City, Nicaragua
Cost of living in León
How much a month costs in León
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $679–1,140 (C$25,000–42,000).
Prices in León
Typical 2026 ranges in NIO, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | NIO | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | C$7,000–14,000 | $190–380 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | C$4,000–8,000 | $109–217 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | C$250–450 | $6.8–12.2 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | C$1,000–2,500 | $27–68 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | C$70–130 | $1.9–3.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | C$250–550 | $6.8–14.9 |
| Cappuccino | C$40–90 | $1.1–2.4 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | C$35–80 | $1.0–2.2 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | C$10–25 | $0.27–0.68 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | C$50–100 | $1.4–2.7 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | C$600–1,400 | $16–38 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | C$300–600 | $8.2–16.3 |
Value for money: 88/100
A value score of 88/100 means León gives more quality of life per dollar than 87% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 57/100. It's the 1st most affordable of 4 places we cover in Nicaragua.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Nicaragua
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| León | $679–1,140 | 88/100 |
| Ometepe | $679–1,140 | 90/100 |
| Granada | $815–1,360 | 79/100 |
| San Juan del Sur | $1,030–1,630 | 60/100 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in León?
About $326–544 on a lean budget, $679–1,140 for a comfortable month and $1,630–2,990 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in León?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs C$7,000–14,000 ($190–380) a month in the center and C$4,000–8,000 ($109–217) outside it.
How much does food cost in León?
A local meal is C$70–130 ($1.9–3.5); a mid-range restaurant is C$250–550 ($6.8–14.9) per person.
Is Nicaragua expensive?
Prices in Nicaragua are about 34% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about León
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Instituto Nicaragüense de Turismo (INTUR)
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.