Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Teresa and San Ramon Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Teresa and San Ramon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,541 per month in Santa Teresa vs $1,560 in San Ramon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,320 per month in Santa Teresa vs $2,311 in San Ramon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,099 per month in Santa Teresa vs $3,062 in San Ramon, rent included.

Santa Teresa is about 1% cheaper than San Ramon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santa Teresa and San Ramon sit above the global median – Santa Teresa by 15%, San Ramon by 16%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.20 ₡4,637

$5.96 ₡2,710

71.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.87 ₡19.5K

$52.0 ₡23.6K

-17.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 ₡4,229

$9.79 ₡4,451

-5.01%

Cappuccino

$3.87 ₡1,762

$3.69 ₡1,678

4.88%

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

$2.05 ₡932

$1.98 ₡899

3.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₡746

$1.63 ₡742

0.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 ₡1,349

$3.02 ₡1,375

-1.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 ₡2,104

$4.56 ₡2,073

1.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡936

$1.39 ₡633

48.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,299

$2.68 ₡1,218

6.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₡986

$2.24 ₡1,018

-3.13%

Eggs

$3.00 ₡1,366

$4.58 ₡2,082

-34.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.85 ₡4,480

$10.01 ₡4,551

-1.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.20 ₡4,185

$9.18 ₡4,173

0.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 ₡6,105

$13.49 ₡6,133

-0.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.58 ₡2,083

$4.46 ₡2,028

2.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ₡692

$1.41 ₡639

7.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 ₡1,851

$4.34 ₡1,975

-6.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 ₡1,442

$3.16 ₡1,436

0.32%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ₡1,480

$3.33 ₡1,513

-2.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.55 ₡1,159

$2.90 ₡1,320

-12.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₡471

$1.08 ₡492

-3.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,276

$2.91 ₡1,322

-3.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 ₡2,310

$4.89 ₡2,223

3.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 ₡6,450

$17.31 ₡7,872

-18.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₡1,059

$2.28 ₡1,035

2.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,149

$2.66 ₡1,211

-4.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ₡468

$1.04 ₡471

-0.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡817

$1.79 ₡813

0.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 ₡809

$1.86 ₡847

-4.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.05 ₡3,659

$7.66 ₡3,485

5.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡656

$1.62 ₡739

-11.11%

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

$37.9K ₡17.2M

$38.0K ₡17.3M

-0.13%

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

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$32.9K ₡15.0M

-1.18%

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

$82.4 ₡37.5K

$128 ₡58.2K

-35.61%

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

$25.54 ₡11.6K

$39.58 ₡18.0K

-35.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.55 ₡22.5K

$51.1 ₡23.2K

-2.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.39 ₡22.5K

$35.03 ₡15.9K

40.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.62 ₡10.7K

$23.49 ₡10.7K

0.55%

Cinema Ticket

$9.08 ₡4,131

$9.78 ₡4,445

-7.16%

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

$563 ₡256.2K

$525 ₡238.9K

7.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.8M

$12.6K ₡5.7M

1.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 ₡28.3K

$63.6 ₡28.9K

-2.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.0 ₡23.2K

$52.3 ₡23.8K

-2.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.8K

$127 ₡57.6K

-1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.1K

-0.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$684 ₡311.2K

$754 ₡342.6K

-9.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 ₡272.3K

$603 ₡274.2K

-0.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 ₡653.3K

$1,539 ₡700.0K

-6.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 ₡444.1K

$945 ₡429.8K

3.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,179 ₡536.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 ₡525.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

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

Last update for Santa Teresa: April 27, 2026

Last update for San Ramon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $684 in Santa Teresa versus $754 in San Ramon. 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 $43.00 in Santa Teresa versus $52.0 in San Ramon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $348 vs $355 – 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

Santa Teresa vs San Ramon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,541 in Santa Teresa, $1,560 in San Ramon – roughly 1% apart. San Ramon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,311 per month in Santa Teresa and $2,340 in San Ramon. 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 $1,541 in Santa Teresa and $1,560 in San Ramon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $563 per month in Santa Teresa and $525 in San Ramon. 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 $1,541, than in San Ramon at $1,560. 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 $1,541 in Santa Teresa to $1,560 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.