🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $355 in Santa Clara versus $1,231 in Cayo Coco.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $486 in Santa Clara versus $1,675 in Cayo Coco.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $616 in Santa Clara versus $2,119 in Cayo Coco.
🙂Living in Santa Clara costs roughly 71% less than in Cayo Coco, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Clara73% lower, Cayo Coco8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$5.08CUP 122
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$14.98CUP 359
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.07CUP 170
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.02CUP 24.46
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.04CUP 48.85
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.98CUP 23.49
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.04CUP 49.02
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.98CUP 71.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$3.09CUP 74.1
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$0.98CUP 23.42
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.98CUP 47.56
-
Eggs
-
$3.63CUP 87.2
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$5.97CUP 143
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.14CUP 123
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$9.97CUP 239
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$4.90CUP 118
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$0.98CUP 23.53
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.02CUP 24.46
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.02CUP 24.51
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$0.97CUP 23.30
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.91CUP 69.9
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.98CUP 23.40
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.01CUP 24.29
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.01CUP 72.4
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.92CUP 238
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.97CUP 47.30
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98CUP 47.62
-
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.90CUP 478
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.02CUP 24.42
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.01CUP 24.27
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$19.96CUP 479
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.99CUP 23.76
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$126.0KCUP 3.0M
$70.2KCUP 1.7M
79.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$152.0KCUP 3.6M
$80.7KCUP 1.9M
88.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$40.10CUP 962
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$39.74CUP 954
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$219CUP 5,245
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$7.15CUP 172
$40.32CUP 968
-82.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.14CUP 243
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$1.02CUP 24.46
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$89.5CUP 2,147
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.7KCUP 353.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$39.86CUP 957
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$29.57CUP 710
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$76.1CUP 1,825
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$80.1CUP 1,923
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353CUP 8,466
$401CUP 9,623
-12.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345CUP 8,286
$419CUP 10.1K
-17.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$744CUP 17.9K
$1,050CUP 25.2K
-29.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606CUP 14.5K
$631CUP 15.1K
-3.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$284CUP 6,806
$305CUP 7,331
-7.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$290CUP 6,952
$350CUP 8,403
-17.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Clara
Cayo Coco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$20.05CUP 481
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.62
10
-3.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Clara: May 30, 2026
Last update for Cayo Coco: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $353 in Santa Clara and $401 in Cayo Coco. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Santa Clara vs Cayo Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santa Clara or Cayo Coco?
Santa Clara wins on cost – living expenses run 246% lower than in Cayo Coco. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Clara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Santa Clara vs Cayo Coco?
You'd need roughly $533 in Santa Clara and $1,846 in Cayo Coco 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Santa Clara vs Cayo Coco?
Rent for a central apartment: $353 in Santa Clara versus $401 in Cayo Coco. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Santa Clara or Cayo Coco?
At $355 in Santa Clara versus $1,231 in Cayo Coco, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Clara but tight or insufficient in Cayo Coco. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Clara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Santa Clara or Cayo Coco?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Santa Clara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 246% less than in Cayo Coco. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Clara vs other spots: cost of living compared