Costa Rica is officially on the list of places that have been discovered by big tourism, and as a result, national parks and other highlights can get crowded quicklyespecially during the high season. If its your first time outside your home country, or youre on a family trip, this alone might be a big enough draw to pull you to Costa Rica. In fact, they do a lot of school groups so even younger kids love this. Many resorts in Nicaragua arrange a transfer directly from the airport in Liberia to their front door, which takes only an hour more than a trip to one of the nearest by Costa Rican beaches. Layerculture is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Other affiliate programs linking to other recommended products and services are also used. A bit of history helps uncover some of the layers. Even in very backpacker-heavy towns like San Juan del Sur, the area still had a very distinctive, Nicaraguan feel to itsomething lacking in Costa Rica, which still ranks as the only country outside the USA in which weve ever seen a Taco Bell. For people who are less accustomed to traveling in Central America or within the developing world in general, those tradeoffs may be absolutely worth it! The agricultures, fishing, forestry, mining and energy are all great contributors to the economy. Can I book organized tours to hike up a volcano? So when thinking about your next retreat experience, dont book the Central America retreat that pictures sell you on. I have family living 10 minutes outside Turrialba Centro so Ive seen it from a locals point of view. The average cost of living in Nicaragua ($614) is 1% less expensive than in the United States ($2213). Another of the benefits of Nicaraguas slower tourism curve is that the tremendous hospitality experiences are delivered in a distinctly Nicaraguan way. That said, I dont know if Ill ever get to visit the American continent. Costa Rica vs Nicaragua. Check prices for Safety Wing Travel Insurance in Costa Rica or Nicaragua! While you will definitely see plenty of other tourists in Nicaragua, the bulk of them will be from other Central American countries, and most tourists from outside the region being backpackers and younger travelers who are traveling through Central America. Like Costa Rica, Nicaragua has a range of tourism infrastructure, from budget hostel to 5-star resorts. Ive done the flight from the capital cities of San Jose, Costa Rica to Managua, Nicaragua. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Early in the cycle, a place is discovered by adventurers for its natural, social and cultural purity. Nicaragua vs US: Cost of Living, Salary & Prices comparison . Nicargua is totally my kinda place than Costa Rica. I was just a young teenager from SLC, Utah. (1 liter), Boneless chicken breast Karla married a Nicaraguan and had three sons in Costa Rica. Consumer Prices Including Rent in Costa Rica are 61.1% higher than in Nicaragua: Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 101.4% higher than in Nicaragua: Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 92.0% higher than in Nicaragua: Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 41.4% higher than in Nicaragua: Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 87.0% higher than in Nicaragua Most of us need a time out at some point. I will visit Nicaragua ?? ). Crime, by the way, is much lower in Nicaragua. If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Nicaragua, you would: pay 82.8 % more for restaurants The median after-tax salary is $360, which is enough to cover living expenses for 0.6 months.Ranked 8251st (TOP 89%) in the list of best places to live in the world and 2nd best city to live in Nicaragua. If you are not vaccinated will I have to quarantine? It definitely is a hard call depending on what youre after, but you cant go wrong either way! As Nicaragua is less crowded with less crime rate, I would prefer it, though it is slightly offbeat. I live in Nicaragua and the food ,volcanos, Lake Nicaragua and the beaches are stunning and everything is cheaper. Make sure beaches arent littered with garbage before going- which drifts in with the tides and not put there by the locals! Nicaragua. Powered only by solar, youll have hot water showers in your private casita, freshly prepared meals, and a view overlooking the river. I havent been at an active volcano site so I am sure it will be a great experience. No thank beaches are full of plastic staff. For my style of travel which Id call bohemian chic, Id say Nicaragua is a very good value for what you get. Granada, a colonial, inland city with fabulous architecture and colonial homes, is where Ive spent the most amount of time while in Nicaragua. Its a small city, well known on the tourist circuit, has great restaurants, and is completely walkable. See my site Policies Yoga is a crucial element of our life here at Costa Dulce since it is the foundation of the holistic lifestyle we embody. As a frame of reference, these rooms range from $35-$75/night, in the off-season. 