Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Ambato

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Cuenca is 25.3% more expensive than Ambato without rent, and 35.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Cuenca is 26.3% more expensive than Ambato without rent, and 36.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$2.95 $2.95
16.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$25.28 $25.28
-1.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$5.2 $5.2
35.96%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$2.44 $2.44
1.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.79 $0.79
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.64 $0.64
3.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.96 $1.96
3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.46 $3.46
-1.16%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.02 $1.02
11.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.03 $1.03
63.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.5 $1.5
-
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$2.05 $2.05
6.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$3.04 $3.04
83.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$2.95 $2.95
85.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$3.9 $3.9
63.08%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.98 $0.98
48.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.02 $1.02
1.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.99 $0.99
17.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.98 $0.98
8.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.02 $1.02
45.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.02 $1.02
0.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.47 $0.47
-2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.97 $0.97
10.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$5.69 $5.69
1.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$8.87 $8.87
11.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.45 $1.45
-1.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.02 $3.02
4.64%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.29 $0.29
17.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.62 $0.62
9.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.98 $0.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$9.75 $9.75
37.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.62 $0.62
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$29.6K $29.6K
0.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$28.7K $28.7K
1.00%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$39.01 $39.01
1.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$13.5 $13.5
3.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$31.38 $31.38
-1.47%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$30.22 $30.22
-4.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$6.07 $6.07
22.73%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$250 $250
3.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$2,355 $2,355
142.58%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$49.12 $49.12
13.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$37.54 $37.54
41.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$88.7 $88.7
12.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$59.8 $59.8
11.32%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$347 $347
5.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$185 $185
78.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$625 $625
9.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$251 $251
102.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
$1,009 $1,009
31.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
$787 $787
50.55%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$687 $687
-29.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
8
43.50%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Ambato: October 28, 2025

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