Cost of Living Comparison Between Caguas and San Juan Cost of Living Comparison Between Caguas and San Juan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,570 per month in Caguas vs $2,346 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,503 per month in Caguas vs $3,474 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,436 per month in Caguas vs $4,602 in San Juan, rent included.

Caguas is about 33% cheaper than San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Caguas and San Juan sit above the global median – Caguas by 17%, San Juan by 76%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.77 $14.77

$18.67 $18.67

-20.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$79.6 $79.6

-0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 $7.94

$9.85 $9.85

-19.39%

Cappuccino

$2.71 $2.71

$3.63 $3.63

-25.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.72 $1.72

-12.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.45 $1.45

-24.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.93 $2.93

-31.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.37 $4.37

-10.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.41 $2.41

3.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.40 $3.40

-17.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.25 $2.25

-2.22%

Eggs

$5.34 $5.34

$6.09 $6.09

-12.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.02 $7.02

$8.62 $8.62

-18.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$8.72 $8.72

-27.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 $10.58

$12.77 $12.77

-17.15%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.82 $5.82

0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.69 $2.69

-9.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.86 $3.86

-62.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$4.17 $4.17

-1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$4.01 $4.01

-38.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.01 $3.01

1.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$3.01 $3.01

-23.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.94 $1.94

-1.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.44 $10.44

$12.13 $12.13

-13.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.87 $13.87

$15.69 $15.69

-11.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.44 $2.44

-37.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.15 $3.15

-29.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.49 $1.49

32.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 $68.1

$30.56 $30.56

122.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.52 $1.52

-0.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.98 $14.98

$14.85 $14.85

0.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.98 $0.98

-10.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K $29.4K

$36.6K $36.6K

-19.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.9K $26.9K

-4.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$184 $184

$490 $490

-62.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.5 $60.5

$77.9 $77.9

-22.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 $55.9

$73.9 $73.9

-24.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.55 $21.55

$45.21 $45.21

-52.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.4 $50.4

$35.14 $35.14

43.54%

Cinema Ticket

$9.15 $9.15

$11.78 $11.78

-22.33%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 $304

$475 $475

-36.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K $10.4K

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.29 $20.29

$45.84 $45.84

-55.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.68 $36.68

$57.3 $57.3

-36.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 $69.0

$92.4 $92.4

-25.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 $90.3

$107 $107

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$780 $780

$1,581 $1,581

-50.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 $545

$875 $875

-37.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 $1,806

$2,407 $2,407

-24.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$987 $987

$1,426 $1,426

-30.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,358 $2,358

$7,397 $7,397

-68.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$877 $877

$3,386 $3,386

-74.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,118 $3,118

$2,702 $2,702

15.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

5.71

-15.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Caguas: July 13, 2026

Last update for San Juan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $780 in Caguas versus $1,581 in San Juan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Caguas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Caguas versus $80.0 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $384 – making Caguas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Caguas vs San Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan costs about 49% more than Caguas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,355 per month in Caguas and $3,519 in San Juan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Caguas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Caguas and $80.0 in San Juan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,570 in Caguas and $2,346 in San Juan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Caguas, where all-in costs run around $1,570, than in San Juan at $2,346. In Caguas it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Caguas costs $1,570 versus $2,346 in San Juan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Caguas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Juan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.