🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,291 in Santa Lucia versus $1,514 in Mayari.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,809 in Santa Lucia versus $1,896 in Mayari.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,326 in Santa Lucia versus $2,279 in Mayari.
🌍Living in Santa Lucia costs roughly 15% less than in Mayari, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santa Lucia is 3% below, Mayari is 14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.81CUP 236
$6.03CUP 145
62.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.14CUP 723
$20.18CUP 484
49.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.21CUP 173
$6.44CUP 155
11.96%
Cappuccino
$3.35CUP 80.5
$1.33CUP 31.87
151.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07CUP 25.66
$2.18CUP 52.2
-50.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87CUP 20.88
$1.24CUP 29.64
-29.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98CUP 47.55
$2.54CUP 61.1
-22.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93CUP 70.3
$2.97CUP 71.4
-1.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00CUP 47.96
$2.89CUP 69.3
-30.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81CUP 43.39
$0.79CUP 18.92
129.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54CUP 36.84
$2.55CUP 61.1
-39.61%
Eggs
$3.72CUP 89.2
$3.09CUP 74.2
20.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.38CUP 153
$5.97CUP 143
6.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72CUP 137
$5.36CUP 129
6.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.04CUP 265
$11.81CUP 283
-6.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77CUP 66.4
$5.05CUP 121
-45.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51CUP 36.24
$1.22CUP 29.29
23.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03CUP 48.67
$1.39CUP 33.31
46.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27CUP 54.6
$1.49CUP 35.75
52.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02CUP 48.55
$1.95CUP 46.87
3.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72CUP 41.30
$2.81CUP 67.4
-38.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02CUP 24.49
$1.01CUP 24.29
0.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98CUP 23.57
$1.08CUP 25.90
-9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91CUP 93.9
$3.45CUP 82.8
13.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.20CUP 293
$10.15CUP 244
20.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67CUP 40.04
$1.77CUP 42.39
-5.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40CUP 57.6
$1.97CUP 47.18
21.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21CUP 4.97
$0.19CUP 4.49
10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.16CUP 604
$20.16CUP 484
24.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19CUP 76.6
$2.32CUP 55.6
37.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38CUP 9.16
$0.41CUP 9.90
-7.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.78CUP 355
$19.61CUP 471
-24.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03CUP 24.68
$1.24CUP 29.69
-16.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$70.3KCUP 1.7M
$71.0KCUP 1.7M
-0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$80.2KCUP 1.9M
$79.3KCUP 1.9M
1.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.02CUP 840
$34.70CUP 833
0.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.95CUP 359
$39.47CUP 947
-62.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$252CUP 6,042
$247CUP 5,917
2.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.32CUP 968
$39.53CUP 949
2.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.30CUP 367
$14.77CUP 355
3.59%
Cinema Ticket
$1.03CUP 24.71
$0.97CUP 23.35
6.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163CUP 3,909
$118CUP 2,841
37.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,070CUP 97.7K
$17.8KCUP 428.3K
-77.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9CUP 1,703
$54.3CUP 1,302
30.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4CUP 1,305
$40.36CUP 969
34.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102CUP 2,447
$44.37CUP 1,065
129.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CUP 2,554
$50.6CUP 1,214
110.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$546CUP 13.1K
$215CUP 5,163
153.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357CUP 8,556
$661CUP 15.9K
-46.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757CUP 18.2K
$379CUP 9,100
99.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$494CUP 11.9K
$692CUP 16.6K
-28.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$335CUP 8,031
$400CUP 9,591
-16.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$368CUP 8,821
$356CUP 8,535
3.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$56.1CUP 1,347
$22.02CUP 529
154.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.94
10
-50.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Lucia: July 25, 2026
Last update for Mayari: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $546 in Santa Lucia and $215 in Mayari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Lucia pays 155% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Santa Lucia vs $20.00 in Mayari. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 vs $247, with Santa Lucia cheaper for home cooking.
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 Lucia vs Mayari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santa Lucia or Mayari?
Santa Lucia wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Mayari. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Lucia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Santa Lucia or in Mayari?
Average pay runs 155% higher in Santa Lucia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Santa Lucia compared to Mayari?
Rent for a central apartment: $546 in Santa Lucia versus $215 in Mayari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Santa Lucia and in Mayari?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Lucia – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $20.00 in Mayari. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Santa Lucia compared to Mayari?
All in, you'll spend $1,291 per month in Santa Lucia versus $1,514 in Mayari – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Santa Lucia or in Mayari?
At $1,291 in Santa Lucia versus $1,514 in Mayari, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Lucia but tight or insufficient in Mayari. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Lucia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Santa Lucia or Mayari?
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 Lucia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Mayari. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Lucia vs other spots: cost of living compared