Cost of Living Comparison Between Chone and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Chone and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $751 in Chone versus $949 in Vilcabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,203 in Chone versus $1,433 in Vilcabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,654 in Chone versus $1,917 in Vilcabamba.

Living in Chone costs roughly 21% less than in Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chone 45% lower, Vilcabamba 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 $3.42

$3.49 $3.49

-2.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.92 $33.92

$29.81 $29.81

13.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.16 $7.16

$7.83 $7.83

-8.56%

Cappuccino

$2.56 $2.56

$2.19 $2.19

16.89%

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

$0.81 $0.81

$1.02 $1.02

-20.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.04 $1.04

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.04 $2.04

-6.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$3.47 $3.47

-20.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.04 $1.04

-6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.60 $1.60

-13.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.57 $1.57

5.73%

Eggs

$2.13 $2.13

$2.49 $2.49

-14.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$8.47 $8.47

-30.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 $4.58

$5.14 $5.14

-10.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.31 $7.31

11.08%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.71 $1.71

-5.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.07 $1.07

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.15 $1.15

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.15 $1.15

-10.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.93 $0.93

37.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.08 $1.08

-15.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.71 $0.71

8.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.99 $0.99

19.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.97 $4.97

$5.11 $5.11

-2.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.64 $7.64

$10.92 $10.92

-30.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.63 $1.63

-19.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.69 $2.69

21.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.35 $0.35

2.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.39 $18.39

$16.23 $16.23

13.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.34 $1.34

-9.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.11 $1.11

7.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.19 $11.19

$10.05 $10.05

11.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.70 $0.70

12.86%

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

$23.5K $23.5K

$21.3K $21.3K

10.25%

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

$32.8K $32.8K

$28.4K $28.4K

15.24%

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

$40.89 $40.89

$37.48 $37.48

9.10%

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

$11.81 $11.81

$13.36 $13.36

-11.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.81 $27.81

$35.80 $35.80

-22.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.76 $26.76

$30.59 $30.59

-12.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.54 $18.54

$17.40 $17.40

6.55%

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 $6.73

$7.39 $7.39

-8.93%

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

$203 $203

$205 $205

-1.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,399 $6,399

$6,463 $6,463

-0.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$54.5 $54.5

1.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.52 $40.52

$42.64 $42.64

-4.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 $109

$96.7 $96.7

12.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 $77.2

$71.1 $71.1

8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$277 $277

$386 $386

-28.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$162 $162

$388 $388

-58.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 $791

$616 $616

28.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 $367

$565 $565

-35.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,262 $1,262

$1,180 $1,180

6.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$781 $781

$764 $764

2.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 $454

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

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

Last update for Chone: September 12, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Chone and $386 in Vilcabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Chone vs $30.00 in Vilcabamba. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $196, with Chone cheaper for home cooking.

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

Chone vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chone wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Vilcabamba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,127 in Chone and $1,423 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: $277 in Chone versus $386 in Vilcabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $751 per month in Chone versus $949 in Vilcabamba – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chone runs roughly 13% less than in Vilcabamba. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $751 in Chone versus $949 in Vilcabamba, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Chone but tight or insufficient in Vilcabamba. The gap between the two cities makes Chone the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Chone 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 Chone gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.