Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Ontario, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Ontario, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,371 in San Juan versus $2,671 in Ontario, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in San Juan versus $4,195 in Ontario, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,558 in San Juan versus $5,718 in Ontario, CA.

Living in San Juan costs roughly 11% less than in Ontario, CA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Juan 77% above, Ontario, CA 99% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.99 $18.99

$17.80 $17.80

6.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$79.1 $79.1

1.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 $9.78

$11.94 $11.94

-18.09%

Cappuccino

$3.65 $3.65

$5.08 $5.08

-28.15%

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

$1.71 $1.71

$2.70 $2.70

-36.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.04 $2.04

-32.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 $3.05

$7.20 $7.20

-57.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$7.11 $7.11

-35.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.06 $1.06

135.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.92 $3.92

-9.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$4.01 $4.01

-45.39%

Eggs

$6.12 $6.12

$4.10 $4.10

49.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 $8.56

$10.53 $10.53

-18.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

$8.76 $8.76

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$14.49 $14.49

-12.56%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.49 $3.49

72.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$1.66 $1.66

56.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.16 $4.16

-7.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$5.47 $5.47

-24.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.18 $3.18

24.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.91 $2.91

0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.44 $1.44

110.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.08 $2.08

-4.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.21 $12.21

$10.79 $10.79

13.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$16.10 $16.10

-2.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.01 $2.01

21.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.48 $3.48

-10.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.03 $2.03

-27.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.51 $30.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.46 $6.46

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$4.43 $4.43

-66.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.23 $15.23

$29.22 $29.22

-47.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.30 $1.30

-24.62%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

40.15%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$28.5K $28.5K

-6.78%

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

$491 $491

$248 $248

98.18%

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

$77.7 $77.7

$46.53 $46.53

67.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$58.3 $58.3

28.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.16 $46.16

$98.3 $98.3

-53.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.34 $34.34

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$13.83 $13.83

-13.59%

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

$466 $466

$1,228 $1,228

-62.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K $10.6K

$23.3K $23.3K

-54.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.64 $45.64

$46.94 $46.94

-2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 $56.6

$33.77 $33.77

67.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$86.6 $86.6

6.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$86.6 $86.6

22.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 $1,567

$1,881 $1,881

-16.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 $864

$1,329 $1,329

-34.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,447 $2,447

$2,808 $2,808

-12.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$2,901 $2,901

-51.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,475 $7,475

$4,015 $4,015

86.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 $3,403

$3,603 $3,603

-5.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 $2,845

$3,620 $3,620

-21.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

6.58

-13.22%

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

Last update for San Juan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ontario, CA: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,567 in San Juan and $1,881 in Ontario, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ontario, CA pays 27% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $80.0 in San Juan vs $79.0 in Ontario, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $368 per month, with Ontario, CA 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 Ontario, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ontario, CA earns 27% less. 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: $1,567 in San Juan versus $1,881 in Ontario, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Ontario, CA pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,371 per month in San Juan versus $2,671 in Ontario, CA – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,371 in San Juan versus $2,671 in Ontario, CA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in San Juan but tight or insufficient in Ontario, CA. The gap between the two cities makes San Juan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Juan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ontario, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Ontario, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.