How much of my stuff should I move to Nicaragua?
Aaron Chad
For first time purchasers, the question "How much of your stuff should you move with to Nicaragua?" can be overwhelming. Unless you have been to Nicaragua several times and traveled through its many markets and outlets you may not know just how much is available here. From hand crafted woods and furnishings to intricate woven hangers and hammocks, finding quality and eye catching decor is easy and fun.
Three years ago I had to ask myself the very same...
For first time purchasers, the question "How much of your stuff should you move with to Nicaragua?" can be overwhelming. Unless you have been to Nicaragua several times and traveled through its many markets and outlets you may not know just how much is available here. From hand crafted woods and furnishings to intricate woven hangers and hammocks, finding quality and eye catching decor is easy and fun.
Three years ago I had to ask myself the very same question. And of course, knowledge and reasoning always prevails over assumptions. While you won't find an IKEA or Home Depot here (yet) do not assume you need to bring everything. Managua and Leon both boast of fine decor and hardware items necessary to everyday comfort. But what is really astonishing is the endless amounts of artisans, hand crafted offerings, textiles and fabrics. And all at wonderful price points.
Keep in mind that the change in climate will effect some materials quite differently then in a four season climate. The warm salty air and heat of the sun can have adverse effects on non native woods and textiles. I ended up bringing my personal items and some favorite tools. The rest was easy to acquire here and often cost less than what I would have paid to ship them in.
Posted June 30, 2014
John-Marc Gallagher - GPS Real Estate
If it appears that you are moving to Nicaragua full time and you think of moving your things here, it is better to get your residency first before shipping your things. Because then, the government will allow you to ship your container duty-free. You still have to pay your freight forwarder on the American end, the freight forwarder on the Nicaraguan end, and the cost of the container on the container ship. The total fees and charges will be around $2,500 to $3,000 but you will not...
If it appears that you are moving to Nicaragua full time and you think of moving your things here, it is better to get your residency first before shipping your things. Because then, the government will allow you to ship your container duty-free. You still have to pay your freight forwarder on the American end, the freight forwarder on the Nicaraguan end, and the cost of the container on the container ship. The total fees and charges will be around $2,500 to $3,000 but you will not pay duty on your merchandise coming out of customs since you have residency.
Posted September 27, 2014
Alan Makurat
Personally, my wife and I bought the majority of things down here to Nicaragua. Of course we still have a house in the US so that is part of it, but I have seen a lot of people who brought furniture down here and ended up throwing it out because it didn't last, or was too hot, or they found it didn't fit their new decorating style.
My advice is before you move here, visit for 3 months and see what it is like to live here full time. A couple of weeks...
Personally, my wife and I bought the majority of things down here to Nicaragua. Of course we still have a house in the US so that is part of it, but I have seen a lot of people who brought furniture down here and ended up throwing it out because it didn't last, or was too hot, or they found it didn't fit their new decorating style.
My advice is before you move here, visit for 3 months and see what it is like to live here full time. A couple of weeks vacation just doesn't cut it.
Posted January 17, 2016
Carolyn Membreño - León Travel Bureau
I have found that pretty much everything that you need to live is found here in Nicaragua. We have PriceMart, warehouse stores that sell Walmart-type items, we have lots of furniture stores in Managua, and you can also find domestic appliances that you need or want. Electronics such as televisions are a bit expensive here in Nicaragua. If you compare the cost of shipping things here to Nicaragua with the cost of buying them here, the cost would be about the same.
However,...
However,...
I have found that pretty much everything that you need to live is found here in Nicaragua. We have PriceMart, warehouse stores that sell Walmart-type items, we have lots of furniture stores in Managua, and you can also find domestic appliances that you need or want. Electronics such as televisions are a bit expensive here in Nicaragua. If you compare the cost of shipping things here to Nicaragua with the cost of buying them here, the cost would be about the same.
However, there are some things that you will not find here in Nicaragua but they are small items such as cellphones and other small things like that.
Nicaraguans love to shop for clothes so we also have the top brands of shoes and clothing here - both brand new and used clothing. There is no shortage of shopping for clothes here in Nicaragua.
However, there are some things that you will not find here in Nicaragua but they are small items such as cellphones and other small things like that.
Nicaraguans love to shop for clothes so we also have the top brands of shoes and clothing here - both brand new and used clothing. There is no shortage of shopping for clothes here in Nicaragua.
Posted February 2, 2016
David Smith - Nicaragua Sotheby's International Realty
Other than bringing a few big cases of personal things to Nicaragua, you don’t need other stuff. For example, you don’t need furniture because you’ll get really good high quality items here just as you could at home. So bring some personal items and some precious items and some hard cases that are not going to get broken and leave everything else or sell it. You really don’t need to bring that other stuff with you, even though for...
Other than bringing a few big cases of personal things to Nicaragua, you don’t need other stuff. For example, you don’t need furniture because you’ll get really good high quality items here just as you could at home. So bring some personal items and some precious items and some hard cases that are not going to get broken and leave everything else or sell it. You really don’t need to bring that other stuff with you, even though for people that are retiring there are incentives. I’ve heard the bureaucracy involved is lengthy and time consuming and really not worth it in the end. You can buy everything you need here. Start again. Downsize, downscale, and minimize.
(Studio condo,San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted September 24, 2016