3. CR got several alive volcanos, w the Arenal as the most beautiful of America. Please enter price information for your location (France) to help assist us in making these comparisons more accurate. Great comparisons of pros and cons on choosing between Costa Rica or Nicaragua. Costa Rica is a great family destination because of the accessible wildlife viewing, ziplining, and rafting; the latter is actually my favorite thing to do in Costa Rica. (1 kg), Onions Live or Retire in Nicaragua, a comparison versus Costa Rica - Pacific Lots Thank you! Cost of Living in Mateare: 16.91 miles: Cost of Living in Masaya: 18.15 miles: Cost of Living in Diriamba: 27.42 miles: Cost of Living in Nagarote: 27.89 miles: Cost of Living in Granada: 28.27 miles: Cost of Living in La Paz Centro: 36.83 miles: Cost of Living in Nandaime: 41.20 miles: Cost of Living in Boaco: 74.07 miles: Cost of Living in El . But Nicaragua is lower cost and living near family is a big plus. Locals say Buenos Dias passing you on the street and youll soon be noticed as one of the few gringos. As previously mentioned, Nicaragua is more of a newcomer to the mainstream tourism industry. This takes some pre-planning, but its done all the time. (1 liter), New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition), Taxi trip in downtown area Costa Rica is open to everyone from everywhere and does not require a negative Covid-19 test. Costa Rica v. Nicaragua | The Differences - Witch's Rock Surf Camp I think of Nicaragua as the younger brother with a slightly unruly streak compared to the older, genteel sibling, Costa Rica, who knows how to behave. When in Granada, Nicaragua, I always land at Condo Hotel Xalteva. This, we readily admit, is partially our fault: we didnt try hard to find offbeat Costa Rica away from the tourist trail, as we spent most of our time there with family. Google it. More infrastructure, more crowds its no surprise that this leads to higher prices. I am thinking of moving to nicaragua. Amidst all the back and forth, she and her family have built a home in Costa Rica where her dual nationality is appreciated. 14.836 Aporopobia is another term that has recently entered the discussion; this is a fear of the poor. While Costa Rica requires a budget similar to that of a Central European country, Nicaragua is much more in line with other countries in Central America like Guatemala and Honduras. Lol. As it became discovered and its tourism industry more established, prices have gone up. McDonalds. Costa Rica is a nature lovers paradise, so its where you come to be outside and outdoorsy. On Independence Day, [our son] carried a little lantern with the Nicaraguan flag beside the Costa Rican one. This is your chance! Your email address will not be published. The tension between this safe reality on the ground and the misperception of danger online makes Nicaragua a hidden gem a Costa Rica as experienced by its early discoverers ready to be found by those willing to stretch beyond the powerful confines of group thought. Are masks required while out? The majority of them are and this is a good thing. Karla married a Nicaraguan and had three sons in Costa Rica. True, the greater tourism infrastructure and English-speaking presence, along with Costa Rica being the more popular destination for international travelers, all contribute to this, but after spending months in the region, we didnt value those things enough to consider the extra cost worth it. Pizza Hut, Are and many more. We were, of course, with a driver the entire time and got around as a group. As amazing as both destinations are, picking one can come down to a matter of travel style and personal preference. Such remarks that may seem innocuous, disguise cultural prejudices. So as with all travel decisions, what one person views as a positive, another sees as a downside. But if youre looking to enjoy the marvelous sunsets, immersed in nature, while surfing uncrowded breaks, youll have a much easier time finding that in Nicaragua. HAVANA TIMES Telling the story of the Nicas in Costa Rica means understanding the lives of hundreds of thousands of people whove remade their lives in a country different from their own. In both countries locals still have sheet metal houses with dirt floors (the middle/lower class is similar as the cost of living is much higher in Costa Rica). Cheaper is always such a temptation! We dont want to be negative about it, because its an incredibly beautiful place with lots to offerbut for travelers like us who prefer to be a tiny bit more off the beaten path in exchange for lower prices and less crowded adventures, Nicaragua is the clear winner in the contest of Costa Rica vs Nicaragua. And living in a gated community during Covid has likely provided us better protection," explained one expat living in . Why More & More Boomers Are Heading to Nicaragua - Escape Artist