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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,266 per month in San Juan vs $1,326 in Candelaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,406 per month in San Juan vs $2,074 in Candelaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,547 per month in San Juan vs $2,823 in Candelaria, rent included.

San Juan costs about 71% more than Candelaria, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

San Juan sits 64% above the global median, while Candelaria is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.92 $18.92

$18.72 $18.72

1.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 $85.5

-0.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.40 $9.40

-1.49%

Cappuccino

$3.62 $3.62

$3.74 $3.74

-3.21%

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

$1.80 $1.80

$1.78 $1.78

1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.48 $1.48

-2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.08 $3.08

-3.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.08 $5.08

-3.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.29 $2.29

1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.65 $3.65

-3.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.43 $2.43

0.41%

Eggs

$7.26 $7.26

$7.43 $7.43

-2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$12.63 $12.63

-0.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$9.79 $9.79

-0.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$13.33 $13.33

-1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.00 $5.00

3.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.58 $2.58

1.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.75 $4.75

2.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.69 $4.69

-0.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.87 $3.87

-1.29%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.95 $3.95

2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.35 $3.35

0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.58 $1.58

0.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.92 $11.92

$11.96 $11.96

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$15.43 $15.43

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$3.06 $3.06

1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.89 $3.89

5.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 $0.77

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.07 $30.07

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.43 $2.43

1.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.53 $1.53

0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.56 $42.56

$42.33 $42.33

0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.12 $1.12

-0.89%

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

$39.5K $39.5K

$39.2K $39.2K

0.82%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$28.2K $28.2K

-0.80%

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

$327 $327

$316 $316

3.40%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$68.5 $68.5

2.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$69.8 $69.8

1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.88 $40.88

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.70 $7.70

Cinema Ticket

$10.62 $10.62

$10.60 $10.60

0.19%

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

$820 $820

$816 $816

0.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$12.6K $12.6K

1.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 $56.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 $60.3

$60.6 $60.6

-0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$113 $113

0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,809 $1,809

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$823 $823

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,868 $2,868

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,477 $1,477

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,314 $7,314

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,383 $3,383

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,718 $2,718

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

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

Last update for San Juan: September 5, 2026

Last update for Candelaria: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85.0 in San Juan versus $86.0 in Candelaria. Groceries tell a different story – $415 in San Juan vs $414 in Candelaria – so Candelaria 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 Candelaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,266 in San Juan, $1,326 in Candelaria – roughly 71% apart. San Juan costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,399 per month in San Juan and $1,988 in Candelaria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,266 in San Juan and $1,326 in Candelaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $820 per month in San Juan and $816 in Candelaria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Candelaria, where all-in costs run around $1,326, than in San Juan at $2,266. In Candelaria it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Juan has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,326 in Candelaria to $2,266 in San Juan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Candelaria. 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.