😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,705 in Aguada versus $1,314 in Cabo Rojo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,235 in Aguada versus $1,915 in Cabo Rojo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,764 in Aguada versus $2,516 in Cabo Rojo.
😐Living in Aguada is roughly 30% more expensive than Cabo Rojo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Aguada is 27% above, Cabo Rojo is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.79$16.79
$10.05$10.05
67.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1$81.1
$79.5$79.5
2.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.41$9.41
$9.05$9.05
3.98%
Cappuccino
$3.25$3.25
$3.66$3.66
-11.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.78$1.78
-5.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37$1.37
$1.43$1.43
-4.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.08$3.08
$1.46$1.46
110.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09$4.09
$3.43$3.43
19.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40$2.40
$1.47$1.47
63.27%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42$3.42
$1.94$1.94
76.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28$2.28
$2.25$2.25
1.33%
Eggs
$4.32$4.32
$2.36$2.36
83.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04$9.04
$9.00$9.00
0.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33$8.33
$8.65$8.65
-3.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95$12.95
$12.87$12.87
0.62%
Apples(1kg)
$5.73$5.73
$5.96$5.96
-3.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74$2.74
$2.66$2.66
3.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.92$3.92
$3.98$3.98
-1.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.08$4.08
$4.11$4.11
-0.73%
Potato(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$3.96$3.96
-0.51%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$2.93$2.93
4.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.01$3.01
$3.01$3.01
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.99$0.99
98.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.15$11.15
$11.92$11.92
-6.46%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.44$15.44
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58$2.58
$1.39$1.39
85.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14$3.14
$2.04$2.04
53.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46$1.46
$1.46$1.46
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.14$15.14
$14.98$14.98
1.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91$0.91
$0.79$0.79
15.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K$36.2K
$36.7K$36.7K
-1.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$26.2K$26.2K
2.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$310$310
$482$482
-35.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$78.7$78.7
$64.8$64.8
21.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0$72.0
$74.6$74.6
-3.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.4$55.4
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.58$11.58
$12.19$12.19
-5.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465$465
$462$462
0.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K$10.6K
$10.2K$10.2K
3.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.68$45.68
$45.61$45.61
0.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6$56.6
$56.8$56.8
-0.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7$89.7
$91.8$91.8
-2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$105$105
0.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$497$497
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$449$449
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,773$1,773
$1,836$1,836
-3.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aguada
Cabo Rojo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,243$2,243
$4,255$4,255
-47.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
5.71
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aguada: April 25, 2026
Last update for Cabo Rojo: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Cabo Rojo pays 90% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Aguada vs $79.0 in Cabo Rojo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $327 per month, with Cabo Rojo cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aguada vs Cabo Rojo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Aguada and Cabo Rojo?
Aguada and Cabo Rojo differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,705 vs $1,314 including rent). Cabo Rojo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Cabo Rojo earns 90% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Aguada. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Aguada or Cabo Rojo?
All in, you'll spend $1,705 per month in Aguada versus $1,314 in Cabo Rojo – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,314 in Cabo Rojo versus $1,705 in Aguada, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cabo Rojo but tight or insufficient in Aguada. The gap between the two cities makes Cabo Rojo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Aguada and Cabo Rojo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Aguada or Cabo Rojo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Aguada and Cabo Rojo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Aguada or Cabo Rojo?
Expats usually find Cabo Rojo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Aguada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.