Money in Nicaragua
The córdoba does not float against the dollar. The Central Bank fixes the rate for the whole year, so the number below is the same today as it will be in December — and it is the rate you will actually be charged.
Official rate · 2026
C$36.6243 = US$1.00
Nicaragua's Central Bank (BCN) set the crawling peg to 0% for 2026 — the fourth year in a row. Currency apps show a market rate that drifts a few tenths; this is the official one banks and businesses use.
| US dollars | Córdobas |
|---|---|
| $1 | C$36.62 |
| $5 | C$183.12 |
| $10 | C$366.24 |
| $20 | C$732.49 |
| $50 | C$1,831.22 |
| $100 | C$3,662.43 |
Dollars or córdobas?
Both circulate. In San Juan del Sur most hostels, tour operators and surf shops quote in dollars; markets, buses, street food and small shops work in córdobas.
- Bring small bills. A $50 note for a $6 lunch is a problem — change is scarce and you will get it back in córdobas anyway.
- Check your change. Paying in dollars means the business converts at its own rate, usually rounded in its favour. Paying in córdobas avoids that entirely.
- Damaged notes get refused. Torn or heavily marked dollar bills are often rejected. Bring clean ones.
- Cards work, cash rules. Restaurants and hotels take cards; buses, fritangas and market stalls do not.
The practical rule: pay in córdobas for anything under $20, in dollars for anything above. You will lose less on rounding either way.
Getting cash in San Juan del Sur
There is an ATM directly across the street from us, on Avenida Vanderbilt, plus a 24-hour convenience store next to it. Machines dispense córdobas, and some also dispense dollars. They do run empty on busy weekends, so do not leave it to Sunday night.
Getting around: what transport costs
San Juan del Sur is walkable, so most of your transport budget goes to getting in and out, or to the surf beaches. Rough market rates as of September 2026:
| Route | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Local bus to Granada | from $2 |
| Tourist shuttle to Granada | around $12 |
| Shuttle to León | around $25 |
| Taxi to the Costa Rica border (Peñas Blancas) | around $25 |
These are market references, not our prices. We run our own shuttles from the hostel — Granada $25, León $35, Managua airport $35, San Jorge $15, Costa Rica $35, and the surf beaches from $7 — all per person, leaving at 9:00 am.
Staying in San Juan del Sur?
We are one block from the beach, right in the centre — with that ATM across the street.
Official rate published by the Banco Central de Nicaragua for 2026: C$36.6243 per US dollar, with the crawling peg held at 0%. Page last checked: 1 September 2026.