Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ciudad Obregon and Quito

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $984 a month against $1,183 in Ciudad Obregon, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ciudad Obregon
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,183
/mo nomad
Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$984
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ciudad Obregon 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 Ciudad Obregon and in Quito actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,183 in Ciudad Obregon versus $984 in Quito.

  • Ciudad Obregon $1,183
  • Quito $984

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Ciudad Obregon versus $1,587 in Quito.

  • Ciudad Obregon $1,868
  • Quito $1,587

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,553 in Ciudad Obregon versus $2,189 in Quito.

  • Ciudad Obregon $2,553
  • Quito $2,189

Living in Ciudad Obregon is roughly 20% more expensive than in Quito, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ciudad Obregon 13% lower, Quito 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.31 MX$191
$6.07 $6.07
69.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.41 MX$895
$53.8 $53.8
-9.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.32 MX$154
$7.45 $7.45
11.68%
Cappuccino
$3.94 MX$72.7
$3.34 $3.34
17.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 MX$22.87
$1.39 $1.39
-10.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$20.93
$1.15 $1.15
-1.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 MX$47.31
$3.45 $3.45
-25.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 MX$80.1
$5.98 $5.98
-27.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 MX$29.02
$1.10 $1.10
42.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 MX$47.49
$1.53 $1.53
67.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 MX$32.05
$1.49 $1.49
16.11%
Eggs
$2.39 MX$44.10
$2.09 $2.09
14.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.27 MX$153
$6.33 $6.33
30.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.07 MX$149
$5.58 $5.58
44.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.24 MX$208
$7.57 $7.57
48.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$48.92
$2.23 $2.23
18.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 MX$27.48
$1.24 $1.24
20.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 MX$34.15
$1.28 $1.28
44.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 MX$32.82
$1.13 $1.13
57.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$1.18 $1.18
70.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.74 MX$32.07
$1.08 $1.08
61.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 MX$27.18
$0.93 $0.93
58.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$20.57
$1.02 $1.02
8.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 MX$78.6
$5.91 $5.91
-28.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.44 MX$211
$10.06 $10.06
13.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 MX$31.39
$1.52 $1.52
11.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 MX$57.1
$3.20 $3.20
-3.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MX$12.48
$0.37 $0.37
83.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$21.25 $21.25
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 MX$46.69
$1.48 $1.48
70.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 MX$30.81
$1.52 $1.52
9.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.65 MX$178
$10.08 $10.08
-4.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$25.00
$0.81 $0.81
66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K MX$478.2K
$22.8K $22.8K
13.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K MX$469.7K
$30.6K $30.6K
-16.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.9 MX$1,218
$28.20 $28.20
133.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.30 MX$357
$17.65 $17.65
9.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.95 MX$535
$28.83 $28.83
0.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.67 MX$622
$46.91 $46.91
-28.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.00 MX$370
$18.10 $18.10
10.50%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07 MX$93.7
$6.58 $6.58
-22.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$215 MX$3,980
$744 $744
-71.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,644 MX$85.8K
$9,068 $9,068
-48.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 MX$987
$70.1 $70.1
-23.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.86 MX$755
$49.81 $49.81
-17.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 MX$1,862
$115 $115
-12.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.8 MX$1,659
$110 $110
-18.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$684 MX$12.6K
$481 $481
42.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 MX$8,053
$317 $317
37.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,160 MX$21.4K
$950 $950
22.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$786 MX$14.5K
$546 $546
43.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 MX$35.7K
$1,775 $1,775
8.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,120 MX$20.7K
$722 $722
55.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ciudad Obregon
Quito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,189 MX$22.0K
$597 $597
99.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
10.12
11.66%

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

Last update for Ciudad Obregon: October 19, 2026

Last update for Quito: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ciudad Obregon
$436
Quito
$317 27.3% $119
Groceries & Markets
Ciudad Obregon
$261
Quito
$195 25.3% $66
Eating Out
Ciudad Obregon
$186
Quito
$150 19% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Ciudad Obregon
$128
Quito
$155 21% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ciudad Obregon
$114
Quito
$75 34.6% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Ciudad Obregon
$44
Quito
$60 37.1% $16
Getting Around
Ciudad Obregon
$14 *
Quito
$32 134% $18

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $684 in Ciudad Obregon and $481 in Quito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ciudad Obregon pays 99% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Ciudad Obregon vs $54.0 in Quito. Groceries flip the comparison at $261 vs $195, with Quito cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Ciudad Obregon
🇪🇨 Quito
🕒 Local time
11:27 11:27 AM
13:27 1:27 PM
2 h ahead of Ciudad Obregon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
329,404
2,671,191 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ciudad Obregon Quito 4,550 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ciudad Obregon
  • 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
Ciudad Obregon vs Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ciudad Obregon or Quito?
Quito wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Ciudad Obregon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Quito the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ciudad Obregon or in Quito?
Average pay runs 99% higher in Ciudad Obregon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ciudad Obregon compared to Quito?
Rent for a central apartment: $684 in Ciudad Obregon versus $481 in Quito. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ciudad Obregon and in Quito?
Childcare runs $215 in Ciudad Obregon versus $744 in Quito. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ciudad Obregon and in Quito?
Dining out is cheaper in Quito – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $48.00 in Ciudad Obregon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ciudad Obregon or in Quito?
At $984 in Quito versus $1,183 in Ciudad Obregon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quito but tight or insufficient in Ciudad Obregon. The gap between the two cities makes Quito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ciudad Obregon or Quito?
Both work as nomad bases, but Quito delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $984 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Quito hard to pass up.
How safe is Ciudad Obregon compared to Quito?
Safety-wise, Ciudad Obregon and Quito are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Quito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ciudad Obregon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ciudad Obregon vs other spots: cost of living compared

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