Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon and Santa Teresa Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon and Santa Teresa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,558 per month in San Ramon vs $1,554 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,368 per month in San Ramon vs $2,289 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,179 per month in San Ramon vs $3,023 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

San Ramon and Santa Teresa have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both San Ramon and Santa Teresa sit above the global median – San Ramon by 17%, Santa Teresa by 17%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.79 ₡2,598

$9.68 ₡4,339

-40.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.5 ₡23.5K

$43.26 ₡19.4K

21.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.78 ₡4,384

$9.22 ₡4,136

6.07%

Cappuccino

$3.82 ₡1,713

$3.75 ₡1,682

1.87%

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

$2.05 ₡921

$1.98 ₡887

3.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡714

$1.64 ₡737

-3.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₡1,305

$2.93 ₡1,315

-0.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.73 ₡2,119

$4.79 ₡2,150

-1.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₡640

$2.00 ₡895

-28.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.65 ₡1,188

$2.87 ₡1,289

-7.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡962

$2.17 ₡973

-0.92%

Eggs

$4.79 ₡2,150

$3.02 ₡1,355

58.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 ₡4,412

$9.80 ₡4,396

0.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 ₡4,147

$8.98 ₡4,026

3.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.64 ₡6,114

$13.44 ₡6,025

1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 ₡2,038

$4.63 ₡2,077

-1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 ₡605

$1.50 ₡672

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 ₡1,874

$4.08 ₡1,830

2.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$3.23 ₡1,450

-1.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.35 ₡1,503

$3.37 ₡1,512

-0.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 ₡1,321

$2.57 ₡1,152

14.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 ₡509

$1.01 ₡455

12.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 ₡1,308

$2.91 ₡1,304

0.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.00 ₡2,242

$4.90 ₡2,195

2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.33 ₡8,219

$13.82 ₡6,196

32.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 ₡1,013

$2.44 ₡1,094

-7.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,191

$2.57 ₡1,151

3.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡464

$1.03 ₡461

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡843

$1.81 ₡809

3.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 ₡838

$1.85 ₡828

1.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ₡3,602

$7.98 ₡3,580

0.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 ₡696

$1.41 ₡632

9.93%

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

$37.6K ₡16.9M

$38.0K ₡17.0M

-1.13%

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

$32.9K ₡14.7M

$32.7K ₡14.6M

0.68%

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

$130 ₡58.4K

$84.7 ₡38.0K

53.77%

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

$40.26 ₡18.1K

$26.18 ₡11.7K

53.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.77 ₡22.3K

$50.8 ₡22.8K

-2.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.26 ₡15.4K

$50.3 ₡22.6K

-31.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.11 ₡10.8K

$24.32 ₡10.9K

-0.86%

Cinema Ticket

$9.72 ₡4,358

$8.84 ₡3,962

9.95%

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

$520 ₡233.3K

$558 ₡250.4K

-6.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₡5.7M

$12.8K ₡5.8M

-0.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 ₡28.3K

$61.7 ₡27.7K

2.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.6 ₡23.1K

$50.5 ₡22.6K

2.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡56.7K

$126 ₡56.6K

0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₡47.7K

$105 ₡47.3K

0.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 ₡347.3K

$694 ₡311.3K

11.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₡271.7K

$596 ₡267.4K

1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,540 ₡690.7K

$1,443 ₡647.2K

6.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 ₡428.6K

$957 ₡429.0K

-0.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,163 ₡521.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 ₡513.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for San Ramon: July 26, 2026

Last update for Santa Teresa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $775 in San Ramon versus $694 in Santa Teresa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in San Ramon versus $43.00 in Santa Teresa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $357 vs $348 – making Santa Teresa 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 Ramon vs Santa Teresa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,336 per month in San Ramon and $2,332 in Santa Teresa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Teresa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $520 per month in San Ramon and $558 in Santa Teresa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in San Ramon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Teresa, where all-in costs run around $1,554, than in San Ramon at $1,558. In Santa Teresa it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Ramon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Santa Teresa has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,554 in Santa Teresa to $1,558 in San Ramon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Santa Teresa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Ramon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.