Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotacachi and Guayaquil Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotacachi and Guayaquil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Cotacachi versus $1,148 in Guayaquil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,189 in Cotacachi versus $1,770 in Guayaquil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,651 in Cotacachi versus $2,393 in Guayaquil.

Living in Cotacachi costs roughly 37% less than in Guayaquil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cotacachi 47% lower, Guayaquil 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.10 $4.10

$3.96 $3.96

3.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.67 $25.67

$49.03 $49.03

-47.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 $4.53

$9.72 $9.72

-53.40%

Cappuccino

$2.12 $2.12

$2.86 $2.86

-25.87%

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

$1.29 $1.29

$0.86 $0.86

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.74 $0.74

10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.96 $2.96

-33.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 $3.98

$4.32 $4.32

-7.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.18 $1.18

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.92 $1.92

-20.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.41 $1.41

7.09%

Eggs

$2.17 $2.17

$2.03 $2.03

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$7.10 $7.10

-7.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.19 $5.19

8.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.07 $7.07

$9.40 $9.40

-24.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.51 $1.51

45.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.18 $1.18

-4.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.98 $0.98

29.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.28 $1.28

-7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.92 $0.92

11.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.87 $0.87

-4.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.99 $0.99

7.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 $4.55

$5.97 $5.97

-23.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 $7.67

$11.90 $11.90

-35.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.55 $1.55

1.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.22 $2.22

37.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.36 $0.36

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.81 $14.81

$19.73 $19.73

-24.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.71 $2.71

-52.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.74 $1.74

-44.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.12 $10.12

$11.82 $11.82

-14.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.89 $0.89

-16.85%

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

$20.8K $20.8K

$21.2K $21.2K

-2.12%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$31.8K $31.8K

-11.20%

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

$28.80 $28.80

$130 $130

-77.84%

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

$12.93 $12.93

$15.08 $15.08

-14.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.49 $26.49

$25.48 $25.48

3.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.58 $30.58

$46.99 $46.99

-34.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.14 $10.14

$26.64 $26.64

-61.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.87 $6.87

$7.32 $7.32

-6.15%

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

$75.4 $75.4

$403 $403

-81.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,014 $3,014

$5,963 $5,963

-49.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.28 $42.28

$65.6 $65.6

-35.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.72 $42.72

$40.69 $40.69

4.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.2 $94.2

$127 $127

-25.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 $60.1

$93.6 $93.6

-35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 $265

$471 $471

-43.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$188 $188

$403 $403

-53.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 $466

$784 $784

-40.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$418 $418

$735 $735

-43.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$595 $595

$2,311 $2,311

-74.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$505 $505

$1,432 $1,432

-64.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$427 $427

$609 $609

-29.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

10.05

0.70%

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

Last update for Cotacachi: September 15, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Cotacachi and $471 in Guayaquil. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Guayaquil pays 43% 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: $26.00 in Cotacachi vs $49.00 in Guayaquil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $200 per month, with Cotacachi 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

Cotacachi vs Guayaquil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotacachi and Guayaquil differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($727 vs $1,148 including rent). Cotacachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Guayaquil. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Cotacachi versus $471 in Guayaquil. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cotacachi runs roughly 33% less than in Guayaquil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $75.4 in Cotacachi versus $403 in Guayaquil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $727 in Cotacachi versus $1,148 in Guayaquil, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cotacachi but tight or insufficient in Guayaquil. The gap between the two cities makes Cotacachi 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, Cotacachi and Guayaquil 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 Cotacachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Guayaquil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.