๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,350 in Puerto de Tierra versus $2,390 in San Juan.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,993 in Puerto de Tierra versus $3,490 in San Juan.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,636 in Puerto de Tierra versus $4,590 in San Juan.
๐Living in Puerto de Tierra costs roughly 44% less than in San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puerto de Tierra1% above, San Juan78% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.37$19.37
$19.13$19.13
1.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.4$82.4
$79.9$79.9
3.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.52$9.52
$9.58$9.58
-0.63%
Cappuccino
$3.69$3.69
$3.56$3.56
3.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$1.77$1.77
-1.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43$1.43
$1.43$1.43
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.06$3.06
$3.05$3.05
0.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56$4.56
$4.63$4.63
-1.51%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79$1.79
$2.41$2.41
-25.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18$1.18
$3.48$3.48
-66.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16$2.16
$2.25$2.25
-4.00%
Eggs
$1.30$1.30
$6.09$6.09
-78.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66$8.66
$8.58$8.58
0.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.70$8.70
$8.31$8.31
4.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.49$12.49
$12.68$12.68
-1.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50$2.50
$5.84$5.84
-57.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39$2.39
$2.66$2.66
-10.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38$2.38
$3.84$3.84
-38.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$4.11$4.11
-40.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.49$2.49
$3.87$3.87
-35.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44$2.44
$2.94$2.94
-17.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08$1.08
$3.11$3.11
-65.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53$1.53
$1.92$1.92
-20.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.93$11.93
$12.02$12.02
-0.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.39$15.39
$15.50$15.50
-0.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61$1.61
$2.48$2.48
-35.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13$1.13
$3.16$3.16
-64.24%
๐ Getting Around
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.47$1.47
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$30.43$30.43
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.51$1.51
$1.54$1.54
-1.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.15$15.15
$14.92$14.92
1.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98$0.98
$0.93$0.93
5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K$36.1K
$36.0K$36.0K
0.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K$26.8K
$26.9K$26.9K
-0.05%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$485$485
$492$492
-1.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.4$80.4
$80.7$80.7
-0.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8$72.8
$74.6$74.6
-2.43%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.49$45.49
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.43$34.43
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.19$12.19
$11.85$11.85
2.87%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$462$462
$477$477
-3.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K$10.5K
$10.4K$10.4K
0.92%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.37$45.37
$44.96$44.96
0.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7$55.7
$55.5$55.5
0.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.3$92.3
$89.9$89.9
2.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$107$107
-1.95%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,593$1,593
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$867$867
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,770$1,770
$2,441$2,441
-27.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,426$1,426
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,435$7,435
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,317$3,317
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Puerto de Tierra
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,583$2,583
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
5.71
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto de Tierra: April 20, 2026
Last update for San Juan: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $0 in Puerto de Tierra and $1,593 in San Juan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $82 in Puerto de Tierra vs $80 in San Juan. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $381, with Puerto de Tierra 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
Puerto de Tierra vs San Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Juan cheaper than Puerto de Tierra?
Puerto de Tierra is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,025 in Puerto de Tierra and $3,584 in San Juan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Puerto de Tierra and San Juan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in San Juan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Puerto de Tierra vs San Juan?
All in, you'll spend $1,350 per month in Puerto de Tierra versus $2,390 in San Juan โ a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Puerto de Tierra or San Juan?
At $1,350 in Puerto de Tierra versus $2,390 in San Juan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Puerto de Tierra but tight or insufficient in San Juan. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto de Tierra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Puerto de Tierra or San Juan more family-friendly?
For families, Puerto de Tierra is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Juan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Puerto de Tierra gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 77% less than in San Juan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Puerto de Tierra vs other spots: cost of living compared