Cost of Living Comparison Between Caguas and Zacatecas Cost of Living Comparison Between Caguas and Zacatecas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,612 per month in Caguas vs $938 in Zacatecas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,555 per month in Caguas vs $1,518 in Zacatecas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,498 per month in Caguas vs $2,098 in Zacatecas, rent included.

Caguas costs about 72% more than Zacatecas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Caguas sits 20% above the global median, while Zacatecas is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.78 $14.78

$6.26 MX$108

136.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 $81.8

$31.34 MX$542

160.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 $8.21

$7.13 MX$123

15.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 $2.71

$2.98 MX$51.5

-9.06%

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

$1.54 $1.54

$1.22 MX$21.06

26.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.74 MX$12.78

52.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.89 MX$32.64

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 $3.94

$3.89 MX$67.3

1.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.34 MX$23.22

87.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.15 MX$37.22

32.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.55 MX$26.73

44.52%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$2.19 MX$37.93

131.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 $6.84

$7.15 MX$124

-4.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.73 MX$99.1

13.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 $10.40

$8.91 MX$154

16.72%

Apples (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$1.71 MX$29.55

237.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.52 MX$26.23

57.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.86 MX$32.12

-20.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$1.39 MX$24.04

187.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$1.74 MX$30.18

47.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 $2.90

$1.95 MX$33.80

48.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.33 MX$22.93

73.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.83 MX$14.32

122.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.65 $10.65

$4.20 MX$72.6

153.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 $13.97

$11.13 MX$193

25.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.64 MX$28.32

-7.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.30 MX$57.0

-30.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.52 MX$9.05

275.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.0 $69.0

$16.12 MX$279

328.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 MX$35.69

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.94 MX$16.34

58.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.23 $15.23

$11.49 MX$199

32.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.29 MX$22.39

-27.91%

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

$29.5K $29.5K

$24.0K MX$415.7K

22.68%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.6K MX$409.0K

9.47%

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

$187 $187

$22.34 MX$386

735.00%

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

$59.6 $59.6

$7.74 MX$134

669.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.4 $55.4

$24.97 MX$432

121.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.04 $22.04

$23.61 MX$408

-6.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.52 $49.52

$8.08 MX$140

512.87%

Cinema Ticket

$9.09 $9.09

$4.11 MX$71.1

121.17%

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

$295 $295

$191 MX$3,304

54.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K $10.5K

$3,154 MX$54.6K

233.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.22 $20.22

$43.97 MX$761

-54.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.83 $35.83

$42.04 MX$727

-14.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 $71.4

$86.9 MX$1,503

-17.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 $88.4

$42.14 MX$729

109.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$789 $789

$240 MX$4,151

228.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 $534

$393 MX$6,796

35.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,793 $1,793

$364 MX$6,293

392.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$997 $997

$770 MX$13.3K

29.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,367 $2,367

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$852 $852

$603 MX$10.4K

41.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,024 $3,024

$910 MX$15.7K

232.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.85

11.48

-57.75%

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

Last update for Caguas: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zacatecas: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $789 in Caguas versus $240 in Zacatecas. 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 233% higher in Caguas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Caguas versus $31.00 in Zacatecas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $220 – making Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Caguas costs about 72% more than Zacatecas, 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 $2,418 per month in Caguas and $1,408 in Zacatecas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zacatecas, 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 $82.0 in Caguas and $31.00 in Zacatecas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,612 in Caguas and $938 in Zacatecas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zacatecas, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Caguas at $1,612. In Zacatecas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caguas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zacatecas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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