Realistic rent prices in nicaragua
Replies: 16 - Last Post: Jul 18, 2012 8:07 PM Last Post By: gypsytoes
jump to
Realistic rent prices in nicaragua
My wife and i are moving to Nicaragua at the end of the year. I am having a hard time getting "realistic" rent prices. We are american, and everytime i ask people, or look online, i get things like "rent this great, gated, safe villa for ex-pats, fully furnished in granada for 1000$". Or other threads similar from americans looking to keep their lifestyle, or even get more for their same amount as here in the USA.Thats not what we are looking for and ideally are looking for as little as possible.
Other random posts are from travellers that are vague and non specific and say "ive seen places for almost nothing! like 50 or 100 dollars a month!", but dont seem reliable, specific, or trustworthy.
We dont have a specific place in the country to go. But we would like to stay away from granada, and other touristy areas. We dont need hot water, cable, housekeeping or anything. No need for a gated community, or pool, or beachside living.
Just a small unfurnished 1 bedroom would suffice.
I know most online rental places or places like craigslist seem to be geared toward the american lifestyle and have prices between 400-1200 a month, so im sure we will just stay in hostels and look around locally as we meet people once we are there. But i was hoping to get a realistic idea of roughly what we will be looking at spending on rent.
I was hoping someone who actually lived there and saw some normal older houses/apartments for rent could help out and throw out an area and general number. something that a normal local non-rich person would rent.
thanks in advance!
1
As you say, you need to get on the ground to find what you are looking for. With your simple needs you won't have difficulty and should be able to negotiate very good terms that you can easily afford. However, take your time and be sure that you are in a safe location with stable services- there are some very basic reasons why expats often stick together! (i.e. how good is your Spanish?)...2
We rent a 3-bedroom house in Bluefields for $350 a month. Efficiencies or single rooms can be found for $75 - $150 that include electricity and cable. Pearl Lagoon is about the same and Corn Island is maybe double that.No municipal water service, no municipal sewage, trash is collected 2 - 3 times a week and you don't need a car. Beach is 15 min. boat ride away, Corn Island is 5 hr boat ride away, Managua is all day away. There are some other expats that live here, two kinds, really. There are the ones who come to work for organizations and these people are intelligent, hard working, funny and have goals. Then there are people that find their way down here because they are running from something and are why some locals say, "all white people are crazy"; thank god they are the minority. Though I admit they add some color to the place.
Back to flats to let, none of these are listed anywhere. You would have to talk to people on the street to find out if they know of anything for rent. Bluefields is a town of 50K people and everybody knows everybody, so there isn't a huge need for centralized listings. You put the word out on the street and somebody will come find you.
Good luck!
3
Just curious, Have you been to Nicaragua before, seen the popular areas, and do you speak Spanish?4
betyebottomdollar - thank you for the info! thats exactly the kind of info i was looking for. (p.s. we are not running from anything, and have specific goals, and organizations to work with ;)And i expected to not find anything until i got there and got into a specific place and started meeting / hanging out with locals.
solohobo - yes. my wife and i have been, and we have seen the popular areas (and many of the unpopular areas). Unfortunately we have not been there with the intention of moving before. it was something that came up after our last trip there. so we never checked out the market so to speak, as far as actually living there. hence this post. and Si, Hablamos espanol.
anyone else have some knowledge from their area of nicaragua?
5
In Matagalpa i paid 350 a month, kitchen, ,living, sleeping room,balcony and garden, roof terrace, with some furnishment ( a bed, 2 chairs and a table) Most of the houses will be unfurnished. Nicaraguans love to rent to gringos because of the payment. I suggest you pick a place, stay in a hotel and ask around....suerte!7
You should ask on NicaLiving and The Real Nicaragua forums. One poster who lives in Jinotega was paying about $80 a month for half a house that was sectioned off. She claims acceptable rentals can be found there for $150 a month. Also she said well built wooden furniture from local craftsmen can be had at very reasonable prices. Jinotega is up at about 4000' so a/c and heat minimally needed if at all. Plenty of other choices in the north too with some altitude.9
On Corn Island you can rent a house long term from about $350 per month and up, depending on your needs. There ARE other types of people who live here, like retirees and folks setting up businesses. not everyone is afilitated with an organization or a fugitive. That's a fairly skeptical way of looking at gringo society.ADVERTISEMENT
Hotels & Hostels
-
Philadelphia Center City Residence Inn by Marriott
Philadelphia(3 star Hotel)
From US$271.00 per night
Book now
-
Book now
-
Residence Inn Las Vegas Convention Center by Marriott
Las Vegas(3 star Hotel)
From US$95.00 per night
Book now