🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $772 in San Juan versus $780 in Arouca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,317 in San Juan versus $1,326 in Arouca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,863 in San Juan versus $1,873 in Arouca.
🌍Living in San Juan costs roughly 1% less than in Arouca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Juan42% lower, Arouca42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.49TTD 70.6
$10.50TTD 70.6
-0.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9TTD 389
$59.7TTD 402
-3.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08TTD 54.4
$8.05TTD 54.1
0.37%
Cappuccino
$3.64TTD 24.48
$3.63TTD 24.46
0.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20TTD 8.04
$1.00TTD 6.70
20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70TTD 4.74
$0.72TTD 4.88
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.18TTD 14.69
$1.80TTD 12.09
21.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90TTD 19.54
$2.56TTD 17.20
13.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00TTD 13.45
$2.05TTD 13.80
-2.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31TTD 15.56
$2.26TTD 15.18
2.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.86TTD 19.28
$2.88TTD 19.39
-0.69%
Eggs
$3.76TTD 25.31
$3.82TTD 25.68
-1.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.50TTD 43.71
$6.79TTD 45.68
-4.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.22TTD 68.8
$10.05TTD 67.7
1.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.17TTD 61.7
$8.83TTD 59.4
3.85%
Apples(1kg)
$5.61TTD 37.73
$5.62TTD 37.78
-0.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.49TTD 16.77
$2.45TTD 16.46
1.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.61TTD 24.29
$3.65TTD 24.57
-1.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.39TTD 29.51
$4.21TTD 28.30
4.28%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76TTD 5.10
$0.71TTD 4.77
7.04%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75TTD 5.07
$0.75TTD 5.08
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45TTD 9.76
$1.51TTD 10.14
-3.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16TTD 7.79
$1.17TTD 7.86
-0.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47TTD 36.83
$5.73TTD 38.59
-4.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.02TTD 121
$17.44TTD 117
3.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50TTD 10.09
$1.50TTD 10.12
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96TTD 19.92
$3.01TTD 20.25
-1.66%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86TTD 5.77
$0.93TTD 6.24
-7.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90TTD 6.06
$0.90TTD 6.07
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.55TTD 97.9
$15.02TTD 101
-3.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11TTD 7.47
$1.11TTD 7.49
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4KTTD 245.1K
$36.2KTTD 243.6K
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5KTTD 272.6K
$41.2KTTD 277.5K
-1.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.96TTD 302
$43.48TTD 293
3.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.52TTD 279
$42.44TTD 286
-2.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.45TTD 306
$46.29TTD 311
-1.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$8.82TTD 59.4
$8.99TTD 60.5
-1.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$404TTD 2,719
$406TTD 2,731
-0.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0KTTD 74.1K
$10.6KTTD 71.5K
3.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.6TTD 374
$55.6TTD 374
-0.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.30TTD 244
$36.56TTD 246
-0.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7TTD 604
$88.3TTD 594
1.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9TTD 605
$88.3TTD 594
1.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan
Arouca
Difference
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
5.75
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Juan: October 6, 2026
Last update for Arouca: October 4, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in San Juan vs $60.0 in Arouca. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $317, with Arouca 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 Arouca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in San Juan and in Arouca?
San Juan and Arouca differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($772 vs $780 including rent). San Juan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in San Juan compared to Arouca?
You'd need roughly $1,158 in San Juan and $1,171 in Arouca 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between San Juan and Arouca?
Childcare runs $404 in San Juan versus $406 in Arouca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in San Juan – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $60.0 in Arouca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in San Juan compared to Arouca?
Either city works on $800 a month, though San Juan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between San Juan and Arouca?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: San Juan or Arouca?
Expats usually find San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Arouca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.