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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,266 in San Juan versus $1,290 in Dorado.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,406 in San Juan versus $2,025 in Dorado.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,547 in San Juan versus $2,759 in Dorado.

Living in San Juan is roughly 76% more expensive than in Dorado, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Juan is 64% above, Dorado is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.92 $18.92

$18.54 $18.54

2.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.5 $85.5

$84.7 $84.7

0.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.18 $9.18

0.87%

Cappuccino

$3.62 $3.62

$3.59 $3.59

0.84%

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

$1.80 $1.80

$1.87 $1.87

-3.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.50 $1.50

-3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.95 $2.95

0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.14 $5.14

-5.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.24 $2.24

4.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.54 $3.54

$3.73 $3.73

-5.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.35 $2.35

3.83%

Eggs

$7.26 $7.26

$6.79 $6.79

6.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.51 $12.51

$12.65 $12.65

-1.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.78 $9.78

$9.66 $9.66

1.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$13.36 $13.36

-1.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$4.93 $4.93

5.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$2.53 $2.53

3.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.81 $4.81

1.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$4.86 $4.86

-3.91%

Potato (1kg)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.81 $3.81

0.26%

Onion (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.40 $3.40

-0.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.60 $1.60

-0.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.92 $11.92

$12.10 $12.10

-1.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$15.41 $15.41

2.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.10 $3.10

$3.12 $3.12

-0.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.03 $4.03

1.99%

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

$2.45 $2.45

0.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.47 $1.47

4.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.56 $42.56

$41.31 $41.31

3.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.08 $1.08

2.78%

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

$39.5K $39.5K

$40.4K $40.4K

-2.20%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$27.5K $27.5K

1.62%

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

$327 $327

$318 $318

2.72%

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

$70.1 $70.1

$28.22 $28.22

148.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.9 $70.9

$69.4 $69.4

2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.88 $40.88

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.70 $7.70

Cinema Ticket

$10.62 $10.62

$10.46 $10.46

1.53%

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

$820 $820

$828 $828

-0.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$6,629 $6,629

92.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 $56.2

$55.3 $55.3

1.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 $60.3

$61.6 $61.6

-2.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$107 $107

1.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$113 $113

0.42%

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 Dorado: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $85.0 in San Juan vs $85.0 in Dorado. Groceries flip the comparison at $415 vs $413, with Dorado 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 Dorado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dorado is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $3,399 in San Juan and $1,936 in Dorado 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.

Childcare runs $820 in San Juan versus $828 in Dorado. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Dorado – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $85.0 in San Juan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,290 in Dorado versus $2,266 in San Juan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dorado but tight or insufficient in San Juan. The gap between the two cities makes Dorado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Dorado 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 Dorado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in San Juan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.