The below table is a recapitulative table of the cost of various items in each country visited. Due to the inflation rates of some countries, those prices are obviously subject to change. Prices are also not constant in all the localities of a country (we usually kept the cheapest prices) and products are sometimes slightly different.
The exchange rate was correct at the time of writing but is obviously subject to variation. We will not update the table from this point of view as local prices often follow those changes (if the dollar appreciate, local prices will often increase to maintain the same revenue). The table expressed in US$ should therefore remain more or less accurate and provide a fair comparison between the countries.
Please help us to cover other countries & maintain those tables updated (refer to the table with costs expressed in local currency)
See also the Global Costs Table (Central America & Asia together)
Costs expressed in US$
| Guatemala | Honduras | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Panama | ||
| Exchange
Rate for one US$ : (at the time of writing) |
7.65 | 15.3 | 13.3 | 326 | 1 | |
| Quetzal | Lempira | Coroba | Colon | US$ | ||
| Water (1) | liter | 0.13 | 0.26 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Coca cola | can | 0.39 | 0.65 | 0.53 | 0.67 | 0.50 |
| Local beer (2) | 660ml | 1.04 | 0.65 | 0.75 | 0.92 | 1.00 |
| Ice cream | Magnum | 1.31 | 1.18 | 1.35(6) | 1.23 | 1.20 |
| Cake/bread | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.23 | 0.46 | 0.25 | |
| Banana | unit | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Basic meat dish | 1.31 | 1.63 | 1.50 | 2.45 | 1.35 | |
| Toilet paper | roll | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.23 | 0.14 | 0.25 |
| Soap | Safeguard | 0.46 | 0.46 | 0.47 | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| Washing powder | 1 dose | 0.07 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.11 | 0.10 |
| AA Battery (3) | x2 | 1.83 | 1.63 | 1.58 | 1.30 | 1.20 |
| Kodak Film 200 | x36 | 3.92 | 5.56 | 6.24 | 6.32 | 5.15 |
| Development (4) | 7.84 | 7.19 | 16.99 | 12.12 | 13.00 | |
| Internet | hour | 1.31 | 1.63 | 1.50 | 0.92 | 1.50(8) |
| Tel call to Europe | 1mn | 0.78 | 0.29 | 2.11 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
| Stamps to Europe | 10gr | 0.46 | 0.65 | 0.75 | 0.31 | 0.50 |
| Average GH (5) | 2.61 | 3.92 | 4.51 | 5.00(7) | 6.00 | |
| Total Cost US$ | 23.94 | 26.30 | 38.86 | 33.74 | 33.80 | |
| Cost Indice | 1.14 | 1.25 | 1.85(9) | 1.61(10) | 1.61 | |
| Guatemala | Honduras | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Panama | ||
(1) Water : tap water
usually potable in Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama. Otherwise very
expensive
(2) Local 660ml Beer : ordered in small restaurant or bought in shops when too
expensive
(3) Battery : Duracell or Panasonic Alcaline
(4) Development film : 3R size on Kodak paper
(5) Average Guesthouse : average spending for a Single room or Dbl with single
occupancy rates
(6) Article not available
(7) Cost during the low season, at least 20% more in HS
(8) Free internet in a few GH in Panama City
(9) A few items are ridiculously expensive in Nicaragua but, except those, the
cost is similar to Guatemala & Honduras
(10) Costa Rica is actually the most expensive country to visit, due to the high
entrance fees to nearly all the attractions (National Parks)
Costs expressed in local currencies
| Guatemala | Honduras | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Panama | ||
| Quetzal | Lempira | Coroba | Colon | US$ | ||
| Water | liter | 1.00 | 4.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Coca cola | can | 3.00 | 10.00 | 7.00 | 220.00 | 0.50 |
| Local beer | 660ml | 7.92 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 300.00 | 1.00 |
| Ice cream | Magnum | 10.00 | 18.00 | 18.00 | 400.00 | 1.20 |
| Cake/bread | 2.50 | 5.00 | 3.00 | 150.00 | 0.25 | |
| Banana | unit | 0.25 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 10.00 | 0.05 |
| Basic meat dish | 10.00 | 25.00 | 20.00 | 800.00 | 1.35 | |
| Toilet paper | roll | 1.00 | 2.00 | 3.00 | 45.00 | 0.25 |
| Soap | Safeguard | 3.50 | 7.00 | 6.20 | 168.00 | 0.50 |
| Washing-powder | 1 dose | 0.50 | 1.40 | 1.15 | 35.00 | 0.10 |
| AA Battery | x2 | 14.00 | 25.00 | 21.00 | 423.00 | 1.20 |
| Kodak Film 200 | x36 | 30.00 | 85.00 | 83.00 | 2060.00 | 5.15 |
| Development | 60.00 | 110.00 | 226.00 | 3950.00 | 13.00 | |
| Internet | hour | 10.00 | 25.00 | 20.00 | 300.00 | 1.50 |
| Tel call to Europe | 1mn | 6.00 | 4.50 | 28.00 | 407.00 | 1.25 |
| Stamps to Europe | 10gr | 3.50 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 100.00 | 0.50 |
| Average GH | 20.00 | 60.00 | 60.00 | 1630.00 | 6.00 | |
| Guatemala | Honduras | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Panama |
