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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Cayo Coco versus $1,276 in Santa Lucia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,705 in Cayo Coco versus $1,800 in Santa Lucia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,156 in Cayo Coco versus $2,324 in Santa Lucia.

Living in Cayo Coco costs roughly 2% less than in Santa Lucia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 6% lower, Santa Lucia 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.85 CUP 116

$9.84 CUP 236

-50.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.79 CUP 355

$29.90 CUP 718

-50.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.88 CUP 165

$7.20 CUP 173

-4.44%

Cappuccino

$0.99 CUP 23.69

$3.29 CUP 78.9

-69.91%

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

$1.96 CUP 46.97

$1.08 CUP 26.02

81.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 CUP 23.66

$0.87 CUP 20.97

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 CUP 48.77

$1.97 CUP 47.35

3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 CUP 70.8

$3.05 CUP 73.2

-3.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 CUP 73.1

$1.99 CUP 47.83

53.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 CUP 24.67

$1.81 CUP 43.38

-43.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 CUP 49.31

$1.52 CUP 36.57

34.87%

Eggs

$3.57 CUP 85.7

$3.56 CUP 85.5

0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 CUP 148

$6.21 CUP 149

-0.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.93 CUP 118

$5.72 CUP 137

-13.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 CUP 237

$10.80 CUP 259

-8.52%

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 CUP 120

$2.76 CUP 66.3

80.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 CUP 23.31

$1.52 CUP 36.46

-36.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 CUP 23.44

$2.08 CUP 49.88

-52.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 CUP 24.35

$2.31 CUP 55.5

-56.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.37

$2.03 CUP 48.79

-49.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 CUP 72.5

$1.71 CUP 41.15

76.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 CUP 23.37

$1.01 CUP 24.25

-3.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 CUP 23.32

$0.99 CUP 23.69

-2.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 CUP 70.2

$3.96 CUP 95.0

-26.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.08 CUP 242

$11.94 CUP 287

-15.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CUP 46.77

$1.64 CUP 39.35

18.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CUP 49.22

$2.39 CUP 57.4

-14.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 CUP 5.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.77 CUP 474

$25.27 CUP 606

-21.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 CUP 24.36

$3.26 CUP 78.3

-68.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 CUP 24.38

$0.38 CUP 9.17

168.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.66 CUP 472

$15.20 CUP 365

29.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 CUP 23.44

$1.07 CUP 25.80

-8.41%

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

$70.1K CUP 1.7M

$71.3K CUP 1.7M

-1.66%

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

$80.8K CUP 1.9M

$81.4K CUP 2.0M

-0.78%

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

$40.48 CUP 972

$35.39 CUP 849

14.38%

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

$40.55 CUP 973

$14.82 CUP 356

173.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$219 CUP 5,256

$247 CUP 5,930

-11.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 CUP 969

$39.37 CUP 945

2.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.07 CUP 242

$15.01 CUP 360

-32.91%

Cinema Ticket

$1.02 CUP 24.43

$0.98 CUP 23.40

4.08%

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

$91.5 CUP 2,196

$162 CUP 3,888

-43.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K CUP 366.0K

$3,930 CUP 94.3K

288.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.50 CUP 948

$70.4 CUP 1,690

-43.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.22 CUP 725

$55.5 CUP 1,331

-45.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 CUP 1,789

$98.2 CUP 2,358

-24.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 CUP 1,939

$106 CUP 2,554

-24.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$396 CUP 9,499

$554 CUP 13.3K

-28.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$425 CUP 10.2K

$348 CUP 8,341

22.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,044 CUP 25.1K

$746 CUP 17.9K

39.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 CUP 14.8K

$499 CUP 12.0K

23.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$296 CUP 7,114

$344 CUP 8,264

-13.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$352 CUP 8,454

$369 CUP 8,859

-4.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$20.16 CUP 484

$56.9 CUP 1,366

-64.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.94

102.43%

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

Last update for Cayo Coco: April 27, 2026

Last update for Santa Lucia: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $396 in Cayo Coco and $554 in Santa Lucia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Lucia pays 182% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15.00 in Cayo Coco vs $30.00 in Santa Lucia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $243 per month, with Cayo Coco cheaper across the board.

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 Lucia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cayo Coco wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Santa Lucia. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cayo Coco the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Santa Lucia earns 182% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $396 in Cayo Coco versus $554 in Santa Lucia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cayo Coco runs roughly 28% less than in Santa Lucia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $91.5 in Cayo Coco versus $162 in Santa Lucia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,253 in Cayo Coco versus $1,276 in Santa Lucia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cayo Coco but tight or insufficient in Santa Lucia. The gap between the two cities makes Cayo Coco 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 Cayo Coco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Santa Lucia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.