Cost of living in Nicaragua
Summary of cost of living in Nicaragua
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: $1,731 (64,004 C$)
- Single person estimated monthly costs: $704 (26,013 C$) WARNING! These estimates are based on only a few data points. At the moment, you should treat them only as a best guess.
Food | |||
---|---|---|---|
NIO | USD | ||
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 341 C$ | ($9) | |
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 191 C$ | ($5.18) | |
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 82 C$ | ($2.23) | |
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 52 C$ | ($1.41) | |
12 eggs, large | 77 C$ | ($2.07) | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 87 C$ | ($2.36) | |
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 83 C$ | ($2.24) | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 119 C$ | ($3.22) | |
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 90 C$ | ($2.44) | |
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 45 C$ | ($1.22) | |
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 820 C$ | ($22) | |
2 liters of coca-cola | 45 C$ | ($1.20) | |
Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 20 C$ | ($0.55) | |
Housing | |||
NIO | USD | ||
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 16,439 C$ | ($445) | |
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 9,000 C$ | ($243) | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 2,000 C$ | ($54) | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 20,097 C$ | ($544) | |
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 9,138 C$ | ($247) | |
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 2,608 C$ | ($71) | |
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 1,003 C$ | ($27) | |
40” flat screen tv | 11,705 C$ | ($317) | |
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 2,290 C$ | ($62) | |
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 233 C$ | ($6) | |
Hourly rate for cleaning help | 156 C$ | ($4.22) | |
Clothes | |||
NIO | USD | ||
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 1,694 C$ | ($46) | |
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 1,330 C$ | ($36) | |
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 2,367 C$ | ($64) | |
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 2,922 C$ | ($79) | |
Transportation | |||
NIO | USD | ||
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 460,529 C$ | ($12,457) | |
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 41 C$ | ($1.10) | |
Monthly ticket public transport | 442 C$ | ($12) | |
Personal Care | |||
NIO | USD | ||
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 180 C$ | ($4.88) | |
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 270 C$ | ($7) | |
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 646 C$ | ($17) | |
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 104 C$ | ($2.82) | |
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 74 C$ | ($1.99) | |
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 132 C$ | ($3.57) | |
4 rolls of toilet paper | 88 C$ | ($2.37) | |
Tube of toothpaste | 46 C$ | ($1.24) | |
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 141 C$ | ($3.81) | |
Entertainment | |||
NIO | USD | ||
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 422 C$ | ($11) | |
2 tickets to the movies | 406 C$ | ($11) | |
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 700 C$ | ($19) | |
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 1,278 C$ | ($35) | |
1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 223 C$ | ($6) | |
Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 127 C$ | ($3.45) | |
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 69 C$ | ($1.86) | |
Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 16,876 C$ | ($456) | |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 2.00 C$ | ($0.05) | |
1 month of gym membership in business district | 1,003 C$ | ($27) | |
1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 137 C$ | ($3.71) |
Map of Cost of Living in Nicaragua

This map shows only the top cities in Nicaragua. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
List of all cities available in Nicaragua
El Viejo | Esteli | Granada, Nicaragua |
Juigalpa | León, Nicaragua | Managua |
Masaya | Matagalpa | Nueva Guinea |
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Managua is 64% cheaper than in Phoenix, Arizona
- Cost of living in Managua is 25% more expensive than in Valledupar
- Cost of living in Managua is about the same as in Xalapa
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 14% cheaper than in Pereira
- Cost of living in Juigalpa is 24% cheaper than in Coban
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 7% cheaper than in Armenia, Colombia
- Cost of living in Managua is 48% cheaper than in San Jose, Costa Rica
- Cost of living in Managua is 83% cheaper than in New York City
- Cost of living in Managua is 34% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 40% cheaper than in Tallahassee, Florida
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 19% cheaper than in Albacete
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 20% cheaper than in Accra
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 15% cheaper than in Asunción
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 27% cheaper than in Mexico City
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 51% cheaper than in Tampa, Florida
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 12% cheaper than in Aizawl
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 5% cheaper than in Esteli
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 13% cheaper than in Zhenjiang
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 24% cheaper than in Guadalajara
- Cost of living in León, Nicaragua is 51% cheaper than in Orlando, Florida