Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aspen, CO and Quito

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $1,014 a month against $5,225 in Aspen, CO, rent and utilities included – about $50,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Aspen, CO, United States
Quito, Ecuador
Aspen, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$5,225
/mo nomad
Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$1,014
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aspen, CO and in Quito

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aspen, CO and in Quito actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $5,225 per month in Aspen, CO vs $1,014 in Quito, rent included.

  • Aspen, CO $5,225
  • Quito $1,014

A couple spends around $7,574 per month in Aspen, CO vs $1,641 in Quito, rent included.

  • Aspen, CO $7,574
  • Quito $1,641

A family of three spends $9,923 per month in Aspen, CO vs $2,269 in Quito, rent included.

  • Aspen, CO $9,923
  • Quito $2,269

Aspen, CO costs about 415% more than Quito, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Aspen, CO sits 286% above the global median, while Quito is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.89 $19.89
$5.55 $5.55
258.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.2 $79.2
$54.6 $54.6
45.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.15 $11.15
$7.63 $7.63
46.13%
Cappuccino
$5.58 $5.58
$3.33 $3.33
67.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$1.36 $1.36
171.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.14 $1.14
148.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.83 $6.83
$3.69 $3.69
85.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.82 $7.82
$6.16 $6.16
26.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.15 $1.15
2.61%
White Bread (500g)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.61 $1.61
235.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$1.51 $1.51
333.77%
Eggs
$5.51 $5.51
$2.15 $2.15
156.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.66 $11.66
$6.47 $6.47
80.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.20 $11.20
$5.33 $5.33
110.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.52 $17.52
$7.77 $7.77
125.48%
Apples (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$2.23 $2.23
160.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 $1.44
$1.24 $1.24
16.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.05 $6.05
$1.27 $1.27
376.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.30 $6.30
$1.08 $1.08
483.33%
Potato (1kg)
$4.00 $4.00
$1.24 $1.24
222.58%
Onion (1kg)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.06 $1.06
260.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.36 $3.36
$0.91 $0.91
269.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 $2.76
$0.98 $0.98
181.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.14 $10.14
$5.95 $5.95
70.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.02 $17.02
$8.35 $8.35
103.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.52 $1.52
24.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.20 $3.20
58.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.33 $0.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.2 $88.2
$21.42 $21.42
311.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.53 $1.53
62.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.53 $1.53
-9.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.25 $24.25
$10.01 $10.01
142.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.85 $0.85
15.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$22.7K $22.7K
23.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$29.6K $29.6K
-10.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 $148
$28.99 $28.99
411.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$71.0 $71.0
$17.94 $17.94
295.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6 $73.6
$28.85 $28.85
154.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$136 $136
$45.09 $45.09
202.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.78 $17.78
-
Cinema Ticket
$18.73 $18.73
$6.75 $6.75
177.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,897 $1,897
$743 $743
155.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$33.0K $33.0K
$8,223 $8,223
301.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0 $70.0
$69.8 $69.8
0.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.26 $49.26
$50.3 $50.3
-2.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 $90.4
$113 $113
-19.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$143 $143
$107 $107
33.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,080 $4,080
$542 $542
653.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,696 $3,696
$354 $354
943.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$7,935 $7,935
$1,141 $1,141
595.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,522 $6,522
$638 $638
923.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.6K $10.6K
$1,636 $1,636
550.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,503 $7,503
$663 $663
1032.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aspen, CO
Quito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,032 $5,032
$603 $603
734.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
10.12
-34.09%

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

Last update for Aspen, CO: November 2, 2026

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Aspen, CO
$3.7K
Quito
$354 90.4% $3.3K
Groceries & Markets
Aspen, CO
$471
Quito
$193 59.1% $278
Eating Out
Aspen, CO
$335
Quito
$148 55.8% $187
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aspen, CO
$293
Quito
$76 74.1% $217
Sport & Entertainment
Aspen, CO
$174
Quito
$59 66.3% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Aspen, CO
$159
Quito
$153 3.6% $5.7
Getting Around
Aspen, CO
$98 *
Quito
$32 67.3% $66

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,080 in Aspen, CO versus $542 in Quito. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Aspen, CO are about 8.3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Aspen, CO versus $55 in Quito. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $471 vs $193 – making Quito the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Aspen, CO
🇪🇨 Quito
🕒 Local time
02:09 2:09 AM
04:09 4:09 AM
2 h ahead of Aspen, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
7,000
2,671,191 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Aspen, CO Quito 5,240 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Aspen, CO
  • Quito

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Aspen, CO vs Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aspen, CO or Quito?
Aspen, CO costs about 415% more than Quito, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Aspen, CO and in Quito?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,838 per month in Aspen, CO and $1,521 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aspen, CO or Quito?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $542 there versus $4,080 in Aspen, CO.
Are groceries more expensive in Aspen, CO or in Quito?
Groceries cost about 144% more in Aspen, CO, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Aspen, CO and in Quito?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79 in Aspen, CO and $55 in Quito. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Aspen, CO or in Quito?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Aspen, CO at $5,225. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aspen, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Quito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Aspen, CO or to Quito?
If budget matters most, go with Quito. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aspen, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Aspen, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared

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