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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,431 in San Juan versus $1,237 in Luquillo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,514 in San Juan versus $2,016 in Luquillo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,596 in San Juan versus $2,795 in Luquillo.

Living in San Juan is roughly 97% more expensive than in Luquillo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Juan is 82% above, Luquillo is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.22 $19.22

$18.95 $18.95

1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.5 $80.5

$76.3 $76.3

5.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.40 $9.40

$7.46 $7.46

26.01%

Cappuccino

$3.68 $3.68

$3.49 $3.49

5.44%

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

$1.77 $1.77

$1.21 $1.21

46.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.05 $1.05

37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.07 $3.07

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.02 $2.02

127.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.41 $2.41

1.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.34 $3.34

2.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 $2.27

Eggs

$6.09 $6.09

$6.07 $6.07

0.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.96 $8.96

$8.77 $8.77

2.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$8.64 $8.64

-4.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.93 $12.93

$12.96 $12.96

-0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$5.72 $5.72

4.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.76 $2.76

-3.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$4.02 $4.02

-5.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.15 $4.15

Potato (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$3.87 $3.87

5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$3.07 $3.07

$2.55 $2.55

20.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.44 $1.44

111.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.99 $1.99

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.86 $11.86

$12.06 $12.06

-1.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$12.24 $12.24

28.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.50 $2.50

2.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.21 $3.21

0.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.11 $30.11

$61.2 $61.2

-50.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.49 $1.49

2.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.81 $14.81

$14.72 $14.72

0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.84 $0.84

13.10%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$35.4K $35.4K

2.66%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$26.2K $26.2K

3.49%

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

$490 $490

$227 $227

115.76%

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

$79.8 $79.8

$80.5 $80.5

-0.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 $73.0

0.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.19 $46.19

$37.29 $37.29

23.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.25 $35.25

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$11.94 $11.94

1.42%

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

$474 $474

$478 $478

-0.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K $10.4K

$10.2K $10.2K

2.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.10 $45.10

$44.94 $44.94

0.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$56.5 $56.5

-0.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$80.5 $80.5

13.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 $104

$108 $108

-3.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 $1,603

$798 $798

100.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 $875

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,425 $2,425

$1,835 $1,835

32.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 $1,419

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,344 $7,344

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,319 $3,319

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,836 $2,836

$3,031 $3,031

-6.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

4.73

20.72%

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

Last update for San Juan: June 15, 2026

Last update for Luquillo: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in San Juan and $798 in Luquillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Luquillo pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in San Juan vs $76.0 in Luquillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $371 per month, with Luquillo cheaper across the board.

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 Luquillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Luquillo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 97% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Luquillo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in San Juan versus $798 in Luquillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,431 per month in San Juan versus $1,237 in Luquillo – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Luquillo runs roughly 103% less than in San Juan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,237 in Luquillo versus $2,431 in San Juan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Luquillo but tight or insufficient in San Juan. The gap between the two cities makes Luquillo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Luquillo 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.

Safety-wise, San Juan and Luquillo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Luquillo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in San Juan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.