😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,522 in Mayari versus $1,276 in Santa Lucia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,904 in Mayari versus $1,800 in Santa Lucia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,287 in Mayari versus $2,324 in Santa Lucia.
😐Living in Mayari is roughly 19% more expensive than Santa Lucia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mayari is 14% above, Santa Lucia is 5% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.96CUP 143
$9.84CUP 236
-39.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.66CUP 472
$29.90CUP 718
-34.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62CUP 159
$7.20CUP 173
-8.06%
Cappuccino
$1.27CUP 30.54
$3.29CUP 78.9
-61.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18CUP 52.4
$1.08CUP 26.02
101.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23CUP 29.63
$0.87CUP 20.97
41.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45CUP 58.8
$1.97CUP 47.35
24.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07CUP 73.8
$3.05CUP 73.2
0.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.03CUP 72.7
$1.99CUP 47.83
52.26%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83CUP 20.03
$1.81CUP 43.38
-54.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.49CUP 59.8
$1.52CUP 36.57
63.82%
Eggs
$3.19CUP 76.5
$3.56CUP 85.5
-10.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.96CUP 143
$6.21CUP 149
-4.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.40CUP 130
$5.72CUP 137
-5.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.73CUP 282
$10.80CUP 259
8.61%
Apples(1kg)
$5.01CUP 120
$2.76CUP 66.3
81.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18CUP 28.28
$1.52CUP 36.46
-22.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37CUP 32.82
$2.08CUP 49.88
-34.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49CUP 35.65
$2.31CUP 55.5
-35.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89CUP 45.24
$2.03CUP 48.79
-6.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92CUP 70.2
$1.71CUP 41.15
70.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01CUP 24.26
$1.01CUP 24.25
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08CUP 25.84
$0.99CUP 23.69
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46CUP 83.0
$3.96CUP 95.0
-12.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.05CUP 241
$11.94CUP 287
-15.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70CUP 40.75
$1.64CUP 39.35
3.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90CUP 45.52
$2.39CUP 57.4
-20.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19CUP 4.47
$0.22CUP 5.33
-13.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.67CUP 472
$25.27CUP 606
-22.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.30CUP 55.3
$3.26CUP 78.3
-29.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42CUP 9.97
$0.38CUP 9.17
10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.33CUP 488
$15.20CUP 365
33.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23CUP 29.63
$1.07CUP 25.80
14.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$71.4KCUP 1.7M
$71.3KCUP 1.7M
0.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$78.8KCUP 1.9M
$81.4KCUP 2.0M
-3.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.35CUP 848
$35.39CUP 849
-0.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.35CUP 968
$14.82CUP 356
172.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$246CUP 5,914
$247CUP 5,930
-0.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.71CUP 953
$39.37CUP 945
0.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.84CUP 356
$15.01CUP 360
-1.13%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99CUP 23.65
$0.98CUP 23.40
1.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$118CUP 2,836
$162CUP 3,888
-27.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4KCUP 416.7K
$3,930CUP 94.3K
341.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4CUP 1,328
$70.4CUP 1,690
-21.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.55CUP 949
$55.5CUP 1,331
-28.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.31CUP 1,088
$98.2CUP 2,358
-53.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.82CUP 1,196
$106CUP 2,554
-53.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211CUP 5,062
$554CUP 13.3K
-61.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665CUP 16.0K
$348CUP 8,341
91.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384CUP 9,216
$746CUP 17.9K
-48.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689CUP 16.5K
$499CUP 12.0K
38.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$392CUP 9,404
$344CUP 8,264
13.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$349CUP 8,382
$369CUP 8,859
-5.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayari
Santa Lucia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$21.67CUP 520
$56.9CUP 1,366
-61.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
4.94
102.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mayari: April 26, 2026
Last update for Santa Lucia: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in Mayari and $554 in Santa Lucia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Lucia pays 163% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in Mayari vs $30.00 in Santa Lucia. Groceries flip the comparison at $247 vs $243, with Santa Lucia cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mayari vs Santa Lucia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mayari or Santa Lucia?
Santa Lucia wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Mayari. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Lucia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mayari or Santa Lucia?
On paper, Santa Lucia earns 163% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mayari vs Santa Lucia?
Rent for a central apartment: $211 in Mayari versus $554 in Santa Lucia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mayari vs Santa Lucia?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Lucia – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $20.00 in Mayari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mayari compared to Santa Lucia?
All in, you'll spend $1,522 per month in Mayari versus $1,276 in Santa Lucia – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mayari or Santa Lucia?
At $1,276 in Santa Lucia versus $1,522 in Mayari, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Lucia but tight or insufficient in Mayari. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Lucia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mayari or Santa Lucia?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Santa Lucia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.