Beautiful, Affordable, and Misunderstood
Along Central America's Pacific coast you’ll find rocky outcrops, world-class surf, and some of the most jaw-dropping views in the world.
If it's natural beauty you are after, Nicaragua is the jewel of this stretch of coast.
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View Untitled in a larger mapFast Facts
View Untitled in a larger map
Population: 5,995,928
Capital City: Managua
Climate: Tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Time Zone: GMT-6
Language: Spanish
Country Code: 505
Coastline: 910 km
Nicaragua contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
Nicaragua Articles
Granada, Nicaragua: Live Well on $700 a MonthPosted on May 2, 2012 by Rebecca Teeters
Nicaragua’s best-preserved colonial city, Granada is a popular tourist attraction with a thriving expat community. My husband Shylow and I came here in May 2010 and fell in love with the beautiful architecture, friendly locals, and seriously low cost. After leaving the U.S. and all that we were used to, we found a place where our hard-earned money could stretch past the house mortgage.
What Does Your Dream Retirement Look Like?Posted on April 25, 2012 by International Living
201 1 Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package
Las Vegas, NV – October 2011In the Live and Invest Overseas Conference Package, we’ll show you how you can make that dream your reality… for as little as $697 a month. Maybe you long for your own cottage on a quiet beach… a grand apartment in a city vibrant with concerts and cafes… a mountain villa where the air is crisp… or even your own vineyard amid gently rolling hills. Whatever you fantasize about… come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay for a comparable life at home.
Hidden Gems with Income Potential in NicaraguaPosted on March 27, 2012 by Reece Guth
With little more than a few hundred bucks and some determination Reece decided to give the import-export world a try. Now he has a nationwide business.
Retire Cheap: Great-Value Towns Where You Can Live Better for LessPosted on March 27, 2012 by International Living
At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difficult to rebuild.
Budgets in Great-Value TownsPosted on March 27, 2012 by Robert Carry
Santa Fe in Panama…Vilcabamba in Ecuador…Penang in Malaysia…Granada in Nicaragua…Campeche in Mexico…you know these havens come with a rock-bottom price tag, but on what, exactly, do expats in these locations spend their money on? We’ve asked on-the-ground experts for a detailed breakdown of what a typical couple might spend each month. Here’s what they said.
Chill at Rancho SantanaPosted on February 16, 2012 by International Living
Chill at Rancho Santana
Rancho Santana, Nicaragua
Rancho Santana boasts two miles of the most dramatic coastline you’ll see and a wealth of wildlife in 2700 acres. Amenities include an equestrian center, clubhouse and restaurant, and tennis courts. And five beaches, each with its own appeal…and one with rose-colored sand. You can check out this stunning location for yourself on a Rancho Santana chill weekend. It’s your chance to sample the Santana lifestyle.
Nicaragua Real Estate Down 44%Posted on December 14, 2011 by Suzan Haskins
Real estate prices in Nicaragua have dropped by as much as 44% since the beginning of the economic downturn. A short-lived property boom triggered real estate price increases in many parts of the country, with Nicaragua’s popular coastal regions witnessing a particularly pronounced jump.
Bargain Hunting on Nicaragua’s Pacific CoastPosted on November 29, 2011 by Suzan Haskins
I first visited Nicaragua nearly a decade ago and fell in love with its rough-around-the-edges beauty and the genuine warmth of its people. In 2007, my husband and I lived for a while on this hilltop overlooking San Juan del Sur. We spent lazy days exploring hidden beaches and lively evenings with friends at the thatch-roofed seafood restaurants that line the beach.
- Tossing out the Stereotypes: With Boots-on-the-Ground Revelations from Penang to Bilbao
Posted on November 24, 2011 by Jennifer Stevens
Old beliefs die hard—but we’re doing our best here at International Living to speed them on their way. From Penang, Malaysia to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico… Dublin, Ireland to the Pacific coast of Nicaragua… from Bilbao, Spain to Bangkok, Thailand, … this month’s issue is packed with boots-on-the-ground revelations about destinations you may think you know…
Go Bargain Hunting Now on Nicaragua’s Pacific CoastPosted on November 24, 2011 by Suzan Haskins
I first visited Nicaragua nearly a decade ago and fell in love with its rough-around-the-edges beauty and the genuine warmth of its people. In 2007, my husband and I lived for a while on this hilltop overlooking San Juan del Sur. We spent lazy days exploring hidden beaches and lively evenings with friends at the thatch-roofed seafood restaurants that line the beach. Now we had returned to reacquaint ourselves…
On the Way to Market in GranadaPosted on November 24, 2011 by Patrick H. Stevens
Mangos. Everywhere. Twelve for a dollar, and fresh off the tree. Our kids would devour them as fast as I could get them peeled.
Beach-living in NicaraguaPosted on November 1, 2011 by Lee Harrison
With few exceptions, today’s Masachapa is not fancy…and generally not a place where you’d come to experience fine dining and high-end amenities. But it does offer authentic Nicaraguan charm, a fantastic beach, and reasonable property prices.
