Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambato and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambato and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $605 per month in Ambato vs $949 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $975 per month in Ambato vs $1,433 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,345 per month in Ambato vs $1,917 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

Ambato is about 36% cheaper than Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ambato and Vilcabamba are more affordable than the global median – Ambato 56% lower, Vilcabamba 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 $3.41

$3.49 $3.49

-2.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.60 $29.60

$29.81 $29.81

-0.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 $5.26

$7.83 $7.83

-32.82%

Cappuccino

$2.65 $2.65

$2.19 $2.19

21.00%

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

$0.72 $0.72

$1.02 $1.02

-29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.04 $1.04

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 $2.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.47 $3.47

-12.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.04 $1.04

-1.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.60 $1.60

-38.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

Eggs

$1.76 $1.76

$2.49 $2.49

-29.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$8.47 $8.47

-35.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$5.14 $5.14

-43.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$7.31 $7.31

-44.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.71 $1.71

-27.49%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.07 $1.07

-14.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.15 $1.15

-12.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.15 $1.15

-11.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.93 $0.93

-12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.08 $1.08

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.99 $0.99

3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 $5.17

$5.11 $5.11

1.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 $8.67

$10.92 $10.92

-20.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.63 $1.63

-6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.69 $2.69

2.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.35 $0.35

-11.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.08 $14.08

$16.23 $16.23

-13.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 $1.34

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.11 $1.11

0.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.37 $9.37

$10.05 $10.05

-6.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.70 $0.70

24.29%

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

$23.7K $23.7K

$21.3K $21.3K

11.17%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$28.4K $28.4K

0.96%

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

$37.23 $37.23

$37.48 $37.48

-0.67%

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

$12.91 $12.91

$13.36 $13.36

-3.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.03 $26.03

$35.80 $35.80

-27.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.42 $29.42

$30.59 $30.59

-3.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.40 $17.40

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 $4.47

$7.39 $7.39

-39.51%

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

$215 $215

$205 $205

4.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,422 $2,422

$6,463 $6,463

-62.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.63 $47.63

$54.5 $54.5

-12.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.36 $34.36

$42.64 $42.64

-19.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 $73.8

$96.7 $96.7

-23.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.9 $54.9

$71.1 $71.1

-22.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 $177

$386 $386

-54.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$125 $125

$388 $388

-67.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 $369

$616 $616

-40.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 $270

$565 $565

-52.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,136 $1,136

$1,180 $1,180

-3.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$894 $894

$764 $764

17.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 $664

$454 $454

46.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

-10.45%

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

Last update for Ambato: September 12, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Ambato versus $386 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 46% 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 $30.00 in Ambato versus $30.00 in Vilcabamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $196 – 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 Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vilcabamba costs about 57% 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 $908 per month in Ambato and $1,423 in Vilcabamba. 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 $30.00 in Ambato and $30.00 in Vilcabamba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $605 in Ambato and $949 in Vilcabamba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Vilcabamba at $949. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vilcabamba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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, Vilcabamba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.