San Pedro vs Cartago
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. San Pedro leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Cartago where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Cartago's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | San Pedro | Cartago |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 69 | 70 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 53 | 53 |
| Climate | 100 | 100 |
| Safety | 59 | 62 |
| Summer °C | 17.4 | 17.2 |
| Winter °C | 15.6 | 15.4 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | earthquake |
San Pedro vs Cartago: the short answer
Cartago comes out ahead on overall livability (70/100), only marginally above San Pedro (69/100). The two cities diverge most on natural-disaster exposure. On affordability Cartago is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (San Pedro 53 vs Cartago 53, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, San Pedro runs warmer in summer (about 17.4°C peak vs 17.2°C in Cartago), while winter lows sit near 15.6°C in San Pedro and 15.4°C in Cartago. On natural-disaster exposure Cartago is the safer choice (safety 62/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for San Pedro and earthquake for Cartago.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Cartago — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → San Pedro — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Cartago — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Cartago — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is San Pedro or Cartago better to live in?
Cartago scores higher overall — 70 vs 69 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, San Pedro or Cartago?
Cartago has the lower cost of living (cost index 53 vs 53; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, San Pedro or Cartago?
San Pedro — summer highs reach about 17.4°C versus 17.2°C in Cartago.
Which is safer from natural disasters, San Pedro or Cartago?
Cartago (disaster-safety 62/100). Main hazard: earthquake in San Pedro, earthquake in Cartago.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in San Pedro?
earthquake is the dominant modelled hazard for San Pedro on our risk index.
How is the San Pedro vs Cartago comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.