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: $1,205 in Cayo Coco versus $1,291 in Santa Lucia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,658 in Cayo Coco versus $1,809 in Santa Lucia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,110 in Cayo Coco versus $2,326 in Santa Lucia.

Living in Cayo Coco costs roughly 7% less than in Santa Lucia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 9% lower, Santa Lucia 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.85 CUP 116

$9.81 CUP 236

-50.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.73 CUP 353

$30.14 CUP 723

-51.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 CUP 170

$7.21 CUP 173

-1.94%

Cappuccino

$1.02 CUP 24.39

$3.35 CUP 80.5

-69.55%

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

$2.05 CUP 49.17

$1.07 CUP 25.66

91.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 CUP 23.67

$0.87 CUP 20.88

13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 CUP 48.78

$1.98 CUP 47.55

2.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 CUP 70.8

$2.93 CUP 70.3

0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.01 CUP 72.3

$2.00 CUP 47.96

50.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 CUP 23.30

$1.81 CUP 43.39

-46.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 CUP 48.32

$1.54 CUP 36.84

30.52%

Eggs

$3.50 CUP 83.9

$3.72 CUP 89.2

-5.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 CUP 145

$6.38 CUP 153

-5.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.88 CUP 117

$5.72 CUP 137

-14.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.18 CUP 244

$11.04 CUP 265

-7.79%

Apples (1kg)

$5.10 CUP 122

$2.77 CUP 66.4

84.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.46

$1.51 CUP 36.24

-32.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 CUP 23.31

$2.03 CUP 48.67

-52.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 CUP 23.38

$2.27 CUP 54.6

-57.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 CUP 23.35

$2.02 CUP 48.55

-51.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.98 CUP 71.5

$1.72 CUP 41.30

73.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 CUP 24.59

$1.02 CUP 24.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 CUP 24.64

$0.98 CUP 23.57

5.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 CUP 69.9

$3.91 CUP 93.9

-25.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.97 CUP 239

$12.20 CUP 293

-18.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 CUP 46.80

$1.67 CUP 40.04

16.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CUP 49.16

$2.40 CUP 57.6

-14.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 CUP 4.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 CUP 474

$25.16 CUP 604

-21.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 CUP 24.67

$3.19 CUP 76.6

-67.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 CUP 24.42

$0.38 CUP 9.16

168.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.03 CUP 481

$14.78 CUP 355

35.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 CUP 23.32

$1.03 CUP 24.68

-5.83%

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

$70.6K CUP 1.7M

$70.3K CUP 1.7M

0.38%

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

$81.1K CUP 1.9M

$80.2K CUP 1.9M

1.07%

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

$40.57 CUP 974

$35.02 CUP 840

15.85%

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

$40.77 CUP 978

$14.95 CUP 359

172.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$219 CUP 5,267

$252 CUP 6,042

-12.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.94 CUP 959

$40.32 CUP 968

-0.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.89 CUP 237

$15.30 CUP 367

-35.36%

Cinema Ticket

$0.98 CUP 23.54

$1.03 CUP 24.71

-4.85%

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

$91.1 CUP 2,187

$163 CUP 3,909

-44.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CUP 357.8K

$4,070 CUP 97.7K

266.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.55 CUP 949

$70.9 CUP 1,703

-44.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.45 CUP 731

$54.4 CUP 1,305

-44.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 CUP 1,799

$102 CUP 2,447

-26.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 CUP 1,956

$106 CUP 2,554

-23.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$393 CUP 9,437

$546 CUP 13.1K

-27.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 CUP 10.3K

$357 CUP 8,556

20.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 CUP 25.2K

$757 CUP 18.2K

38.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 CUP 14.8K

$494 CUP 11.9K

24.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$304 CUP 7,297

$335 CUP 8,031

-9.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$348 CUP 8,351

$368 CUP 8,821

-5.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$20.02 CUP 481

$56.1 CUP 1,347

-64.33%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Santa Lucia: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $393 in Cayo Coco and $546 in Santa Lucia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Lucia pays 180% 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 $245 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 7% 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, salaries run 180% lower in Santa Lucia. 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: $393 in Cayo Coco versus $546 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 $91.1 in Cayo Coco versus $163 in Santa Lucia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,205 in Cayo Coco versus $1,291 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 7% less than in Santa Lucia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.