Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Nicaragua is 35.2% lower than in Costa Rica (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Nicaragua is 41.4% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Nicaragua are 61.4% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Nicaragua are 45.4% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Nicaragua are 29.6% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Nicaragua is 47.8% lower than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (10.09 $) |
2,181.21 ₡ (4.40 $) |
-56.4 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
26,000.00 ₡ (52.45 $) |
15,615.45 ₡ (31.50 $) |
-39.9 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
5,000.00 ₡ (10.09 $) |
3,470.10 ₡ (7.00 $) |
-30.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
1,500.00 ₡ (3.03 $) |
674.19 ₡ (1.36 $) |
-55.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
2,200.00 ₡ (4.44 $) |
991.46 ₡ (2.00 $) |
-54.9 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
1,991.07 ₡ (4.02 $) |
1,076.10 ₡ (2.17 $) |
-46.0 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
1,053.37 ₡ (2.12 $) |
403.80 ₡ (0.81 $) |
-61.7 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
853.76 ₡ (1.72 $) |
317.45 ₡ (0.64 $) |
-62.8 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1,062.40 ₡ (2.14 $) |
587.57 ₡ (1.19 $) |
-44.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
1,426.26 ₡ (2.88 $) |
914.80 ₡ (1.85 $) |
-35.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
562.35 ₡ (1.13 $) |
354.20 ₡ (0.71 $) |
-37.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
1,726.69 ₡ (3.48 $) |
1,064.91 ₡ (2.15 $) |
-38.3 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
2,101.19 ₡ (4.24 $) |
1,940.66 ₡ (3.91 $) |
-7.6 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
2,161.47 ₡ (4.36 $) |
1,358.44 ₡ (2.74 $) |
-37.2 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
3,000.64 ₡ (6.05 $) |
1,665.30 ₡ (3.36 $) |
-44.5 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1,041.21 ₡ (2.10 $) |
930.35 ₡ (1.88 $) |
-10.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
350.64 ₡ (0.71 $) |
282.98 ₡ (0.57 $) |
-19.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
736.63 ₡ (1.49 $) |
525.96 ₡ (1.06 $) |
-28.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
698.11 ₡ (1.41 $) |
499.42 ₡ (1.01 $) |
-28.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
673.31 ₡ (1.36 $) |
806.76 ₡ (1.63 $) |
+19.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
632.50 ₡ (1.28 $) |
450.97 ₡ (0.91 $) |
-28.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
512.64 ₡ (1.03 $) |
435.18 ₡ (0.88 $) |
-15.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
1,260.94 ₡ (2.54 $) |
510.85 ₡ (1.03 $) |
-59.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
7,500.00 ₡ (15.13 $) |
4,957.28 ₡ (10.00 $) |
-33.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
1,197.97 ₡ (2.42 $) |
698.90 ₡ (1.41 $) |
-41.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
1,438.62 ₡ (2.90 $) |
1,064.79 ₡ (2.15 $) |
-26.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
2,500.00 ₡ (5.04 $) |
1,573.94 ₡ (3.17 $) |
-37.0 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (1.01 $) |
67.69 ₡ (0.14 $) |
-86.5 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
30,000.00 ₡ (60.52 $) |
2,978.21 ₡ (6.01 $) |
-90.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
1,000.00 ₡ (2.02 $) |
545.30 ₡ (1.10 $) |
-45.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
1,480.60 ₡ (2.99 $) |
498.62 ₡ (1.01 $) |
-66.3 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
4,112.50 ₡ (8.30 $) |
3,371.39 ₡ (6.80 $) |
-18.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
729.13 ₡ (1.47 $) |
659.54 ₡ (1.33 $) |
-9.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
16,000,000.00 ₡ (32,275.73 $) |
11,388,685.51 ₡ (22,973.64 $) |
-28.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
17,610,814.62 ₡ (35,525.12 $) |
13,437,346.40 ₡ (27,106.26 $) |
-23.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
44,497.19 ₡ (89.76 $) |
37,343.44 ₡ (75.33 $) |
-16.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
13,742.12 ₡ (27.72 $) |
8,610.80 ₡ (17.37 $) |
-37.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
26,985.06 ₡ (54.44 $) |
18,898.91 ₡ (38.12 $) |
-30.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
29,152.49 ₡ (58.81 $) |
16,374.06 ₡ (33.03 $) |
-43.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
14,846.67 ₡ (29.95 $) |
6,642.76 ₡ (13.40 $) |
-55.3 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
4,500.00 ₡ (9.08 $) |
3,965.83 ₡ (8.00 $) |
-11.9 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
326,146.46 ₡ (657.91 $) |
70,779.01 ₡ (142.78 $) |
-78.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
6,019,573.32 ₡ (12,142.88 $) |
3,400,697.37 ₡ (6,860.00 $) |
-43.5 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
36,661.23 ₡ (73.95 $) |
33,166.75 ₡ (66.91 $) |
-9.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
26,880.08 ₡ (54.22 $) |
24,769.16 ₡ (49.97 $) |
-7.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
59,777.67 ₡ (120.59 $) |
50,555.94 ₡ (101.98 $) |
-15.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
50,854.17 ₡ (102.58 $) |
46,787.81 ₡ (94.38 $) |
-8.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
421,706.64 ₡ (850.68 $) |
170,381.88 ₡ (343.70 $) |
-59.6 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
296,571.77 ₡ (598.25 $) |
104,970.51 ₡ (211.75 $) |
-64.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
814,406.92 ₡ (1,642.85 $) |
295,123.69 ₡ (595.33 $) |
-63.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
535,777.59 ₡ (1,080.79 $) |
227,756.76 ₡ (459.44 $) |
-57.5 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
107,969.61 ₡ (217.80 $) |
56,685.84 ₡ (114.35 $) |
-47.5 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
73,776.24 ₡ (148.82 $) |
31,283.25 ₡ (63.11 $) |
-57.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
485,763.96 ₡ (979.90 $) |
148,467.62 ₡ (299.49 $) |
-69.4 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 9.95 | 11.25 | +13.0 % |
| Last update: | 10 January 2026 | 6 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 63 | 23 | |
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