How much does a trip to Nicaragua Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Nicaragua
Visitors to Nicaragua usually spend between $20 and $154 per day on average for one person and $40 to $308 for two people. While this is a wide range, the average daily cost averages $54 (C$1,975) per person. This average includes sightseeing, hotel, food, and local transportation expenses from other travelers. Your individual travel expenses may vary based on travel style and the locations visited, but if you plan wisely while visiting the most popular destinations, such as Granada, Managua, and San Juan del Sur, then you'll likely spend somewhere in this price range while on your trip. Further down we have a breakdown of expenses by category, as well as a comparison of independent travel versus guided tour prices.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Nicaragua?
If you're planning an Independent trip to Nicaragua, budget travelers should plan to spend around $20 (C$735) per day for their trip. This average includes hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and activities. If you're on a mid-range budget, plan for around $54 (C$1,975) a day which covers the cost of typical hotels, normal restaurants, and a variety of popular attractions. Luxury travelers should allow for $154 (C$5,654) a day, which would cover higher-end hotels, nicer restaurants, and more private tour options. All of these price ranges are based on our extensive travel cost data for Nicaragua from other travelers, along with hotel and tour data from travel companies.
| 3 Days | 7 Days | 14 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $50 | $117 | $233 |
| Intercity Transportation1 | $82 | $191 | $382 |
| Local Transportation1 | $30 | $70 | $139 |
| Food2 | $44 | $103 | $206 |
| Water2 | $2 | $5 | $10 |
| Entertainment1 | $37 | $87 | $174 |
| Souvenirs1 | $26 | $61 | $123 |
| Communication2 | $5 | $12 | $24 |
| Living Expenses2 | $320 | $746 | $1,493 |
| Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 | $20 | $46 | $93 |
| Alcohol2 | $26 | $61 | $121 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $2 | $4 | $7 |
How much does a one week trip to Nicaragua cost?
Most visitors spend between $140 and $1,078 for a one week trip to Nicaragua, with the average being $377. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to visit one, two, or maybe three locations in Nicaragua, depending on how in-depth you want to make your visit. Some of the most popular places to visit are Granada, Managua, and San Juan del Sur.
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
How much does a two week trip to Nicaragua cost?
With two weeks, you should budget between $280 and $2,156 for your trip to Nicaragua. The average price for a two week trip is $753. Two weeks will allow you enough time to visit between three and five places. If you're on a budget, you might want to consider some of the more affordable places such as Isla de Ometepe and Granada.
How much does a one month trip to Nicaragua cost?
When embarking on a month-long trip to Nicaragua, expenses can range from $601 to $4,619, with an average cost falling around $1,614. For those fortunate enough to have a full month, considering a vacation rental with a kitchen for at least a portion of your stay can help save money with meals. Backpackers often opt for hostels due to their affordability and the added benefit of a social vibe.
Hostel Prices in Nicaragua
With more than 70 hostels in Nicaragua, the average price is $12 per night for a dorm bed. Hostels are a terrific option for younger independent travelers looking to save money while staying social during their trip. With many types of hostels, it can be overwhelming to sort out the best places, though. Our analysis of the hostels in Nicaragua not only found the average price, but also uncovered some surprises about the overall quality, amenities, and atmosphere of hostels in the region. You can see more details from our analysis about typical hostel prices in Nicaragua here.
| Number of Hostels | Average Price | |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan del Sur | 22 | $14 |
| Granada | 16 | $11 |
| Leon | 16 | $9 |
| Managua | 6 | $13 |
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Nicaragua.
- $15 for a dorm bed at Hola Ola Hostel in San Juan Del Sur
- $10 for a dorm bed at Hostel Oasis Granada in Granada
- $9 for a dorm bed at Poco a Poco Hostel in Leon
Hotel Prices in Nicaragua
You'll find a wide range of hotel options across Nicaragua. Below are prices for some of the destinations, and for more details see our analysis of hotel costs in Nicaragua.
| City | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|
| San Juan del Sur | $102 |
| Granada | $83 |
| Managua | $68 |
| Isla de Ometepe | $15 |
Granada, Nicaragua
Should you do an organized tour or travel independently in Nicaragua?
Organized tours are an easy and convenient way to visit Nicaragua. All of the details are handled by travel experts, and during the trip you'll benefit from the knowledge of an expert guide.
Traveling independently offers freedom and flexibility that is hard to find on an organized tour.
Many travelers appreciate the convenience and ease that an organized tour offers. Many tours provide transportation and expert guides that help you enjoy your trip.
Alternatively, you'll enjoy freedom and flexibility with independent travel that is difficult to find with an organized tour.
Comparing Trip Costs in Nicaragua
When we compare the prices of organized tours to the average costs of independent travelers, we can see that sometimes the prices are fairly even.
| Organized Package Tours | Independent Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Trip Cost | $469 - $679 | $60 - $462 |
| 7-Day Trip Cost | $0 - $0 | $140 - $1,078 |
| 10-Day Trip Cost | $1,730 - $1,730 | $200 - $1,540 |
| 14-Day Trip Cost | $600 - $4,710 | $280 - $2,156 |
Tours vs. independent Travel: Pros & Cons
Organized Tours
Pros- An expert guide familiar with the culture
- Convenient transportation
- Fellow travelers to socialize with
- Well researched activities
- Efficient and thought out itinerary
- The security of have a trip leader if something goes wrong
- Limited options
- Usually not customizable
- The fast pace often means you can’t visit one place in depth
- Usually more expensive than independent travel
- There may be limited time to interact with the local culture and community
Independent Travel
Pros- Completely customizable
- Opportunity to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations
- Can fully immerse yourself in the local culture
- Freedom to move at your own pace
- Flexibility to change your itinerary at any time
- More affordable
- Challenging to plan an efficient itinerary
- Transportation may be challenging or inefficient
- Booking and trip planning can be a hassle
- Popular sights may sell out well in advance
- If something goes wrong, you're on your own
Are organized tours more expensive than independent travel in Nicaragua?
Organized tours typically average around $175 per day and provide the convenience of an all-inclusive package with one comprehensive payment. On the other hand, independent trips usually average around $54 (C$1,975) per day and involve individual payments for accommodations, local transportation, meals, and sightseeing. Both organized tours and independent trips have their own unique challenges and benefits, so it's crucial to thoroughly understand the aspects of each to make a fair comparison. For a detailed analysis of tour prices in Nicaragua, check out our comprehensive guide on tour prices in Nicaragua here.
Here are a few sample tours in Nicaragua:
-
Managua City Stopover - 3 days ($479)
3 days, 3 destinations -
Tailor-Made Best Nicaragua Tour with Daily Departure ($3,509)
13 days, 8 destinations -
Customized Nicaragua Nature Trip with Daily Departure and Private Guide ($3,169)
9 days, 7 destinations -
Nature Adventure Trip Costa Rica & Nicaragua ($4,948)
12 days, 11 destinations
More for Nicaragua
If you're planning a trip to Nicaragua, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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