🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,293 in Santa Lucia versus $1,520 in Mayari.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,823 in Santa Lucia versus $2,446 in Mayari.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,353 in Santa Lucia versus $3,371 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 6% below, Mayari is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.18CUP 244
$5.90CUP 142
72.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.76CUP 714
$19.81CUP 475
50.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16CUP 172
$6.47CUP 155
10.66%
Cappuccino
$3.39CUP 81.5
$1.32CUP 31.59
156.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12CUP 26.92
$2.26CUP 54.3
-50.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92CUP 22.10
$1.23CUP 29.59
-25.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96CUP 47.05
$2.48CUP 59.5
-20.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91CUP 69.8
$2.92CUP 70.0
-0.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93CUP 46.20
$2.91CUP 69.8
-33.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80CUP 43.27
$0.82CUP 19.75
119.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48CUP 35.56
$2.56CUP 61.4
-42.19%
Eggs
$3.64CUP 87.4
$3.21CUP 77.0
13.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.25CUP 150
$5.79CUP 139
7.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.72CUP 137
$5.37CUP 129
6.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08CUP 266
$12.12CUP 291
-8.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78CUP 66.6
$5.06CUP 121
-45.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53CUP 36.79
$1.23CUP 29.46
24.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.02CUP 48.43
$1.38CUP 33.13
46.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.19CUP 52.7
$1.43CUP 34.42
53.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97CUP 47.25
$1.87CUP 44.90
5.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80CUP 43.13
$2.77CUP 66.6
-35.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02CUP 24.39
$1.01CUP 24.26
0.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02CUP 24.53
$1.08CUP 25.93
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.11CUP 98.7
$3.56CUP 85.4
15.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.84CUP 284
$9.93CUP 238
19.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64CUP 39.30
$1.74CUP 41.67
-5.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34CUP 56.1
$2.00CUP 47.91
17.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18CUP 4.30
$0.18CUP 4.41
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.29CUP 607
$19.65CUP 472
28.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21CUP 77.1
$2.26CUP 54.3
42.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39CUP 9.27
$0.42CUP 10.06
-7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.03CUP 361
$20.31CUP 488
-26.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07CUP 25.65
$1.27CUP 30.49
-15.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$70.9KCUP 1.7M
$69.9KCUP 1.7M
1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$79.0KCUP 1.9M
$81.4KCUP 2.0M
-2.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.71CUP 833
$34.80CUP 835
-0.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.23CUP 366
$39.61CUP 951
-61.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$249CUP 5,970
$247CUP 5,936
0.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.13CUP 963
$40.63CUP 975
-1.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.14CUP 363
$14.97CUP 359
1.14%
Cinema Ticket
$1.02CUP 24.45
$1.01CUP 24.27
0.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168CUP 4,026
$118CUP 2,840
41.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,017CUP 96.4K
$17.8KCUP 428.3K
-77.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7CUP 1,672
$55.2CUP 1,325
26.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6CUP 1,335
$40.78CUP 979
36.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2CUP 2,356
$45.67CUP 1,096
114.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107CUP 2,561
$49.75CUP 1,194
114.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558CUP 13.4K
$207CUP 4,964
169.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353CUP 8,474
$686CUP 16.5K
-48.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$752CUP 18.1K
$377CUP 9,058
99.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$505CUP 12.1K
$1,776CUP 42.6K
-71.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$345CUP 8,282
$394CUP 9,445
-12.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$368CUP 8,833
$344CUP 8,259
6.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Lucia
Mayari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$56.3CUP 1,351
$21.61CUP 519
160.53%
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: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mayari: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $558 in Santa Lucia and $207 in Mayari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Lucia pays 161% 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 $243 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 18% 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 161% 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: $558 in Santa Lucia versus $207 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 $1,293 per month in Santa Lucia versus $1,520 in Mayari – a 18% 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 $1,293 in Santa Lucia versus $1,520 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 18% 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