Nicaragua can be a very afforable place to live. Just how affordable depends on your lifestyle and whether you plan to simply retire here, do business here or both.
We estimate very generally that a "typical" couple could live a comfortable middle-class lifestyle in our area (including frequent restaurant outings, regular movie outings and doctor check-ups) for as little $1500 a month or $18,000 a year if they own their residence.
This list will be updated and expanded upon periodically. All prices are in US dollars.
Household-Related
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• house cleaning service (just cleaning, 1-2 hours a day, 5 days a week): $20/month
• full-day/live-in maid (everything, cleaning, cooking, ironing, all day, 5 days a week): $44/month
• gallon of purified water: $1
• high speed internet access (512kbps): $50/month
• natural fruit juices (full glass of orange, pineapple, passion fruit, ice-tea, etc.): 30 cents to $1
• soda (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta Orange Soda, etc): 50-60 cents
• electricity:
Matagalpa: $30-$50/month
Leon: $50 - $150/month (if a/c)
Dining
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• typical breakfast (rice, beans, fried banana and eggs): $1.50
• budget (frintanga) lunch: $2-$3
• mid-level lunch: $4
• high-level lunch at a top restaurant: $5
• budget (fritanga) dinner: $3-$4
• mid-level dinner: $5
• high-level dinner at a top restaurant: $7-10
Education
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• private school: 25$/month
Transportation
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• within-city public transport with city bus: 0.16$
• inner-city taxi (within Leon city limits): $1 or less
• inner-city taxi (within Matagalpa city limits): $1 or less
• intra-city bus:
Leon to Managua: under $1.4
Leon to Matagalpa: under $3
Matagalpa to Managua: under $3
Real Estate
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• rent a house: $120-600$/month (not including elite properties like refurbished colonials)
• cost to construct a modern home with American-style amenities (varies): $50,000-$75,000
Medical care
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• basic women's checkup: $16
• laundry (laundromat washing and drying for one big load): $7
• blood and urine test: $15
• ultra-sound test: $15
• doctor check-up (with no insurance): $16
• health insurance for access to top private clinic: $30-$50/month
• eye exam: $3
• eyeglasses: $100
• multiple tooth fillings: $200
• Zolpidem 10mg (Abien in U.S., Stilnox in Nicaragua) $1.18/tablet (versus $1.87 in U.S.)
• Metroprolol, 100mg (for blood pressure) $0.14/tablet (versus $1.33 in U.S.)
• Combivent Inhaler $6 each (versus $97.00 in U.S.)
Serenity client Debi H. on drug costs:
"Even when the price difference is not significant, as in the case of the Ambien, you don't have the added expense and inconvience of a doctors office visit. When you know what you need, you just go get it. You don't have to pay $65 - $150 for a doctors office visit and fight with the doctor to get the prescription that you know works versus the newest thing on the market that costs more...and the doctor and the pharmaceutical representative company get travel awards for pushing!"
Miscellaneous
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• cost to construct a modern home with American-style amenities: $50,000-$75,000
• hair cut for men: $2
• hair cut for women: $3.5
• movie theater ticket: $2
• cup of coffee in a small café : $2
• bottle of local beer: $0.80
• rent a room: $50-60/month
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