Cost of Living

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Live cost-of-living data for San Juan — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
29/ 10071% cheaper than New York
+81% rent since Jul 2026
$3,200/mo
Median Income
58/100
Safety
18%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
65/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,900/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$950/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,800/month
Food & Groceries
48/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.3/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2/kg
Transportation
42/100
Monthly Transit Pass$30/month
One-Way Ticket$0.75/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
55/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$352/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$70/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$35/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$100/visit
Dentist Visit$120/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$18/course
Education
60/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$550/month
International Primary School (yearly)$13,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$450/course
Entertainment
55/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$12/ticket
Theater Ticket$45/ticket
Museum Entry$16/ticket
Clothing
58/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$70/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$45/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$95/pair
Personal Care
50/100
Haircut (Men)$25/cut
Haircut (Women)$50/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$6/bottle
Dining Out
55/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$77/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10/meal
Childcare
65/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$900/month
Babysitter (per hour)$18/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$50/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$25/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$10/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

100 Mbps
Internet Speed
$200
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
high
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Old San Juan, Ocean Park, Santurce

Frequently Asked Questions

Is San Juan cheap to live in?

San Juan has a cost of living index of 29/100, where New York = 100. It is 71% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,040–$1,456 per month.

How much does rent cost in San Juan?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of San Juan costs approximately $1,900/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $950/month.

Is San Juan good for digital nomads?

San Juan has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 100 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $200/month. English proficiency is high.

What is the average salary in San Juan?

The median net monthly salary in San Juan is approximately $3,200 USD. The income tax rate is around 18%.

How does San Juan compare to New York for cost of living?

San Juan (cost index 29) is 71% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,775/month by moving from New York to San Juan.

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