Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotacachi and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Cotacachi and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $716 in Cotacachi versus $940 in Vilcabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,137 in Cotacachi versus $1,457 in Vilcabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Cotacachi versus $1,975 in Vilcabamba.

Living in Cotacachi costs roughly 24% less than in Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cotacachi 46% lower, Vilcabamba 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.66 $3.66

$3.19 $3.19

14.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.20 $20.20

$35.49 $35.49

-43.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 $4.55

$7.63 $7.63

-40.37%

Cappuccino

$2.21 $2.21

$2.17 $2.17

1.84%

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

$1.08 $1.08

$0.98 $0.98

10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.88 $0.88

-19.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.98 $1.98

-1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$3.55 $3.55

13.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.91 $0.91

21.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 $1.56

$2.02 $2.02

-22.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.34 $1.34

39.55%

Eggs

$2.21 $2.21

$2.26 $2.26

-2.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.52 $8.52

$7.48 $7.48

13.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.68 $7.68

$5.84 $5.84

31.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 $7.32

$7.06 $7.06

3.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.55 $2.55

-21.18%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.21 $1.21

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.72 $1.72

-39.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.04 $1.04

23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.02 $1.02

41.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.03 $1.03

6.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 $4.45

$6.43 $6.43

-30.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.43 $7.43

$11.14 $11.14

-33.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.60 $1.60

-0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.48 $2.48

18.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.33 $0.33

45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 $14.77

$24.35 $24.35

-39.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.52 $1.52

-19.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.96 $0.96

-6.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.90 $9.90

$10.17 $10.17

-2.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.65 $0.65

9.23%

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

$19.6K $19.6K

$19.7K $19.7K

-0.24%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$27.0K $27.0K

-4.96%

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

$34.89 $34.89

$57.3 $57.3

-39.11%

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

$12.55 $12.55

$13.40 $13.40

-6.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.99 $25.99

$35.18 $35.18

-26.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.43 $30.43

$29.98 $29.98

1.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.13 $8.13

$14.69 $14.69

-44.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 $6.89

$7.31 $7.31

-5.75%

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

$74.2 $74.2

$259 $259

-71.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,032 $3,032

$5,641 $5,641

-46.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.10 $42.10

$80.2 $80.2

-47.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.46 $41.46

$20.07 $20.07

106.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$96.4 $96.4

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 $61.0

$74.7 $74.7

-18.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 $270

$339 $339

-20.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 $174

$324 $324

-46.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$413 $413

$633 $633

-34.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 $345

$585 $585

-41.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$588 $588

$1,188 $1,188

-50.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$520 $520

$800 $800

-34.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$428 $428

$464 $464

-7.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

10.6

5.57%

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

Last update for Cotacachi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Cotacachi and $339 in Vilcabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vilcabamba pays 8% 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: $20.00 in Cotacachi vs $35.00 in Vilcabamba. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $204, with Vilcabamba 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

Cotacachi vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cotacachi and Vilcabamba differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($716 vs $940 including rent). Cotacachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Vilcabamba. 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: $270 in Cotacachi versus $339 in Vilcabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cotacachi runs roughly 65% less than in Vilcabamba. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $74.2 in Cotacachi versus $259 in Vilcabamba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cotacachi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 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 Cotacachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.