Cost of Living Comparison Between Luquillo and Aguada Cost of Living Comparison Between Luquillo and Aguada

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,296 in Luquillo versus $1,184 in Aguada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,074 in Luquillo versus $1,212 in Aguada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,852 in Luquillo versus $1,240 in Aguada.

Living in Luquillo is roughly 9% more expensive than in Aguada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Luquillo 5% lower, Aguada 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.84 $17.84

$11.09 $11.09

60.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.8 $81.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 $8.96

$12.21 $12.21

-26.62%

Cappuccino

$3.47 $3.47

$1.94 $1.94

78.87%

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

$1.59 $1.59

$2.02 $2.02

-21.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.01 $1.01

31.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.46 $1.46

108.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.04 $3.04

-26.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.80 $1.80

27.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 $3.22

$2.43 $2.43

32.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 $2.34

Eggs

$6.90 $6.90

$4.32 $4.32

59.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.53 $8.53

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

Apples (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

Oranges (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

Tomato (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

Potato (1kg)

$3.72 $3.72

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 $1.43

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.94 $11.94

Wine (Bottle)

$11.84 $11.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 $4.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.6 $59.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.98 $41.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.86 $0.86

-8.14%

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

$40.6K $40.6K

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

$27.8K $27.8K

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

$245 $245

$252 $252

-2.77%

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

$76.4 $76.4

$59.3 $59.3

28.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 $71.0

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.34 $37.34

$54.8 $54.8

-31.81%

Cinema Ticket

$10.66 $10.66

$5.85 $5.85

82.22%

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

$871 $871

$504 $504

72.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K $12.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.2 $57.2

$34.58 $34.58

65.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.0 $62.0

$40.28 $40.28

54.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.4 $82.4

$80.1 $80.1

2.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$100.0 $100.0

15.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 $803

$508 $508

58.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 $449

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,020 $3,020

$2,221 $2,221

35.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.73

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

Last update for Luquillo: August 16, 2026

Last update for Aguada: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Luquillo and $508 in Aguada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Luquillo pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Luquillo vs Aguada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Luquillo and Aguada differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,296 vs $1,184 including rent). Aguada is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Luquillo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $803 in Luquillo versus $508 in Aguada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $871 in Luquillo versus $504 in Aguada. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,296 per month in Luquillo versus $1,184 in Aguada – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,184 in Aguada versus $1,296 in Luquillo, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aguada but tight or insufficient in Luquillo. The gap between the two cities makes Aguada 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.

Safety-wise, Luquillo and Aguada are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aguada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Luquillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.