Where to Start a Business Abroad: Our 7 Top Picks for the Year AheadPosted on October 27, 2011 by International Living
It might be a palapa bar on a white-sand beach, deep-sea fishing tours, a restaurant, a surf shop, importing t-bone steaks, teaching English, making cheese, exporting art work…Whatever your idea, there’s a place overseas where you can make it a profitable reality. But readers ask us all the time: Where is best? That’s why we’ve put together International Living’s first-ever Business Index.
IL’s Calendar of Events – November IssuePosted on October 27, 2011 by International Living
Here’s a round-up of events, trips and excursions to some of the most exotic parts of the world – which you can book a place on.
Business Index 2011…What Our Experts Say…Posted on October 21, 2011 by Robert Carry
To evaluate our seven countries for our Business Index 2011 we consulted seasoned entrepreneurs who’ve made the move and learned the ropes, as well as worked through in-country attorneys. We asked them about visa requirements, financing, and how easy it was to set up a bank account. They told us about local taxes, business expenses, infrastructure and the local culture for doing business, Here is what they had to say…
Thinking of a Business Overseas? Here’s What the World NeedsPosted on October 21, 2011 by Robert Carry
For International Living’s first ever Business Index we asked our in-country correspondents and a host of expat entrepreneurs what opportunities they see around them in their new homes. These gaps in the market include everything from small guesthouses to dog grooming services… read on to spot your opportunity.
A Business That Can Pay For Your TravelsPosted on October 20, 2011 by Greg Lucre
Reece Guth stepped off the bus at a sleepy town two miles from Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast. He was armed with two things—a vague business idea and a money belt filled with $50 notes shoved down his pants.
Life in Granada, Nicaragua: Once a Dream…Now a RealityPosted on October 20, 2011 by Rebecca Teeters
We’re lying together in a hammock. The sun is shining brightly overhead, there’s a cool breeze, and I can hear the distant sounds of a carnival. Our garden is lush and full of blooming hibiscus and ginger plants. Our fountain gurgles and above us the banana leaves sway. Once a dream, life here in Granada, Nicaragua, is now a reality.
Colonial Property Bargains in Latin AmericaPosted on October 18, 2011 by Margaret Summerfield
Whenever I travel to any of Latin America’s colonial cities, I can’t help but compare them to my home, the historic Casco Viejo district of Panama City. I’ve lived here for almost five years and I love this neighborhood’s friendly, bohemian vibe and beautiful buildings.
IL Radio Episode 28: Living in Nicaragua—Cheap, Safe and StunningPosted on September 21, 2011 by Dan Prescher
For Tuey Murdock and her family, Nicaragua is the place that has it all… Stunning Pacific coast beaches, a great cost of living, excellent medical facilities, and a way of life that lets them relax and enjoy the natural wonders they find all around them.
First Impressions—New Expats Find their FeetPosted on September 16, 2011 by International Living
These new expatse have made the big move—now they call Belize, Mexico and Nicaragua home.
Colonial Bargains in Latin America — from $115,000Posted on September 16, 2011 by Margaret Summerfield
Whenever I travel to any of Latin America’s colonial cities, I can’t help but compare them to my home, the historic Casco Viejo district of Panama City. I’ve lived here for almost five years and I love this neighborhood’s friendly, bohemian vibe and beautiful buildings.
IL Radio Episode 26: One Expat Gives Back to the Community in Granada, NicaraguaPosted on September 7, 2011 by Dan Prescher
Donna Tabor joined the Peace Corps 16 years ago, and her first station was Granada, Nicaragua. She’s been there ever since.
Nicaragua: Authentic Beach Life…at a Bargain PricePosted on August 8, 2011 by Lee Harrison
I came away from my first visit to Nicaragua, in 2004, with a lopsided image of the coastal lifestyle in Central America’s largest country…an image based only on the southern Pacific coast and its network of luxury, planned communities designed specifically with expats in mind.
My Favorite Colonial in Granada, Nicaragua for $150,000Posted on July 28, 2011 by Lee Harrison
As I explained in yesterday’s Postcard on Spanish colonials in Granada, Nicaragua, most of the homes I looked at were under $200,000.
Granada, Nicaragua: The Best City to Pick Up a Spanish Colonial HomePosted on July 27, 2011 by Lee Harrison
If you’ve ever dreamed of living abroad in a Spanish colonial home, you won’t find a better place in the Americas than Granada, Nicaragua.
Finding Adventure in RetirementPosted on July 20, 2011 by International Living
Three ex-pats in three different countries tell the story of how and why they made a new life for themselves abroad.
Where to Find Nicaragua’s Beach BargainsPosted on July 20, 2011 by Lee Harrison
I came away from my first visit to Nicaragua, in 2004, with a lopsided image of the coastal lifestyle in Central America’s largest country. There’s another, far more “authentic” and affordable environment to explore along this country’s central and northern Pacific coast.
