Cost of Living Comparison Between Cayo Coco and Santa Clara Cost of Living Comparison Between Cayo Coco and Santa Clara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,231 in Cayo Coco versus $355 in Santa Clara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,675 in Cayo Coco versus $486 in Santa Clara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,119 in Cayo Coco versus $616 in Santa Clara.

Living in Cayo Coco is roughly 246% more expensive than Santa Clara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 8% lower, Santa Clara 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.08 CUP 122

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.98 CUP 359

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 CUP 170

Cappuccino

$1.02 CUP 24.46

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

$2.04 CUP 48.85

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CUP 23.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 CUP 49.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 CUP 71.6

Milk (1 liter)

$3.09 CUP 74.1

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 CUP 23.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.98 CUP 47.56

Eggs

$3.63 CUP 87.2

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.97 CUP 143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 CUP 123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.97 CUP 239

Apples (1kg)

$4.90 CUP 118

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.53

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.46

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.51

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 CUP 23.30

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 CUP 69.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 CUP 23.40

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CUP 24.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 CUP 72.4

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 CUP 238

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CUP 47.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 CUP 47.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.90 CUP 478

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CUP 24.42

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 CUP 24.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.96 CUP 479

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 CUP 23.76

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

$70.2K CUP 1.7M

$126.0K CUP 3.0M

-44.25%

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

$80.7K CUP 1.9M

$152.0K CUP 3.6M

-46.92%

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

$40.10 CUP 962

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

$39.74 CUP 954

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$219 CUP 5,245

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.32 CUP 968

$7.15 CUP 172

463.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.14 CUP 243

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 CUP 24.46

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

$89.5 CUP 2,147

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K CUP 353.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.86 CUP 957

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.57 CUP 710

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 CUP 1,825

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 CUP 1,923

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$401 CUP 9,623

$353 CUP 8,466

13.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$419 CUP 10.1K

$345 CUP 8,286

21.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 CUP 25.2K

$744 CUP 17.9K

41.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 CUP 15.1K

$606 CUP 14.5K

4.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$305 CUP 7,331

$284 CUP 6,806

7.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$350 CUP 8,403

$290 CUP 6,952

20.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$20.05 CUP 481

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.62

3.95%

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

Last update for Cayo Coco: May 30, 2026

Last update for Santa Clara: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $401 in Cayo Coco and $353 in Santa Clara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cayo Coco vs Santa Clara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clara wins on cost – living expenses run 246% lower than in Cayo Coco. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Clara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,846 in Cayo Coco and $533 in Santa Clara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $401 in Cayo Coco versus $353 in Santa Clara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $355 in Santa Clara versus $1,231 in Cayo Coco, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Clara but tight or insufficient in Cayo Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Clara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Santa Clara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 246% less than in Cayo Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.