Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Trujillo Alto Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan and Trujillo Alto

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,371 per month in San Juan vs $1,760 in Trujillo Alto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,465 per month in San Juan vs $2,621 in Trujillo Alto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,558 per month in San Juan vs $3,482 in Trujillo Alto, rent included.

San Juan costs about 35% more than Trujillo Alto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Juan and Trujillo Alto sit above the global median – San Juan by 77%, Trujillo Alto by 31%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.99 $18.99

$12.83 $12.83

48.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$79.7 $79.7

0.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 $9.78

$9.43 $9.43

3.71%

Cappuccino

$3.65 $3.65

$2.96 $2.96

23.31%

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

$1.71 $1.71

$1.77 $1.77

-3.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.03 $1.03

33.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.92 $2.92

4.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.97 $3.97

14.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.50 $2.50

$1.69 $1.69

47.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$3.27 $3.27

8.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.24 $2.24

-2.23%

Eggs

$6.12 $6.12

$4.66 $4.66

31.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.56 $8.56

$8.93 $8.93

-4.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

$8.73 $8.73

-1.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.67 $12.67

$7.64 $7.64

65.84%

Apples (1kg)

$6.01 $6.01

$4.38 $4.38

37.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 $2.60

$2.74 $2.74

-5.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$3.83 $3.83

0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.96 $3.96

3.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$4.07 $4.07

-2.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.93 $2.93

-0.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.52 $1.52

30.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.21 $12.21

$10.11 $10.11

20.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.69 $15.69

$15.17 $15.17

3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.55 $2.55

-4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.16 $3.16

-1.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.51 $30.51

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.92 $9.92

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.23 $15.23

$14.75 $14.75

3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.99 $0.99

-1.01%

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

$36.2K $36.2K

$34.8K $34.8K

4.01%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.8K $26.8K

-0.85%

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

$491 $491

$328 $328

49.92%

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

$77.7 $77.7

$58.7 $58.7

32.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.9 $74.9

$74.7 $74.7

0.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.16 $46.16

$30.11 $30.11

53.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.34 $34.34

$9.96 $9.96

244.78%

Cinema Ticket

$11.95 $11.95

$11.84 $11.84

0.93%

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

$466 $466

$347 $347

34.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K $10.6K

$5,367 $5,367

97.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.64 $45.64

$40.44 $40.44

12.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 $56.6

$54.5 $54.5

3.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.4 $92.4

$90.4 $90.4

2.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$108 $108

-1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 $1,567

$688 $688

127.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$864 $864

$559 $559

54.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,447 $2,447

$1,809 $1,809

35.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 $1,407

$958 $958

46.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,475 $7,475

$1,881 $1,881

297.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,403 $3,403

$1,646 $1,646

106.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 $2,845

$3,305 $3,305

-13.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.71

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

Last update for San Juan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Trujillo Alto: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,567 in San Juan versus $688 in Trujillo Alto. 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 16% higher in Trujillo Alto, 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 $80.0 in Trujillo Alto. Groceries tell a different story – $385 in San Juan vs $342 in Trujillo Alto – so Trujillo Alto 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 Trujillo Alto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan costs about 35% more than Trujillo Alto, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $2,639 in Trujillo Alto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Trujillo Alto, 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 $80.0 in Trujillo Alto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in San Juan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Trujillo Alto, where all-in costs run around $1,760, than in San Juan at $2,371. In Trujillo Alto 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. Trujillo Alto costs $1,760 versus $2,371 in San Juan. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Trujillo Alto. 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.