Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Bayamon Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Bayamon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,371 in San Juan versus $1,765 in Bayamon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in San Juan versus $2,636 in Bayamon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,558 in San Juan versus $3,508 in Bayamon.

Living in San Juan is roughly 34% more expensive than Bayamon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Juan 77% above, Bayamon 32% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.99 $18.99

$18.97 $18.97

0.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$82.2 $82.2

-2.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 $9.78

$9.82 $9.82

-0.41%

Cappuccino

$3.65 $3.65

$3.43 $3.43

6.41%

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

$1.71 $1.71

$1.72 $1.72

-0.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.32 $1.32

4.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.95 $2.95

3.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.90 $3.90

16.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.33 $2.33

7.30%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.32 $3.32

7.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

Eggs

$6.12 $6.12

$5.63 $5.63

8.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 $8.56

$8.88 $8.88

-3.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

$7.88 $7.88

8.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$11.57 $11.57

9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.84 $4.84

24.17%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.72 $2.72

-4.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.92 $3.92

-2.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.02 $4.02

2.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.63 $2.63

50.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$3.05 $3.05

-4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$3.09 $3.09

-1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.57 $1.57

26.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.21 $12.21

$11.10 $11.10

10.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.90 $15.90

-1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.57 $2.57

-5.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.26 $3.26

-4.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.97 $1.97

-24.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.51 $30.51

$12.01 $12.01

154.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.53 $1.53

-3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.23 $15.23

$15.03 $15.03

1.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.97 $0.97

1.03%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$36.1K $36.1K

0.36%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.0K $27.0K

-1.86%

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

$491 $491

$283 $283

73.30%

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

$77.7 $77.7

$80.7 $80.7

-3.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$48.35 $48.35

54.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.16 $46.16

$25.28 $25.28

82.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.34 $34.34

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$10.04 $10.04

19.02%

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

$466 $466

$477 $477

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K $10.6K

$10.2K $10.2K

3.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.64 $45.64

$24.87 $24.87

83.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 $56.6

$55.5 $55.5

1.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$91.9 $91.9

0.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$49.40 $49.40

114.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 $1,567

$496 $496

215.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 $864

$610 $610

41.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,447 $2,447

$901 $901

171.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$852 $852

65.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,475 $7,475

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 $3,403

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 $2,845

$2,047 $2,047

39.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

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

Last update for San Juan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bayamon: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,567 in San Juan and $496 in Bayamon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Juan pays 39% 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: $80.0 in San Juan vs $82.0 in Bayamon. Groceries flip the comparison at $385 vs $361, with Bayamon 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

San Juan vs Bayamon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bayamon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

San Juan pays 39% more on average, 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: $1,567 in San Juan versus $496 in Bayamon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bayamon – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $80.0 in San Juan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $2,371 per month in San Juan versus $1,765 in Bayamon – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,765 in Bayamon versus $2,371 in San Juan, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Bayamon but tight or insufficient in San Juan. The gap between the two cities makes Bayamon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bayamon 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.

Expats usually find Bayamon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in San Juan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.