Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and Nicaragua 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Nicaragua is 17.5% lower than in Mexico (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Nicaragua is 27.0% lower than in Mexico | |
| Rent Prices in Nicaragua are 54.6% lower than in Mexico | |
| Restaurant Prices in Nicaragua are 39.0% lower than in Mexico | |
| Groceries Prices in Nicaragua are 8.9% lower than in Mexico | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Nicaragua is 48.0% lower than in Mexico | |
Restaurants | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
200.00 MXN (10.90 $) |
79.00 MXN (4.30 $) |
-60.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
800.00 MXN (43.58 $) |
578.20 MXN (31.50 $) |
-27.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
155.00 MXN (8.44 $) |
128.49 MXN (7.00 $) |
-17.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
45.00 MXN (2.45 $) |
24.96 MXN (1.36 $) |
-44.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
80.00 MXN (4.36 $) |
36.71 MXN (2.00 $) |
-54.1 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
64.84 MXN (3.53 $) |
39.85 MXN (2.17 $) |
-38.5 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
25.81 MXN (1.41 $) |
14.95 MXN (0.81 $) |
-42.1 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
18.52 MXN (1.01 $) |
11.75 MXN (0.64 $) |
-36.5 % |
Markets | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
29.23 MXN (1.59 $) |
21.76 MXN (1.19 $) |
-25.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
45.17 MXN (2.46 $) |
33.87 MXN (1.85 $) |
-25.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
14.83 MXN (0.81 $) |
13.12 MXN (0.71 $) |
-11.6 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
45.38 MXN (2.47 $) |
39.43 MXN (2.15 $) |
-13.1 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
75.56 MXN (4.12 $) |
71.86 MXN (3.91 $) |
-4.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
68.61 MXN (3.74 $) |
50.30 MXN (2.74 $) |
-26.7 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
95.93 MXN (5.23 $) |
61.66 MXN (3.36 $) |
-35.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
23.99 MXN (1.31 $) |
34.45 MXN (1.88 $) |
+43.6 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
12.91 MXN (0.70 $) |
10.48 MXN (0.57 $) |
-18.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
16.94 MXN (0.92 $) |
19.47 MXN (1.06 $) |
+15.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
15.96 MXN (0.87 $) |
18.49 MXN (1.01 $) |
+15.9 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
17.00 MXN (0.93 $) |
29.87 MXN (1.63 $) |
+75.8 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
17.88 MXN (0.97 $) |
16.70 MXN (0.91 $) |
-6.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
25.10 MXN (1.37 $) |
16.11 MXN (0.88 $) |
-35.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
20.22 MXN (1.10 $) |
18.92 MXN (1.03 $) |
-6.5 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
200.00 MXN (10.90 $) |
183.56 MXN (10.00 $) |
-8.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
31.11 MXN (1.69 $) |
25.88 MXN (1.41 $) |
-16.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
59.46 MXN (3.24 $) |
39.43 MXN (2.15 $) |
-33.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
80.00 MXN (4.36 $) |
58.28 MXN (3.17 $) |
-27.2 % |
Transportation | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
11.00 MXN (0.60 $) |
2.51 MXN (0.14 $) |
-77.2 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
500.00 MXN (27.24 $) |
110.28 MXN (6.01 $) |
-77.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
50.00 MXN (2.72 $) |
20.19 MXN (1.10 $) |
-59.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
72.00 MXN (3.92 $) |
18.46 MXN (1.01 $) |
-74.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
200.00 MXN (10.90 $) |
124.83 MXN (6.80 $) |
-37.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
24.69 MXN (1.35 $) |
24.42 MXN (1.33 $) |
-1.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
386,990.00 MXN (21,083.00 $) |
421,693.63 MXN (22,973.64 $) |
+9.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
443,163.84 MXN (24,143.32 $) |
497,550.25 MXN (27,106.26 $) |
+12.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
1,245.70 MXN (67.87 $) |
1,382.73 MXN (75.33 $) |
+11.0 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
449.06 MXN (24.46 $) |
318.84 MXN (17.37 $) |
-29.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
538.27 MXN (29.32 $) |
699.78 MXN (38.12 $) |
+30.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
701.72 MXN (38.23 $) |
640.46 MXN (34.89 $) |
-8.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
361.70 MXN (19.71 $) |
275.33 MXN (15.00 $) |
-23.9 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
99.00 MXN (5.39 $) |
146.84 MXN (8.00 $) |
+48.3 % |
Childcare | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
4,857.40 MXN (264.63 $) |
1,978.32 MXN (107.78 $) |
-59.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
116,731.05 MXN (6,359.44 $) |
128,488.82 MXN (7,000.00 $) |
+10.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
1,027.33 MXN (55.97 $) |
1,228.08 MXN (66.91 $) |
+19.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
785.26 MXN (42.78 $) |
917.14 MXN (49.97 $) |
+16.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
1,809.60 MXN (98.59 $) |
1,871.96 MXN (101.98 $) |
+3.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
1,721.90 MXN (93.81 $) |
1,732.43 MXN (94.38 $) |
+0.6 % |
Rent Per Month | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
13,549.41 MXN (738.16 $) |
6,475.43 MXN (352.78 $) |
-52.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
9,252.76 MXN (504.09 $) |
4,523.33 MXN (246.43 $) |
-51.1 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
25,442.44 MXN (1,386.09 $) |
11,112.64 MXN (605.41 $) |
-56.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
17,617.60 MXN (959.80 $) |
7,766.08 MXN (423.09 $) |
-55.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
3,700.58 MXN (201.61 $) |
2,021.97 MXN (110.16 $) |
-45.4 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
2,471.97 MXN (134.67 $) |
885.04 MXN (48.22 $) |
-64.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Mexico Edit |
Nicaragua Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
13,786.44 MXN (751.08 $) |
5,238.10 MXN (285.37 $) |
-62.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 11.21 | 10.25 | -8.6 % |
| Last update: | 27 November 2025 | 18 October 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 1209 | 41 |
Moving to Mexico? Explore:
Moving to Nicaragua? Explore: