As of November 12, 2026, Nicaragua is cheaper than Paraguay for travelers: a mid-range day costs about $62 in Nicaragua against $81 in Paraguay, a gap of 30.5%. Over the past year Nicaragua has moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor (+0.7% after inflation, against −11.5%). Paraguay carries the lower US advisory (Level 1 against Level 3).
| Measure | Nicaragua | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $62 | $81 |
| Lean day | $29 | $40 |
| Comfortable day | $134 | $175 |
| Real change, 12 months | +0.7% | −11.5% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +0.5% | −11.7% |
| Versus 5-year average | −1.0% | −15.9% |
| US advisory | Level 3 · Reconsider travel | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 2.9 · Rough edges | 2.8 · Rough edges |
| Index score | 56 | 54 |
| Best months | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr | May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep |
| Shoulder months | May, Nov | Apr, Oct |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
Colonial towns, surf and volcanoes at Central America's lowest prices.
The catchThe elevated advisory reflects arbitrary enforcement of laws and the risk of wrongful detention, not street crime. Read it before booking.
South America's least-visited country: cheap, friendly and without a tourist trail.
The catchVery little tourism infrastructure and few headline sights. A stop for the curious, not a first trip.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.