Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Ana and Aguilares Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Ana and Aguilares

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $796 in Santa Ana versus $661 in Aguilares.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,242 in Santa Ana versus $1,052 in Aguilares.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,688 in Santa Ana versus $1,443 in Aguilares.

Living in Santa Ana is roughly 20% more expensive than Aguilares, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Ana 41% lower, Aguilares 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.48 $2.48

$2.45 $2.45

1.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.11 $18.11

$12.03 $12.03

50.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.89 $4.89

$7.04 $7.04

-30.54%

Cappuccino

$1.96 $1.96

$3.35 $3.35

-41.49%

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

$0.68 $0.68

$0.94 $0.94

-27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.48 $0.48

20.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.48 $1.48

39.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.43 $2.43

4.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.81 $1.81

4.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.05 $2.05

-3.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.49 $1.49

0.67%

Eggs

$2.80 $2.80

$1.82 $1.82

53.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.85 $6.85

$6.87 $6.87

-0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 $6.57

$4.53 $4.53

45.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.71 $10.71

$10.73 $10.73

-0.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 $3.12

$3.15 $3.15

-0.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.73 $1.73

0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.14 $2.14

23.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.74 $2.74

-0.36%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.23 $2.23

-2.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.17 $2.17

0.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 $0.94

$0.99 $0.99

-5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.04 $1.04

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.97 $3.97

3.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 $10.92

$11.12 $11.12

-1.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.51 $1.51

13.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.43 $2.43

2.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.49 $0.49

-40.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.2 $64.2

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.48 $5.48

-2.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.96 $2.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.27 $20.27

$19.97 $19.97

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.04 $1.04

-2.88%

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

$23.2K $23.2K

$17.9K $17.9K

29.75%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$20.5K $20.5K

36.35%

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

$39.54 $39.54

$28.38 $28.38

39.32%

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

$18.82 $18.82

$18.80 $18.80

0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.23 $39.23

$34.76 $34.76

12.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.29 $35.29

$20.03 $20.03

76.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.25 $20.25

Cinema Ticket

$4.93 $4.93

$3.51 $3.51

40.46%

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

$145 $145

$146 $146

-0.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,937 $5,937

$5,878 $5,878

1.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$25.36 $25.36

159.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.58 $42.58

$27.74 $27.74

53.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$116 $116

-0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$104 $104

1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 $301

$74.3 $74.3

305.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 $150

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$504 $504

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 $294

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$450 $450

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.58

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

Last update for Santa Ana: May 30, 2026

Last update for Aguilares: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $301 in Santa Ana and $74.3 in Aguilares. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Santa Ana vs $12.00 in Aguilares for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $238 per month, with Aguilares cheaper across the board.

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

Santa Ana vs Aguilares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Santa Ana. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,194 in Santa Ana and $992 in Aguilares 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $301 in Santa Ana versus $74.3 in Aguilares. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $145 in Santa Ana versus $146 in Aguilares. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Aguilares – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $18.00 in Santa Ana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Aguilares gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Santa Ana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.