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: $1,245 in Cayo Coco versus $1,293 in Santa Lucia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,697 in Cayo Coco versus $1,823 in Santa Lucia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Cayo Coco versus $2,353 in Santa Lucia.

Living in Cayo Coco costs roughly 4% less than in Santa Lucia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cayo Coco 9% lower, Santa Lucia 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.92 CUP 118

$10.18 CUP 244

-51.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.29 CUP 367

$29.76 CUP 714

-48.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.86 CUP 165

$7.16 CUP 172

-4.19%

Cappuccino

$0.98 CUP 23.48

$3.39 CUP 81.5

-71.09%

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

$2.05 CUP 49.25

$1.12 CUP 26.92

83.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CUP 24.61

$0.92 CUP 22.10

11.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 CUP 47.52

$1.96 CUP 47.05

1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CUP 74.0

$2.91 CUP 69.8

5.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.09 CUP 74.1

$1.93 CUP 46.20

60.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 CUP 23.49

$1.80 CUP 43.27

-45.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 CUP 49.18

$1.48 CUP 35.56

38.51%

Eggs

$3.62 CUP 86.8

$3.64 CUP 87.4

-0.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.89 CUP 141

$6.25 CUP 150

-5.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.10 CUP 123

$5.72 CUP 137

-10.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 CUP 245

$11.08 CUP 266

-8.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 CUP 121

$2.78 CUP 66.6

80.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 CUP 23.67

$1.53 CUP 36.79

-35.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 CUP 24.70

$2.02 CUP 48.43

-49.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 CUP 23.66

$2.19 CUP 52.7

-54.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 CUP 24.43

$1.97 CUP 47.25

-48.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 CUP 70.8

$1.80 CUP 43.13

63.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 CUP 24.59

$1.02 CUP 24.39

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 CUP 24.28

$1.02 CUP 24.53

-0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 CUP 72.4

$4.11 CUP 98.7

-26.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 CUP 238

$11.84 CUP 284

-16.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 CUP 48.68

$1.64 CUP 39.30

23.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 CUP 49.11

$2.34 CUP 56.1

-12.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 CUP 4.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.98 CUP 480

$25.29 CUP 607

-21.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 CUP 23.42

$3.21 CUP 77.1

-69.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 CUP 23.34

$0.39 CUP 9.27

148.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.67 CUP 472

$15.03 CUP 361

30.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 CUP 23.60

$1.07 CUP 25.65

-8.41%

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

$68.9K CUP 1.7M

$70.9K CUP 1.7M

-2.85%

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

$79.7K CUP 1.9M

$79.0K CUP 1.9M

0.86%

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

$40.10 CUP 962

$34.71 CUP 833

15.53%

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

$40.25 CUP 966

$15.23 CUP 366

164.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$224 CUP 5,371

$249 CUP 5,970

-10.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.52 CUP 948

$40.13 CUP 963

-1.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.82 CUP 236

$15.14 CUP 363

-35.14%

Cinema Ticket

$0.99 CUP 23.70

$1.02 CUP 24.45

-2.94%

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

$90.0 CUP 2,160

$168 CUP 4,026

-46.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K CUP 356.4K

$4,017 CUP 96.4K

269.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.53 CUP 973

$69.7 CUP 1,672

-41.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.88 CUP 717

$55.6 CUP 1,335

-46.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 CUP 1,764

$98.2 CUP 2,356

-25.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 CUP 1,929

$107 CUP 2,561

-24.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$394 CUP 9,451

$558 CUP 13.4K

-29.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 CUP 10.0K

$353 CUP 8,474

18.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 CUP 25.2K

$752 CUP 18.1K

39.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 CUP 15.2K

$505 CUP 12.1K

24.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$305 CUP 7,310

$345 CUP 8,282

-11.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$356 CUP 8,547

$368 CUP 8,833

-3.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$19.79 CUP 475

$56.3 CUP 1,351

-64.85%

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Santa Lucia: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $394 in Cayo Coco and $558 in Santa Lucia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santa Lucia pays 184% 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 $236 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 4% 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 184% 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: $394 in Cayo Coco versus $558 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 27% less than in Santa Lucia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $90.0 in Cayo Coco versus $168 in Santa Lucia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,245 in Cayo Coco versus $1,293 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 4% less than in Santa Lucia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.