A Tale of Two Colonial Cities in NicaraguaPosted on July 2, 2011 by Eoin Bassett
If you’re looking for old world, colonial living then look to breathtakingly beautiful Nicaragua. The opportunities offered here are unrivalled but unsurprisingly won’t last forever. Read on to find out more.
Video of Masachapa Beach: A Popular Vacation Home Spot in NicaraguaPosted on June 23, 2011 by Lee Harrison
In this video, IL editor Lee Harrison is in the Nicaraguan seaside town of Masachapa…an old-fashioned beach town that was popular with Managua’s wealthy as far back as the 1940s.
Nicaragua Better Than Ever: Colonial Homes from $145,000Posted on June 20, 2011 by Lee Harrison
Imagine yourself awakening to a symphony of tropical birds and brilliant sunshine. You walk into the open-air, center courtyard of your colonial home and pour yourself a rich cup of locally grown coffee. The courtyard’s lush, tropical vegetation is the home’s centerpiece oasis… and almost hides the blue, shimmering pool, right in your “living room.”
Video Postcard: A Tour of Downtown León, NicaraguaPosted on June 14, 2011 by Lee Harrison
In this video, IL editor Lee Harrison tours downtown León—Nicaragua’s intellectual capital, and also a university town. León, the capital of the country for 200 years before Managua was so designated, once served as the country’s political, military, cultural, and religious center.
Video: A Restored Colonial Home in Granada, Nicaragua for $150,000Posted on June 13, 2011 by Lee Harrison
In this video, IL editor Lee Harrison takes a tour around a beautiful colonial home for sale for $150,000 in Granada, Nicaragua. The colonial homes in Granada have names, and this one, which has been restored, is called Casa Arcos.
Running a Bakery in San Juan del Sur, NicaraguaPosted on June 3, 2011 by Pha Lo
In 2008, the time felt right for Eric and his wife Stephanie to leave their Chicago jobs—his in an auto body shop and hers in human relations. They spent nine months traveling Central America, from Panama to Belize, from beaches to mountains. “But we never found good bread,” Eric says.
Video Tour: The Beautiful Spanish Colonial City of Granada, NicaraguaPosted on June 2, 2011 by Lee Harrison
In this video, IL editor Lee Harrison takes a tour around the Spanish colonial city of Granada, Nicaragua. This city is not only popular with travelers, but with expats as well.
Listen Now – Lee’s on the Phone from NicaraguaPosted on May 27, 2011 by Lee Harrison
This is my first time in Nicaragua in four years and I had expected that the country would be “marking time”…at a relative standstill during the presidency of Daniel Ortega.
But as I explain to International Living Executive Editor, Jen Stevens, here, what I’ve discovered is that the country has moved ahead. The infrastructure is better, the highways are improved, and Nicaraguans are generally more-upbeat and positive about their country.
“I Have More Fun Working in Nicaragua than I did in the U.S.”Posted on April 18, 2011 by Carla Fjeld
When my husband Jurg and I first moved to Nicaragua, we planned on a three-year stay. But its 10 years later and we’re still here…and we’re not leaving anytime soon.
Granada, Nicaragua: Three Property Picks in this Beautiful Colonial CityPosted on March 31, 2011 by Margaret Summerfield
The jewel in Nicaragua’s crown is a little city called Granada. It’s a beautiful, bewitching place. And if your dream of an overseas property involves an old colonial home, you’ll get more for your money in Granada.
Real “Bang for Your Buck” on the World’s Most Dramatic CoastlinePosted on March 21, 2011 by Ronan McMahon
It’s before dawn as the first surfers race toward the ocean and the sun begins to unroll a carpet of yellow light across the beach. Soon the clubhouse is buzzing with the breakfast crowd…and I can see neighbors on horseback stopping to chat in the surf.
The Baker of Nicaragua—Chicago Auto Worker Turns ArtisanPosted on March 21, 2011 by International Living
In 2008, the time felt right for Eric and his wife Stephanie to leave their Chicago jobs—his in an auto body shop and hers in human relations. They spent nine months traveling Central America, from Panama to Belize, from beaches to mountains. “But we never found good bread,” Eric says.
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September 28-30, 2012 - Las Vegas,NV
Whatever you fantasize about…come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay at home.
Find out more and register here.
More About Nicaragua
- Why Nicaragua?
- Beachfront Property in Nicaragua
- Taxes in Nicaragua
- Make a Difference – Please Help the Roberto Clemente-Santa Ana Health Clinic
- Invest in Nicaragua
- Rolodex: Contacts in Nicaragua
- Travel in Nicaragua
- Live in Nicaragua
- Nicaragua Visa and Residency Information
- Health Care in Nicaragua
- Nicaragua Fact File
- Retire in Nicaragua
- Move to Nicaragua
- Nicaragua Real Estate
- The Economy in Nicaragua
- Cost of Living in Nicaragua
