Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambato and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambato and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $669 per month in Ambato vs $891 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,002 per month in Ambato vs $1,325 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,334 per month in Ambato vs $1,759 in Cuenca, rent included.

Ambato is about 25% cheaper than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ambato and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Ambato 50% lower, Cuenca 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 $3.03

$3.40 $3.40

-10.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.06 $25.06

$24.57 $24.57

1.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.12 $5.12

$7.13 $7.13

-28.19%

Cappuccino

$2.49 $2.49

$2.48 $2.48

0.40%

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

$0.78 $0.78

$0.83 $0.83

-6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.70 $0.70

-8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 $2.01

$1.98 $1.98

1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.58 $3.58

0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.13 $1.13

-13.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.61 $1.61

-36.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.53 $1.53

-1.96%

Eggs

$1.98 $1.98

$2.09 $2.09

-5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.43 $5.43

-43.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$5.48 $5.48

-46.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$6.25 $6.25

-34.24%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.47 $1.47

-34.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.05 $1.05

-2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.23 $1.23

-17.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.06 $1.06

-4.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.53 $1.53

-33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.06 $1.06

-7.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.46 $0.46

8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.04 $1.04

-0.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 $5.90

$5.70 $5.70

3.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.93 $8.93

$10.33 $10.33

-13.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.43 $1.43

4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$3.30 $3.30

-7.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.33 $0.33

-6.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.02 $24.02

$26.98 $26.98

-10.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.68 $0.68

-1.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 $0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.62 $9.62

$13.64 $13.64

-29.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.63 $0.63

4.76%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

0.04%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$28.3K $28.3K

0.54%

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

$39.33 $39.33

$39.61 $39.61

-0.71%

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

$13.79 $13.79

$13.71 $13.71

0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.26 $30.26

$31.29 $31.29

-3.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.61 $29.61

$29.47 $29.47

0.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 $14.84

$5.30 $5.30

180.00%

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 $6.07

$7.46 $7.46

-18.63%

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

$255 $255

$250 $250

1.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,356 $2,356

$5,599 $5,599

-57.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.59 $49.59

$55.2 $55.2

-10.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.10 $37.10

$54.5 $54.5

-31.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 $88.5

$99.7 $99.7

-11.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 $58.9

$65.6 $65.6

-10.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$370 $370

-9.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 $187

$325 $325

-42.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 $616

$674 $674

-8.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 $251

$503 $503

-50.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 $1,133

$1,245 $1,245

-9.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$883 $883

$827 $827

6.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$668 $668

$537 $537

24.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

-30.31%

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

Last update for Ambato: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Ambato versus $370 in Cuenca. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Ambato, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ambato versus $25.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $141 vs $184 – making Ambato 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

Ambato vs Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cuenca costs about 33% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,004 per month in Ambato and $1,336 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ambato and $25.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $669 in Ambato and $891 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $669 in Ambato and $891 in Cuenca, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $669 versus $891 in Cuenca. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ambato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cuenca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.