Cost of living comparison
Nicaragua is 36.2% cheaper than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 51.5% less in Nicaragua
- Groceries
-
pay 15.6% less in Nicaragua
- Transportation
-
pay 40.2% less in Nicaragua
- Housing
-
pay 34.8% less in Nicaragua
- Childcare
-
pay 44.1% less in Nicaragua
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 40.0% less in Nicaragua
- Clothing
-
pay 27.5% less in Nicaragua
Expenses including restaurants, childcare, transportation, entertainment and sports, housing, and clothing are lower in Nicaragua.
If you lived in Nicaragua instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 51.5% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,917.04
|
$4.15
NIO152.60
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,581.11
|
$5.48
NIO201.31
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,014.24
|
$0.95
NIO34.98
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC752.41
|
$0.66
NIO24.08
|
|
pay 15.6% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,277.35
|
$1.43
NIO52.68
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,898.10
|
$2.35
NIO86.47
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,518.97
|
$4.24
NIO155.82
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,620.39
|
$1.88
NIO69.06
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC2,003.11
|
$2.20
NIO81.01
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC902.64
|
$2.80
NIO102.87
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC311.19
|
$0.60
NIO22.11
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC613.61
|
$1.72
NIO63.19
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC616.26
|
$0.65
NIO24.06
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC552.02
|
$1.08
NIO39.70
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC561.81
|
$0.97
NIO35.76
|
|
pay 40.2% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,838.54
|
$5.15
NIO189.19
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,717.36
|
$30.05
NIO1,104.39
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,687,604.54
|
$18,168.72
NIO667,700.47
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,880.58
|
$5.42
NIO199.08
|
|
pay 34.8% less for housing
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,465.89
|
$44.72
NIO1,643.60
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC392,478.59
|
$308.00
NIO11,319.08
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC276,186.27
|
$281.86
NIO10,358.45
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,432.39
|
$52.83
NIO1,941.36
|
|
pay 44.1% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC261,841.96
|
$112.78
NIO4,144.58
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,542,731.53
|
$9,900.00
NIO363,825.00
|
|
pay 40.0% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,375.71
|
$1.22
NIO44.75
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,843.37
|
$2.28
NIO83.79
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,311.53
|
$2.97
NIO109.01
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC29,994.70
|
$26.12
NIO960.09
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,351.31
|
$7.30
NIO268.18
|
|
pay 27.5% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Nicaragua
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC32,952.30
|
$42.40
NIO1,558.28
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,468.24
|
$40.36
NIO1,483.19
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC55,683.62
|
$58.79
NIO2,160.59
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC49,040.73
|
$79.04
NIO2,904.66
|
|
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