🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,245 in Luquillo versus $1,693 in Aguada.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,016 in Luquillo versus $2,215 in Aguada.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,786 in Luquillo versus $2,736 in Aguada.
🙂Living in Luquillo costs roughly 26% less than in Aguada, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Luquillo is 7% below, Aguada is 26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.14$19.14
$17.21$17.21
11.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5$75.5
$80.5$80.5
-6.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.51$7.51
$9.71$9.71
-22.66%
Cappuccino
$3.65$3.65
$3.20$3.20
14.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24$1.24
$1.70$1.70
-27.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08$1.08
$1.45$1.45
-25.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92$2.92
$3.04$3.04
-3.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$4.08$4.08
-50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.40$2.40
$2.38$2.38
0.84%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19$3.19
$3.32$3.32
-3.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24$2.24
$2.25$2.25
-0.44%
Eggs
$6.01$6.01
$4.37$4.37
37.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.94$8.94
$8.77$8.77
1.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.30$8.30
$8.73$8.73
-4.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.97$12.97
$12.59$12.59
3.02%
Apples(1kg)
$5.78$5.78
$5.95$5.95
-2.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66$2.66
$2.61$2.61
1.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.82$3.82
$3.87$3.87
-1.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.12$4.12
$4.08$4.08
0.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.90$3.90
$3.94$3.94
-1.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55$2.55
$3.04$3.04
-16.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43$1.43
$3.12$3.12
-54.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$1.93$1.93
2.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.19$12.19
$11.10$11.10
9.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.05$12.05
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$2.49$2.49
-1.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18$3.18
$3.16$3.16
0.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.3$59.3
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51$1.51
$1.51$1.51
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.78$14.78
$14.99$14.99
-1.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.98$0.98
-20.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K$35.4K
$36.5K$36.5K
-2.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$26.9K$26.9K
-2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223$223
$318$318
-29.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$77.8$77.8
$78.9$78.9
-1.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.3$74.3
$71.4$71.4
4.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.99$36.99
$55.5$55.5
-33.36%
Cinema Ticket
$11.91$11.91
$11.44$11.44
4.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$469$469
$468$468
0.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K$10.3K
$10.4K$10.4K
-1.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.63$46.63
$45.25$45.25
3.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1$57.1
$55.7$55.7
2.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.4$82.4
$91.5$91.5
-9.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$106$106
-1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$804$804
$506$506
59.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$456$456
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,770$1,770
$1,786$1,786
-0.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luquillo
Aguada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,031$3,031
$2,236$2,236
35.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
5.71
-17.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Luquillo: June 9, 2026
Last update for Aguada: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $804 in Luquillo and $506 in Aguada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Luquillo pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Luquillo vs $81.0 in Aguada. Groceries flip the comparison at $366 vs $345, with Aguada cheaper for home cooking.
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
What is the total cost difference between living in Luquillo and Aguada?
Luquillo and Aguada differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,245 vs $1,693 including rent). Luquillo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Luquillo or Aguada?
Luquillo pays 36% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Luquillo and Aguada?
Rent for a central apartment: $804 in Luquillo versus $506 in Aguada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Aguada pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Luquillo or Aguada?
All in, you'll spend $1,245 per month in Luquillo versus $1,693 in Aguada – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,245 in Luquillo versus $1,693 in Aguada, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Luquillo but tight or insufficient in Aguada. The gap between the two cities makes Luquillo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Luquillo and Aguada?
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.
Is Luquillo or Aguada safer for residents?
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.
Where should expats move: Luquillo or Aguada?
Expats usually find Luquillo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Aguada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.