13.38 NIO 493

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 NIO 231

$2.91 NIO 107

$6.64 NIO 245

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.11 NIO 299

$7.27 NIO 268

$10.99 NIO 404

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 NIO 141

$3.33 NIO 123

$4.93 NIO 181

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 NIO 31.34

$0.59 NIO 21.62

$2.16 NIO 79.6

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 NIO 67.2

$1.52 NIO 56.0

$5.51 NIO 203

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 NIO 79.7

$1.91 NIO 70.4

$2.96 NIO 109

Potato (1kg)

$3.15 NIO 116

$2.16 NIO 79.7

$4.13 NIO 152

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 NIO 79.0

$2.03 NIO 74.8

$2.91 NIO 107

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 NIO 38.77

$0.72 NIO 26.47

$1.68 NIO 61.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 37.02

$0.76 NIO 28.04

$1.46 NIO 53.9

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.63 NIO 96.8

$2.44 NIO 89.9

$3.55 NIO 131

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 NIO 375

$9.99 NIO 368

$15.07 NIO 555

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 NIO 54.0

$1.11 NIO 40.77

$1.74 NIO 64.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 NIO 83.3

$1.76 NIO 64.9

$2.43 NIO 89.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 NIO 55.7

$1.37 NIO 50.5

$1.64 NIO 60.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.92 NIO 255

$5.56 NIO 205

$10.18 NIO 375

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NIO 46.35

$1.18 NIO 43.43

$1.33 NIO 48.91

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

$23.1K NIO 850.6K

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

$25.9K NIO 954.6K

$28.5K NIO 1.0M

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

$42.55 NIO 1,567

$25.03 NIO 922

$109 NIO 4,001

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

$10.46 NIO 385

$5.98 NIO 220

$19.03 NIO 701

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.16 NIO 1,332

$30.14 NIO 1,110

$60.3 NIO 2,219

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.48 NIO 1,122

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 NIO 292

$6.09 NIO 224

$11.89 NIO 438

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

$124 NIO 4,550

$66.4 NIO 2,443

$259 NIO 9,527

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,002 NIO 221.0K

$4,201 NIO 154.7K

$15.0K NIO 552.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 NIO 2,880

$55.4 NIO 2,038

$90.9 NIO 3,348

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.2 NIO 2,696

$40.23 NIO 1,481

$121 NIO 4,463

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,854

$79.5 NIO 2,928

$149 NIO 5,490

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 4,022

$55.6 NIO 2,045

$151 NIO 5,578

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 NIO 17.2K

$401 NIO 14.8K

$502 NIO 18.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 NIO 15.2K

$152 NIO 5,579

$631 NIO 23.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$943 NIO 34.7K

$645 NIO 23.7K

$1,191 NIO 43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$984 NIO 36.2K

$916 NIO 33.7K

$1,017 NIO 37.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 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.

Last update: January 13, 2026

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

Mobile

143

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.