Cost of Living Comparison Between Babahoyo and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Babahoyo and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Babahoyo versus $944 in Vilcabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,305 in Babahoyo versus $1,448 in Vilcabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,749 in Babahoyo versus $1,952 in Vilcabamba.

Living in Babahoyo costs roughly 9% less than in Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Babahoyo 36% lower, Vilcabamba 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.54 $3.54

$3.18 $3.18

11.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.06 $25.06

$35.04 $35.04

-28.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 $6.84

$7.57 $7.57

-9.64%

Cappuccino

$2.52 $2.52

$2.16 $2.16

16.67%

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

$0.91 $0.91

$1.03 $1.03

-11.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.96 $0.96

-29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.95 $1.95

3.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.53 $3.53

-3.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.92 $0.92

20.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.05 $2.05

-21.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.27 $1.27

23.62%

Eggs

$2.25 $2.25

$2.30 $2.30

-2.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$7.22 $7.22

-18.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$5.90 $5.90

-7.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$7.25 $7.25

-11.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.57 $2.57

-19.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.28 $1.28

-17.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.72 $1.72

-38.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.04 $1.04

3.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.99 $0.99

38.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.02 $1.02

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 $0.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.98 $0.98

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.62 $5.62

$6.32 $6.32

-11.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$9.92 $9.92

-21.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.56 $1.56

-1.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.56 $2.56

7.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.03 $24.03

$24.20 $24.20

-0.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.53 $1.53

-16.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.96 $0.96

6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.91 $9.91

$9.83 $9.83

0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.65 $0.65

6.15%

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

$20.0K $20.0K

$20.1K $20.1K

-0.66%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$27.3K $27.3K

4.04%

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

$37.82 $37.82

$57.6 $57.6

-34.32%

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

$13.93 $13.93

$13.24 $13.24

5.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.38 $31.38

$34.69 $34.69

-9.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.56 $30.56

$29.81 $29.81

2.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.42 $14.42

$14.60 $14.60

-1.23%

Cinema Ticket

$7.26 $7.26

$6.98 $6.98

4.01%

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

$253 $253

$257 $257

-1.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,655 $5,655

$5,562 $5,562

1.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 $56.7

$80.2 $80.2

-29.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.94 $42.94

$20.35 $20.35

111.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.6 $96.6

$96.9 $96.9

-0.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 $66.9

$74.4 $74.4

-10.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 $338

$332 $332

1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$323 $323

$319 $319

1.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$628 $628

$627 $627

0.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 $488

$571 $571

-14.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,077 $1,077

$1,178 $1,178

-8.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$724 $724

$782 $782

-7.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$440 $440

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

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

Last update for Babahoyo: June 7, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $338 in Babahoyo and $332 in Vilcabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Babahoyo vs $35.00 in Vilcabamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $202 per month, with Babahoyo cheaper across the board.

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

Babahoyo vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Babahoyo wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Vilcabamba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Babahoyo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,292 in Babahoyo and $1,416 in Vilcabamba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $338 in Babahoyo versus $332 in Vilcabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $253 in Babahoyo versus $257 in Vilcabamba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Vilcabamba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Babahoyo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Babahoyo and Vilcabamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Babahoyo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.