Cost of Living Comparison in Central America
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Central America?
Central America offers a wide range of living options, from very affordable cities like Managua to more expensive metros like Panama City. This tool helps you compare monthly costs between cities.
Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs include:
- Rent: 1-bedroom apartment in a central area
- Food: Groceries and dining out
- Transport: Public transit and fuel
- Utilities: Electricity, water, gas
- Internet: Broadband connection
- Entertainment: Movies, restaurants, activities
Ranking by Cost of Living (lowest to highest)
- 🇳🇮 Managua, Nicaragua — Most affordable
- 🇭🇳 San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- 🇭🇳 Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- 🇬🇹 Guatemala City — Great cost/quality balance
- 🇬🇹 Antigua Guatemala — Popular with expats
- 🇸🇻 San Salvador, El Salvador
- 🇧🇿 Belize City, Belize
- 🇨🇷 San José, Costa Rica
- 🇵🇦 Panama City — Most expensive
Planning to relocate?
If you're considering moving to another Central American city, visit hotelescentroamerica.com for temporary accommodation while you settle in.
Factors to Consider
Beyond cost of living, consider:
- Safety: Varies significantly between cities
- Climate: From tropical beaches to mountain towns
- Infrastructure: Internet, roads, healthcare
- Expat community: Antigua and San José have the largest
- Immigration ease: Each country has different requirements
It depends on your priorities. Guatemala offers the best cost-quality balance. Costa Rica has the best infrastructure. Nicaragua is the most affordable. Panama offers the best business opportunities.
Yes, all costs are expressed in US dollars (USD) for easy comparison across countries with different currencies.