Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahia de Caraquez and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahia de Caraquez and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $923 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $900 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,428 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,333 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,933 per month in Bahia de Caraquez vs $1,766 in Cuenca, rent included.

Bahia de Caraquez costs about 3% more than Cuenca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bahia de Caraquez and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Bahia de Caraquez 31% lower, Cuenca 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$3.46 $3.46

3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.74 $47.74

$24.85 $24.85

92.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.85 $6.85

19.56%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$2.41 $2.41

9.13%

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

$0.91 $0.91

$0.79 $0.79

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.66 $0.66

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.96 $1.96

49.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 $4.38

$3.40 $3.40

28.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.12 $1.12

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.63 $1.63

4.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.52 $1.52

15.79%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$2.16 $2.16

21.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.50 $5.50

12.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 $5.34

$5.46 $5.46

-2.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$6.28 $6.28

-2.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.48 $1.48

44.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.06 $1.06

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.19 $1.19

-8.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.02 $1.02

5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.52 $1.52

19.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.02 $1.02

36.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.50 $0.50

48.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.07 $1.07

-3.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.07 $6.07

$5.80 $5.80

4.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.22 $10.22

15.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.45 $1.45

6.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 $2.19

$3.30 $3.30

-33.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.21 $24.21

$26.46 $26.46

-8.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 $2.72

$0.64 $0.64

325.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.98 $9.98

$13.41 $13.41

-25.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.68 $0.68

-7.35%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$30.4K $30.4K

-16.21%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$28.7K $28.7K

2.20%

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

$37.83 $37.83

$39.32 $39.32

-3.79%

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

$13.42 $13.42

$13.67 $13.67

-1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.52 $31.52

$31.32 $31.32

0.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.12 $30.12

$28.67 $28.67

5.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.42 $14.42

$5.25 $5.25

174.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.83 $7.83

$7.27 $7.27

7.70%

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

$310 $310

$253 $253

22.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,896 $5,896

$5,584 $5,584

5.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.2 $52.2

$57.1 $57.1

-8.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.68 $42.68

$54.4 $54.4

-21.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 $105

$99.9 $99.9

4.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$65.0 $65.0

69.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 $337

$377 $377

-10.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 $315

$323 $323

-2.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 $624

$678 $678

-7.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 $492

$513 $513

-4.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,311 $1,311

$1,216 $1,216

7.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$864 $864

$854 $854

1.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 $555

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.48

-18.55%

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

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $377 in Cuenca. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Bahia de Caraquez versus $25.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $184 – making Cuenca 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

Bahia de Caraquez vs Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $923 in Bahia de Caraquez, $900 in Cuenca – roughly 3% apart. Bahia de Caraquez costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,385 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $1,350 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $310 per month in Bahia de Caraquez and $253 in Cuenca. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Bahia de Caraquez, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $923 in Bahia de Caraquez and $900 in Cuenca, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $900 in Cuenca to $923 in Bahia de Caraquez. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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