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: $1,226 in Cayo Coco versus $350 in Santa Clara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,675 in Cayo Coco versus $470 in Santa Clara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,124 in Cayo Coco versus $589 in Santa Clara.

Living in Cayo Coco is roughly 250% more expensive than in Santa Clara, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 11% lower, Santa Clara 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.14 CUP 123

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 CUP 361

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 CUP 165

Cappuccino

$1.03 CUP 24.68

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

$2.02 CUP 48.47

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 CUP 23.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 CUP 46.84

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 CUP 73.1

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 CUP 73.2

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 CUP 23.57

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 CUP 49.43

Eggs

$3.53 CUP 84.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.97 CUP 143

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 CUP 124

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 CUP 242

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 CUP 119

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.38

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 CUP 23.31

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.60

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 CUP 24.32

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 CUP 72.4

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 CUP 23.39

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CUP 24.30

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 CUP 71.1

Wine (Bottle)

$9.89 CUP 237

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 CUP 47.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 CUP 48.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.81 CUP 476

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 CUP 24.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 CUP 23.38

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.73 CUP 474

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CUP 24.39

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

$70.9K CUP 1.7M

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

$78.6K CUP 1.9M

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

$39.20 CUP 941

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

$39.85 CUP 956

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$220 CUP 5,270

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.78 CUP 979

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.94 CUP 239

Cinema Ticket

$1.01 CUP 24.29

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

$91.3 CUP 2,191

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K CUP 362.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.43 CUP 970

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.40 CUP 730

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 CUP 1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 CUP 1,893

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 CUP 9,767

$355 CUP 8,526

14.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 CUP 10.1K

$344 CUP 8,250

22.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,036 CUP 24.9K

$744 CUP 17.9K

39.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 CUP 15.0K

$603 CUP 14.5K

3.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$297 CUP 7,140

$285 CUP 6,844

4.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$353 CUP 8,471

$294 CUP 7,061

19.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.82 CUP 476

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: August 29, 2026

Last update for Santa Clara: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Cayo Coco and $355 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 250% 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 $1,839 in Cayo Coco and $526 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: $407 in Cayo Coco versus $355 in Santa Clara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $350 in Santa Clara versus $1,226 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 250% less than in Cayo Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.