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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,346 per month in San Juan vs $1,570 in Caguas, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,474 per month in San Juan vs $2,503 in Caguas, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,602 per month in San Juan vs $3,436 in Caguas, rent included.

San Juan costs about 49% more than Caguas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Juan and Caguas sit above the global median – San Juan by 76%, Caguas by 17%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.67 $18.67

$14.77 $14.77

26.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$79.5 $79.5

0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$7.94 $7.94

24.06%

Cappuccino

$3.63 $3.63

$2.71 $2.71

33.95%

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

$1.72 $1.72

$1.51 $1.51

13.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.09 $1.09

33.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 $2.93

$2.02 $2.02

45.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 $4.37

$3.93 $3.93

11.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.49 $2.49

-3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.79 $2.79

21.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.20 $2.20

2.27%

Eggs

$6.09 $6.09

$5.34 $5.34

14.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$7.02 $7.02

22.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.72 $8.72

$6.29 $6.29

38.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.77 $12.77

$10.58 $10.58

20.70%

Apples (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$5.84 $5.84

-0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.44 $2.44

10.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$1.44 $1.44

168.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.17 $4.17

$4.09 $4.09

1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$2.46 $2.46

63.01%

Onion (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$3.04 $3.04

-0.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.30 $2.30

30.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.91 $1.91

1.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.13 $12.13

$10.44 $10.44

16.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.87 $13.87

13.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.52 $1.52

60.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.22 $2.22

41.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.97 $1.97

-24.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.56 $30.56

$68.1 $68.1

-55.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.51 $1.51

0.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.85 $14.85

$14.98 $14.98

-0.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.88 $0.88

11.36%

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

$36.6K $36.6K

$29.4K $29.4K

24.45%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.7K $25.7K

4.95%

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

$490 $490

$184 $184

166.34%

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

$77.9 $77.9

$60.5 $60.5

28.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.9 $73.9

$55.9 $55.9

32.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.21 $45.21

$21.55 $21.55

109.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.14 $35.14

$50.4 $50.4

-30.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.78 $11.78

$9.15 $9.15

28.74%

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

$475 $475

$304 $304

56.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K $10.4K

0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.84 $45.84

$20.29 $20.29

125.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.3 $57.3

$36.68 $36.68

56.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$69.0 $69.0

33.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$90.3 $90.3

18.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 $1,581

$780 $780

102.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 $875

$545 $545

60.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,407 $2,407

$1,806 $1,806

33.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 $1,426

$987 $987

44.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,397 $7,397

$2,358 $2,358

213.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,386 $3,386

$877 $877

286.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,702 $2,702

$3,118 $3,118

-13.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

4.85

17.73%

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

Last update for San Juan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Caguas: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,581 in San Juan versus $780 in Caguas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Caguas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in San Juan versus $80.0 in Caguas. Groceries tell a different story – $384 in San Juan vs $323 in Caguas – so Caguas wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Caguas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan costs about 49% more than Caguas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,519 per month in San Juan and $2,355 in Caguas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Caguas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in San Juan and $80.0 in Caguas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,346 in San Juan and $1,570 in Caguas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Caguas, where all-in costs run around $1,570, than in San Juan at $2,346. In Caguas it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Caguas costs $1,570 versus $2,346 in San Juan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Caguas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Juan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.