🙂A single person spends $679 per month in Ambato vs $933 in Vilcabamba, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,021 per month in Ambato vs $1,439 in Vilcabamba, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,363 per month in Ambato vs $1,945 in Vilcabamba, rent included.
🙂Ambato is about 27% cheaper than Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ambato and Vilcabamba are more affordable than the global median – Ambato49% lower, Vilcabamba30% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07$3.07
$3.30$3.30
-6.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.02$25.02
$35.09$35.09
-28.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16$5.16
$7.56$7.56
-31.75%
Cappuccino
$2.41$2.41
$2.16$2.16
11.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84$0.84
$1.02$1.02
-17.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69$0.69
$0.93$0.93
-25.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02$2.02
$1.98$1.98
2.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51$3.51
$3.43$3.43
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$0.97$0.97
5.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.98$0.98
$1.95$1.95
-49.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52$1.52
$1.35$1.35
12.59%
Eggs
$1.97$1.97
$2.17$2.17
-9.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.07$3.07
$7.48$7.48
-58.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01$3.01
$5.88$5.88
-48.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.09$4.09
$7.21$7.21
-43.27%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98$0.98
$2.53$2.53
-61.26%
Banana(1kg)
$0.99$0.99
$1.23$1.23
-19.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01$1.01
$1.80$1.80
-43.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99$0.99
$1.05$1.05
-5.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98$0.98
$0.98$0.98
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.98$0.98
$0.97$0.97
1.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49$0.49
$0.71$0.71
-30.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$1.02$1.02
-3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90$5.90
$6.22$6.22
-5.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.72$8.72
$10.09$10.09
-13.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49$1.49
$1.63$1.63
-8.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93$2.93
$2.52$2.52
16.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29$0.29
$0.37$0.37
-21.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.95$23.95
$24.33$24.33
-1.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63$0.63
$1.54$1.54
-59.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02$1.02
$0.92$0.92
10.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.43$9.43
$10.19$10.19
-7.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68$0.68
$0.64$0.64
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K$29.4K
$20.1K$20.1K
46.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K$28.2K
$27.8K$27.8K
1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.38$40.38
$57.8$57.8
-30.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.69$13.69
$13.24$13.24
3.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.08$31.08
$33.92$33.92
-8.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.72$29.72
$29.83$29.83
-0.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.35$14.35
$14.71$14.71
-2.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.37$6.37
$7.01$7.01
-9.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$253$253
$253$253
-0.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,391$2,391
$5,676$5,676
-57.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.98$49.98
$78.6$78.6
-36.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.69$37.69
$20.16$20.16
86.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.0$88.0
$96.2$96.2
-8.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.3$59.3
$75.0$75.0
-20.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$341$341
$339$339
0.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182$182
$326$326
-44.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626$626
$632$632
-0.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254$254
$585$585
-56.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,167$1,167
$1,220$1,220
-4.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$893$893
$838$838
6.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambato
Vilcabamba
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677$677
$437$437
54.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
10.6
-24.53%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Ambato: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Vilcabamba: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $341 in Ambato versus $339 in Vilcabamba. 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 55% 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 $35.00 in Vilcabamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $140 vs $203 – making Ambato the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Ambato vs Vilcabamba: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Ambato or Vilcabamba?
Vilcabamba costs about 37% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ambato vs Vilcabamba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,019 per month in Ambato and $1,399 in Vilcabamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ambato or Vilcabamba?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Ambato vs Vilcabamba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ambato and $35.00 in Vilcabamba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ambato compared to Vilcabamba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $679 in Ambato and $933 in Vilcabamba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $800/month in Ambato or Vilcabamba?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Ambato and $933 in Vilcabamba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Ambato – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Ambato compared to Vilcabamba?
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.
Should I move to Ambato or Vilcabamba?
If budget matters most, go with Ambato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vilcabamba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.