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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,293 in Cayey versus $2,404 in San Juan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,473 in Cayey versus $3,424 in San Juan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,653 in Cayey versus $4,444 in San Juan.

Living in Cayey costs roughly 5% less than in San Juan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cayey 71% above, San Juan 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.13 $19.13
$18.78 $18.78
1.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0 $82.0
$82.1 $82.1
-0.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 $9.68
$9.65 $9.65
0.31%
Cappuccino
$3.57 $3.57
$3.54 $3.54
0.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.73 $1.73
2.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.43 $1.43
1.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 $2.93
$3.07 $3.07
-4.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$4.53 $4.53
2.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.38 $2.38
4.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.47 $3.47
$3.47 $3.47
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$2.18 $2.18
-0.92%
Eggs
$6.06 $6.06
$6.16 $6.16
-1.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 $8.58
$8.68 $8.68
-1.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.38 $8.38
$8.56 $8.56
-2.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.64 $12.64
$12.58 $12.58
0.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.85 $5.85
$5.96 $5.96
-1.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$2.67 $2.67
-0.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.93 $3.93
1.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$3.95 $3.95
3.29%
Potato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$3.89 $3.89
5.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.91 $2.91
1.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.01 $3.01
2.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.00 $2.00
-3.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.15 $12.15
$12.08 $12.08
0.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.44 $15.44
$15.90 $15.90
-2.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.53 $2.53
-1.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 $3.22
$3.24 $3.24
-0.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.54 $1.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$29.51 $29.51
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.52 $1.52
-1.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.19 $15.19
$14.98 $14.98
1.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$0.95 $0.95
5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$36.6K $36.6K
-1.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K $27.0K
$26.5K $26.5K
1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$491 $491
$480 $480
2.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.0 $80.0
$79.4 $79.4
0.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.2 $75.2
$73.3 $73.3
2.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$45.88 $45.88
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.62 $34.62
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.18 $12.18
$11.97 $11.97
1.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$475 $475
$470 $470
0.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K $10.5K
$10.4K $10.4K
0.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.11 $45.11
$45.03 $45.03
0.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 $56.0
$57.2 $57.2
-2.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 $92.2
$92.8 $92.8
-0.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 $106
$107 $107
-0.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 $1,218
$1,568 $1,568
-22.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$812 $812
$843 $843
-3.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,818 $1,818
$2,363 $2,363
-23.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,811 $1,811
$1,431 $1,431
26.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,492 $7,492
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,326 $3,326
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayey
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,703 $3,703
$2,602 $2,602
42.33%
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 Cayey: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Juan: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,218 in Cayey and $1,568 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cayey pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $82.0 in Cayey vs $82.0 in San Juan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $384 per month, with Cayey 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
Cayey vs San Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cayey and San Juan?
Cayey and San Juan differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($2,293 vs $2,404 including rent). Cayey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cayey or San Juan?
Cayey pays 42% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Cayey and San Juan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,218 in Cayey versus $1,568 in San Juan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cayey and San Juan?
Childcare runs $475 in Cayey versus $470 in San Juan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cayey – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $82.0 in San Juan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,293 in Cayey versus $2,404 in San Juan, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Cayey but tight or insufficient in San Juan. The gap between the two cities makes Cayey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cayey and San Juan?
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.
Where should expats move: Cayey or San Juan?
Expats usually find Cayey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in San Juan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cayey vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities