Many Americans are attracted to Nicaragua because of the low cost of living. Yet these same people are often drawn to touristy areas and wonder where all of the bargains are.
The truth is, you can live extremely cheaply in Nicaragua but don’t expect to have all the same amenities you likely do today.
For instance, in the cheaper areas, utilities are spotty at best. And while you might get more of the services that you’re used to stateside in a place like San Juan del Sur, prices are going to look a lot closer to what you’re paying at home too.
Below you’ll find a chart of average prices across Nicaragua in US$ at the prevailing exchange rate (Jan. 2023).
Highlighting some of the particulars…
You can get a decent meal for 1 at an inexpensive restaurant for US$7. A meal at McDonald’s will set you back US$6.52.
Local beer is less than a US$2.00, as is a liter of milk. If you’d like to take a taxi to town, you’ll pay about US$23 for 30 kilometers (19 miles). And if you’d like the taxi driver to wait for an hour while you shop, you’ll pay just over US$8.
Electricity should run you around US$70 and decent internet slightly over US$50. Rents vary depending on the area but you can easily find something for under US$550 a month.
Please take a look at the table below to get a better idea of the average cost of living in Nicaragua.
Cost Of Living In Nicaragua: Purchasing Real Estate
Does Nicaragua Offer Quality Health Care?
The health care system in Nicaragua is, as elsewhere in the region, a two-tier system consisting a wide network of public hospitals that would be considered substandard in the United States or Canada and private, for-profit facilities that are — in many cases — on par with those you would be accustomed to back home.
