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 $2,371 per month in San Juan vs $1,612 in Caguas, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,465 per month in San Juan vs $2,555 in Caguas, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,558 per month in San Juan vs $3,498 in Caguas, rent included.

San Juan costs about 47% more than Caguas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Juan and Caguas sit above the global median – San Juan by 77%, Caguas by 20%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.99 $18.99

$14.78 $14.78

28.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$81.8 $81.8

-2.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 $9.78

$8.21 $8.21

19.12%

Cappuccino

$3.65 $3.65

$2.71 $2.71

34.69%

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

$1.71 $1.71

$1.54 $1.54

11.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.13 $1.13

22.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.98 $1.98

54.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.94 $3.94

15.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.51 $2.51

-0.40%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.84 $2.84

25.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.24 $2.24

-2.23%

Eggs

$6.12 $6.12

$5.06 $5.06

20.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 $8.56

$6.84 $6.84

25.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

$6.49 $6.49

32.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$10.40 $10.40

21.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$5.77 $5.77

4.16%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.40 $2.40

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$1.48 $1.48

159.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.99 $3.99

3.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$2.56 $2.56

54.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.90 $2.90

0.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.31 $2.31

31.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.85 $1.85

7.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.21 $12.21

$10.65 $10.65

14.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.97 $13.97

12.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.51 $1.51

61.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$2.29 $2.29

36.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.95 $1.95

-24.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.51 $30.51

$69.0 $69.0

-55.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.49 $1.49

-1.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.23 $15.23

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.93 $0.93

5.38%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$29.5K $29.5K

22.88%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.49%

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

$491 $491

$187 $187

163.27%

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

$77.7 $77.7

$59.6 $59.6

30.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$55.4 $55.4

35.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.16 $46.16

$22.04 $22.04

109.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.34 $34.34

$49.52 $49.52

-30.65%

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$9.09 $9.09

31.46%

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

$466 $466

$295 $295

58.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K $10.6K

$10.5K $10.5K

0.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.64 $45.64

$20.22 $20.22

125.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 $56.6

$35.83 $35.83

57.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$71.4 $71.4

29.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$88.4 $88.4

20.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 $1,567

$789 $789

98.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 $864

$534 $534

61.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,447 $2,447

$1,793 $1,793

36.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$997 $997

41.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,475 $7,475

$2,367 $2,367

215.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 $3,403

$852 $852

299.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 $2,845

$3,024 $3,024

-5.92%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Caguas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,567 in San Juan versus $789 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 6% 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 $82.0 in Caguas. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in San Juan vs $321 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 47% 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 $3,557 per month in San Juan and $2,418 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 $82.0 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 $2,371 in San Juan and $1,612 in Caguas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Caguas, where all-in costs run around $1,612, than in San Juan at $2,371. 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 $1,612 versus $2,371 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.