Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Nicaragua 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Consumer Prices in Nicaragua are 34.6% lower than in Costa Rica (without rent) | |
| Consumer Prices Including Rent in Nicaragua are 37.4% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Rent Prices in Nicaragua are 48.0% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Restaurant Prices in Nicaragua are 47.8% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Groceries Prices in Nicaragua are 27.2% lower than in Costa Rica | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Nicaragua is 49.4% lower than in Costa Rica | |
Restaurants | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
5,000.00 ₡ (9.36 $) |
2,246.93 ₡ (4.21 $) |
-55.1 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
30,000.00 ₡ (56.18 $) |
15,583.38 ₡ (29.18 $) |
-48.1 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
4,878.15 ₡ (9.13 $) |
3,204.20 ₡ (6.00 $) |
-34.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
1,500.00 ₡ (2.81 $) |
726.29 ₡ (1.36 $) |
-51.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2,200.00 ₡ (4.12 $) |
1,068.07 ₡ (2.00 $) |
-51.5 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
1,694.27 ₡ (3.17 $) |
1,102.31 ₡ (2.06 $) |
-34.9 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1,016.10 ₡ (1.90 $) |
476.25 ₡ (0.89 $) |
-53.1 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
818.51 ₡ (1.53 $) |
405.41 ₡ (0.76 $) |
-50.5 % |
Markets | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
3,612.82 ₡ (6.77 $) |
2,129.04 ₡ (3.99 $) |
-41.1 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
1,126.85 ₡ (2.11 $) |
624.20 ₡ (1.17 $) |
-44.6 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
476.78 ₡ (0.89 $) |
248.63 ₡ (0.47 $) |
-47.9 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
1,623.32 ₡ (3.04 $) |
997.58 ₡ (1.87 $) |
-38.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
1,843.97 ₡ (3.45 $) |
1,037.24 ₡ (1.94 $) |
-43.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
1,999.82 ₡ (3.74 $) |
1,192.73 ₡ (2.23 $) |
-40.4 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
2,782.31 ₡ (5.21 $) |
1,796.22 ₡ (3.36 $) |
-35.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
977.06 ₡ (1.83 $) |
1,184.51 ₡ (2.22 $) |
+21.2 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
355.98 ₡ (0.67 $) |
314.67 ₡ (0.59 $) |
-11.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
617.51 ₡ (1.16 $) |
753.70 ₡ (1.41 $) |
+22.1 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
555.80 ₡ (1.04 $) |
332.64 ₡ (0.62 $) |
-40.2 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
592.08 ₡ (1.11 $) |
470.14 ₡ (0.88 $) |
-20.6 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
561.19 ₡ (1.05 $) |
346.64 ₡ (0.65 $) |
-38.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
530.62 ₡ (0.99 $) |
478.07 ₡ (0.90 $) |
-9.9 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1,181.52 ₡ (2.21 $) |
457.65 ₡ (0.86 $) |
-61.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
7,000.00 ₡ (13.11 $) |
5,340.33 ₡ (10.00 $) |
-23.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1,111.76 ₡ (2.08 $) |
701.90 ₡ (1.31 $) |
-36.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1,498.44 ₡ (2.81 $) |
1,130.26 ₡ (2.12 $) |
-24.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
2,350.00 ₡ (4.40 $) |
1,602.10 ₡ (3.00 $) |
-31.8 % |
Transportation | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
500.00 ₡ (0.94 $) |
120.16 ₡ (0.23 $) |
-76.0 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
20,400.00 ₡ (38.20 $) |
4,934.00 ₡ (9.24 $) |
-75.8 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
775.00 ₡ (1.45 $) |
333.77 ₡ (0.62 $) |
-56.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
1,288.32 ₡ (2.41 $) |
524.85 ₡ (0.98 $) |
-59.3 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
3,500.00 ₡ (6.55 $) |
5,340.33 ₡ (10.00 $) |
+52.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
3,062.92 ₡ (5.74 $) |
2,589.09 ₡ (4.85 $) |
-15.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
16,146,000.00 ₡ (30,234.06 $) |
9,168,671.44 ₡ (17,168.72 $) |
-43.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
16,138,115.44 ₡ (30,219.30 $) |
12,302,584.97 ₡ (23,037.10 $) |
-23.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
40,693.06 ₡ (76.20 $) |
34,252.95 ₡ (64.14 $) |
-15.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
11,235.29 ₡ (21.04 $) |
8,648.14 ₡ (16.19 $) |
-23.0 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
26,220.45 ₡ (49.10 $) |
27,475.28 ₡ (51.45 $) |
+4.8 % |
Sports And Leisure | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
27,111.65 ₡ (50.77 $) |
15,525.16 ₡ (29.07 $) |
-42.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
17,712.63 ₡ (33.17 $) |
0.00 ₡ (0.00 $) |
-100.0 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
3,600.00 ₡ (6.74 $) |
3,510.10 ₡ (6.57 $) |
-2.5 % |
Childcare | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
211,133.46 ₡ (395.36 $) |
53,979.35 ₡ (101.08 $) |
-74.4 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
4,342,355.85 ₡ (8,131.24 $) |
2,696,734.82 ₡ (5,049.75 $) |
-37.9 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
38,576.23 ₡ (72.24 $) |
26,233.18 ₡ (49.12 $) |
-32.0 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
26,037.07 ₡ (48.76 $) |
23,402.80 ₡ (43.82 $) |
-10.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
59,707.12 ₡ (111.80 $) |
42,491.09 ₡ (79.57 $) |
-28.8 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
50,822.54 ₡ (95.17 $) |
41,692.47 ₡ (78.07 $) |
-18.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
314,132.27 ₡ (588.23 $) |
157,682.42 ₡ (295.27 $) |
-49.8 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
217,672.09 ₡ (407.60 $) |
119,044.96 ₡ (222.92 $) |
-45.3 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
590,597.92 ₡ (1,105.92 $) |
302,618.97 ₡ (566.67 $) |
-48.8 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
428,709.60 ₡ (802.78 $) |
227,747.24 ₡ (426.47 $) |
-46.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
96,244.22 ₡ (180.22 $) |
46,581.23 ₡ (87.23 $) |
-51.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
63,611.31 ₡ (119.11 $) |
38,219.33 ₡ (71.57 $) |
-39.9 % |
Salaries And Financing | Costa Rica Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
466,589.48 ₡ (873.71 $) |
147,766.12 ₡ (276.70 $) |
-68.3 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 9.38 | 11.69 | +24.6 % |
| Last update: | September 2023 | September 2023 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 181 | 30 |
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