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: $1,221 in Cayo Coco versus $362 in Santa Clara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,683 in Cayo Coco versus $486 in Santa Clara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,145 in Cayo Coco versus $611 in Santa Clara.

Living in Cayo Coco is roughly 237% more expensive than in Santa Clara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 9% lower, Santa Clara 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.11 CUP 123

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.03 CUP 361

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 CUP 164

Cappuccino

$0.98 CUP 23.55

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

$2.06 CUP 49.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 CUP 23.70

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 CUP 47.53

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 CUP 71.6

Milk (1 liter)

$3.04 CUP 72.9

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 CUP 23.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 CUP 48.68

Eggs

$3.66 CUP 87.8

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 CUP 147

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 CUP 123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.05 CUP 241

Apples (1kg)

$5.12 CUP 123

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.57

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.62

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.54

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.42

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 CUP 72.9

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 CUP 24.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 CUP 23.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 CUP 70.4

Wine (Bottle)

$9.87 CUP 237

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 CUP 47.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 CUP 48.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.26 CUP 486

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CUP 24.45

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 CUP 23.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.31 CUP 488

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CUP 24.49

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

$71.4K CUP 1.7M

$125.9K CUP 3.0M

-43.31%

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

$79.2K CUP 1.9M

$150.8K CUP 3.6M

-47.45%

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

$39.22 CUP 941

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

$40.69 CUP 977

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$217 CUP 5,199

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 CUP 963

$6.86 CUP 165

484.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.14 CUP 243

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 CUP 24.51

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

$89.4 CUP 2,146

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K CUP 365.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.46 CUP 971

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.31 CUP 728

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 CUP 1,813

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 CUP 1,883

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 CUP 9,419

$356 CUP 8,549

10.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 CUP 10.2K

$354 CUP 8,501

19.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 CUP 24.8K

$741 CUP 17.8K

39.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 CUP 14.9K

$602 CUP 14.4K

2.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$298 CUP 7,162

$278 CUP 6,670

7.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$355 CUP 8,511

$286 CUP 6,875

23.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.91 CUP 478

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Santa Clara: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Cayo Coco and $356 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 237% 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 $1,831 in Cayo Coco and $543 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: $392 in Cayo Coco versus $356 in Santa Clara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $362 in Santa Clara versus $1,221 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 237% less than in Cayo Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.