Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Quito

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $1,014 a month against $2,709 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent and utilities included – about $20,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Quito, Ecuador
Colorado Springs, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,709
/mo nomad
Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$1,014
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,709 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,014 in Quito.

  • Colorado Springs, CO $2,709
  • Quito $1,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,232 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,641 in Quito.

  • Colorado Springs, CO $4,232
  • Quito $1,641

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,755 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,269 in Quito.

  • Colorado Springs, CO $5,755
  • Quito $2,269

Living in Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 167% more expensive than in Quito, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Colorado Springs, CO is 100% above, Quito is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.98 $19.98
$5.55 $5.55
260.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.1 $86.1
$54.6 $54.6
57.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.20 $13.20
$7.63 $7.63
73.00%
Cappuccino
$5.44 $5.44
$3.33 $3.33
63.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$1.36 $1.36
101.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.14 $1.14
95.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.10 $6.10
$3.69 $3.69
65.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$6.16 $6.16
13.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.15 $1.15
-15.65%
White Bread (500g)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.61 $1.61
98.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$1.51 $1.51
181.46%
Eggs
$5.96 $5.96
$2.15 $2.15
177.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.68 $14.68
$6.47 $6.47
126.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.38 $13.38
$5.33 $5.33
151.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.16 $19.16
$7.77 $7.77
146.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$2.23 $2.23
142.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.24 $1.24
12.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.27 $1.27
242.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.85 $4.85
$1.08 $1.08
349.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.24 $1.24
104.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$1.06 $1.06
147.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 $2.29
$0.91 $0.91
151.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.98 $0.98
103.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.14 $10.14
$5.95 $5.95
70.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.05 $19.05
$8.35 $8.35
128.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.52 $1.52
115.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 $4.65
$3.20 $3.20
45.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 $1.71
$0.33 $0.33
418.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.7 $63.7
$21.42 $21.42
197.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 $3.65
$1.53 $1.53
138.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.53 $1.53
5.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.34 $25.34
$10.01 $10.01
153.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.85 $0.85
23.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$22.7K $22.7K
22.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K $26.9K
$29.6K $29.6K
-9.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 $202
$28.99 $28.99
596.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$93.4 $93.4
$17.94 $17.94
420.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 $101
$28.85 $28.85
250.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.13 $44.13
$45.09 $45.09
-2.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.07 $34.07
$17.78 $17.78
91.62%
Cinema Ticket
$14.72 $14.72
$6.75 $6.75
118.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,535 $1,535
$743 $743
106.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.2K $21.2K
$8,223 $8,223
158.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5 $58.5
$69.8 $69.8
-16.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 $35.36
$50.3 $50.3
-29.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.9 $80.9
$113 $113
-28.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$107 $107
-4.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 $1,709
$542 $542
215.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,265 $1,265
$354 $354
257.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,854 $2,854
$1,141 $1,141
150.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,548 $2,548
$638 $638
299.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,783 $2,783
$1,636 $1,636
70.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,320 $2,320
$663 $663
250.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colorado Springs, CO
Quito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,276 $4,276
$603 $603
608.92%
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 Colorado Springs, CO: November 3, 2026

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Colorado Springs, CO
$1.3K
Quito
$354 72% $911
Groceries & Markets
Colorado Springs, CO
$438
Quito
$193 56% $245
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colorado Springs, CO
$397
Quito
$76 80.9% $321
Eating Out
Colorado Springs, CO
$329
Quito
$148 55% $181
Clothing & Footwear
Colorado Springs, CO
$124
Quito
$153 22.9% $28
Getting Around
Colorado Springs, CO
$82
Quito
$32 61.1% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Colorado Springs, CO
$74
Quito
$59 20.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,709 in Colorado Springs, CO and $542 in Quito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colorado Springs, CO pays about 7.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $86 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $55 in Quito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $438 vs $193 per month, with Quito cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Colorado Springs, CO
🇪🇨 Quito
🕒 Local time
16:16 4:16 PM
18:16 6:16 PM
2 h ahead of Colorado Springs, CO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
478,961
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 = 0.895 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Colorado Springs, CO Quito 5,100 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Colorado Springs, 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
Colorado Springs, CO vs Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quito cheaper than Colorado Springs, CO?
Quito is about 63% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Colorado Springs, CO or Quito?
Average pay in Colorado Springs, CO is about 7.1 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Colorado Springs, CO and Quito?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,709 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $542 in Quito. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Colorado Springs, CO and in Quito?
Supermarket bills run roughly 127% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Colorado Springs, CO or in Quito?
Dining out is cheaper in Quito – a meal for two runs $55 versus $86 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Colorado Springs, CO or in Quito?
At $1,014 in Quito versus $2,709 in Colorado Springs, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quito but tight or insufficient in Colorado Springs, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Quito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Colorado Springs, CO or in Quito?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Quito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Colorado Springs, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared

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