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 $2,191 per month in San Juan vs $1,755 in Trujillo Alto, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,373 per month in San Juan vs $2,623 in Trujillo Alto, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,555 per month in San Juan vs $3,492 in Trujillo Alto, rent included.

San Juan costs about 25% more than Trujillo Alto, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Juan and Trujillo Alto sit above the global median – San Juan by 60%, Trujillo Alto by 28%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.78 $18.78

$13.10 $13.10

43.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.5 $83.5

$79.2 $79.2

5.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.32 $9.32

$9.38 $9.38

-0.64%

Cappuccino

$3.63 $3.63

$2.95 $2.95

23.05%

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

$1.87 $1.87

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.01 $1.01

49.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.97 $2.97

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.97 $4.97

$3.90 $3.90

27.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.34 $2.34

-1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.21 $3.21

10.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.32 $2.32

1.29%

Eggs

$7.31 $7.31

$4.77 $4.77

53.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$8.88 $8.88

38.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.76 $9.76

$9.52 $9.52

2.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.37 $13.37

$7.78 $7.78

71.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$4.54 $4.54

13.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.63 $2.63

1.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.90 $4.90

1.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.70 $4.70

$3.93 $3.93

19.59%

Potato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$3.79 $3.79

-3.17%

Onion (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.89 $3.89

4.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.38 $3.38

4.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.46 $1.46

8.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.20 $12.20

$10.16 $10.16

20.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.76 $15.76

$15.18 $15.18

3.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.10 $3.10

0.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.93 $3.93

4.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 $0.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.92 $29.92

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.52 $1.52

-2.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.26 $41.26

$41.43 $41.43

-0.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.03 $1.03

11.65%

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

$39.9K $39.9K

$34.5K $34.5K

15.56%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$27.5K $27.5K

0.39%

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

$327 $327

$326 $326

0.19%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$59.5 $59.5

16.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.66 $40.66

$29.64 $29.64

37.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.43 $7.43

$10.17 $10.17

-26.94%

Cinema Ticket

$10.62 $10.62

$10.53 $10.53

0.85%

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

$825 $825

$352 $352

134.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K $12.3K

$5,317 $5,317

132.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 $56.1

$40.23 $40.23

39.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 $60.8

$54.8 $54.8

10.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 $110

$89.7 $89.7

22.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$115 $115

-1.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,832 $1,832

$702 $702

161.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$838 $838

$544 $544

54.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,872 $2,872

$1,168 $1,168

145.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,442 $1,442

$961 $961

50.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,374 $7,374

$1,892 $1,892

289.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,321 $3,321

$1,588 $1,588

109.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,727 $2,727

$3,297 $3,297

-17.31%

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 13, 2026

Last update for Trujillo Alto: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,832 in San Juan versus $702 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 21% 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 $83.0 in San Juan versus $79.0 in Trujillo Alto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $363 – making Trujillo Alto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 25% 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 $3,287 per month in San Juan and $2,632 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 $83.0 in San Juan and $79.0 in Trujillo Alto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $1,755, than in San Juan at $2,191. 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 $1,755 versus $2,191 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.