When you’re planning to travel through Nicaragua, you’re naturally curious about the costs and the budget you should consider. In that case, we have great news for you because traveling in Nicaragua is almost as affordable as traveling in Southeast Asia. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest countries in the world for travelers. That’s remarkable because the costs in other Central American countries are much higher. Nicaragua uses the córdoba as its currency, but you can also use dollars here. In this article, we’ll share everything about the costs for transportation, hostels, food, and activities. This way, you can easily estimate the average expenses for your trip. We’ll provide all amounts in dollars for your convenience, so you don’t have to convert everything.
Transportation Costs
Nowhere else will you pay so little for public transportation as in Nicaragua. For a one-hour boat ride to Ometepe, you’ll pay $1, and for the bus between Managua and Leon (2 hours), it’s $2. When you’re looking for more comfort, you can occasionally take a taxi for longer distances. For instance, we took a taxi from Granada to the Managua airport for $26. That’s about an hour’s ride. All in all, you won’t be spending much on transportation in Nicaragua. If you decide to fly to the Corn Islands, those will be your only significant expenses. A round trip costs around $190.
Food and Drink Costs
These costs vary greatly depending on where you choose to eat. You can get a local meal for about $2, but if you’re tired of rice and beans, there are plenty of other options. In better restaurants, a meal starts at $6, but it can quickly go up to $11 or more, depending on where and what you eat. A liter of beer starts at $2, and a cola is around $1. If you smoke, you’ll be pleased to know that a pack of cigarettes costs less than $1.
Excursion and Activity Costs
Renting a scooter on Ometepe costs $22, and volcano boarding in Leon costs $39. The day tour in Granada, which takes you to the Masaya volcano and Laguna de Apoyo, is $37. The number of activities you undertake can make or break your budget. Fortunately, there are also many activities you can do on your own. For example, many people on Ometepe hire a guide for kayaking or hiking to the waterfall, but you can easily do this yourself. In that case, you’ll only pay $6 for the kayak and save $17 on the guide.
Hostel and Hotel Costs
There are, of course, significant differences here as well. If you don’t mind where you sleep, you can stay in a dorm for as little as $6 or in a double room for around $16. But if you prefer more cozy and nicer hostels or low-budget hotels, you should expect to pay just under double that. For a room in a good hotel, you’ll pay between $39 and $56. To get an idea of these costs, you can also check out our article with tips for nice hostels and low-budget hotels in Nicaragua. There, you’ll find prices for dorms and double rooms.
Average Daily Budget in Nicaragua
If you’re a backpacker, you can get by with a daily budget of about $34 in Nicaragua. It can be even cheaper if you’re frugal. If you prefer a slightly more luxurious experience, most of your budget will likely go towards accommodations. So, if you opt for more comfortable lodging, you should budget around $56 per day. A month of backpacking in Nicaragua would cost you approximately $840 to $1,008 per person (excluding the flight ticket). The average traveler who spends a bit more will likely spend around $1,680. But if you want to experience Central America and you’re on a tighter budget, Nicaragua is definitely the best choice!
