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 $1,768 per month in San Ramon vs $1,518 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,753 per month in San Ramon vs $2,284 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,739 per month in San Ramon vs $3,050 in Santa Teresa, rent included.

San Ramon costs about 16% more than Santa Teresa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Ramon and Santa Teresa sit above the global median – San Ramon by 29%, Santa Teresa by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.07 ₡5,362

$10.03 ₡4,456

20.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.0 ₡22.7K

$42.84 ₡19.0K

19.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.56 ₡5,580

$9.47 ₡4,208

32.63%

Cappuccino

$4.01 ₡1,783

$3.89 ₡1,729

3.08%

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

$2.68 ₡1,192

$2.07 ₡922

29.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₡888

$1.65 ₡735

21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.56 ₡1,584

$3.01 ₡1,340

18.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 ₡2,193

$4.71 ₡2,096

4.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 ₡1,078

$2.06 ₡916

17.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 ₡1,327

$2.82 ₡1,251

6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₡1,092

$2.20 ₡979

11.82%

Eggs

$5.32 ₡2,365

$2.90 ₡1,288

83.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.01 ₡4,894

$9.93 ₡4,412

10.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 ₡4,748

$9.02 ₡4,008

18.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.43 ₡6,414

$13.71 ₡6,093

5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$5.05 ₡2,245

$4.42 ₡1,963

14.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₡696

$1.46 ₡650

7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.49 ₡1,549

$4.28 ₡1,904

-18.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,521

$3.22 ₡1,430

6.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,323

$3.33 ₡1,482

-10.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.13 ₡1,390

$2.64 ₡1,174

18.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₡547

$1.00 ₡445

23.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 ₡1,234

$2.94 ₡1,307

-5.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.86 ₡2,603

$4.87 ₡2,165

20.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.69 ₡7,420

$14.05 ₡6,243

18.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₡1,176

$2.41 ₡1,069

9.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₡1,219

$2.54 ₡1,128

7.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡603

$1.02 ₡453

33.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,110

$1.85 ₡822

35.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₡699

$1.78 ₡792

-11.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.96 ₡3,982

$7.78 ₡3,456

15.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡694

$1.41 ₡629

10.64%

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

$21.7K ₡9.6M

$37.2K ₡16.5M

-41.74%

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

$35.4K ₡15.7M

$32.0K ₡14.2M

10.69%

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

$143 ₡63.6K

$82.0 ₡36.5K

74.51%

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

$44.63 ₡19.8K

$26.18 ₡11.6K

70.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.5 ₡23.8K

$49.27 ₡21.9K

8.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 ₡33.8K

$49.15 ₡21.8K

54.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.85 ₡10.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.52 ₡3,785

$8.83 ₡3,926

-3.51%

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

$856 ₡380.5K

$574 ₡255.1K

49.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K ₡7.5M

$12.5K ₡5.5M

36.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 ₡32.0K

$61.9 ₡27.5K

16.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₡24.6K

$50.6 ₡22.5K

9.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 ₡58.3K

$128 ₡56.7K

2.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 ₡66.7K

$106 ₡47.1K

41.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 ₡363.6K

$703 ₡312.5K

16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 ₡282.0K

$603 ₡268.1K

5.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,838 ₡817.0K

$1,423 ₡632.4K

29.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 ₡575.4K

$967 ₡429.7K

33.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,164 ₡517.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,168 ₡519.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

10.17

-13.67%

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

Last update for San Ramon: September 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Teresa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in San Ramon versus $703 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 $51.0 in San Ramon versus $43.00 in Santa Teresa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $386 vs $349 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,768 in San Ramon, $1,518 in Santa Teresa – roughly 16% apart. San Ramon costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,652 per month in San Ramon and $2,277 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,768 in San Ramon and $1,518 in Santa Teresa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $856 per month in San Ramon and $574 in Santa Teresa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Teresa, where all-in costs run around $1,518, than in San Ramon at $1,768. 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 $1,518 in Santa Teresa to $1,768 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.