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

😐 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 10.5% more expensive than Ambato without rent, and 33% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cuenca is 11.2% more expensive than Ambato without rent, and 28.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 $3.48
$2.97 $2.97
17.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.23 $25.23
$24.83 $24.83
1.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.81 $6.81
$5.14 $5.14
32.49%
Cappuccino
$2.52 $2.52
$2.44 $2.44
3.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.78 $0.78
1.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.69 $0.69
-1.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.04 $2.04
-2.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.44 $3.44
1.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$0.97 $0.97
16.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.03 $1.03
62.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.51 $1.51
3.97%
Eggs
$2.16 $2.16
$1.94 $1.94
11.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$2.96 $2.96
83.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$3.03 $3.03
79.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.38 $6.38
$3.97 $3.97
60.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.43 $1.43
$0.97 $0.97
47.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.03 $1.03
5.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.98 $0.98
19.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.99 $0.99
9.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.98 $0.98
54.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.03 $1.03
3.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 $0.49
$0.50 $0.50
-2.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.98 $0.98
9.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.58 $5.58
$5.67 $5.67
-1.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.07 $10.07
$7.40 $7.40
36.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.46 $1.46
2.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.03 $3.03
5.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$0.31 $0.31
6.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.38 $27.38
$23.78 $23.78
15.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.68 $0.68
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.98 $0.98
4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.36 $13.36
$9.71 $9.71
37.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 $0.64
$0.68 $0.68
-5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$30.4K $30.4K
-0.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$28.1K $28.1K
3.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.07 $40.07
$39.49 $39.49
1.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.60 $13.60
$13.91 $13.91
-2.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.45 $30.45
$30.25 $30.25
0.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.62 $28.62
$29.84 $29.84
-4.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.10 $5.10
$14.76 $14.76
-65.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.35 $7.35
$6.29 $6.29
16.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 $254
$245 $245
3.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,604 $5,604
$2,394 $2,394
134.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 $55.4
$50.4 $50.4
10.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 $54.3
$36.88 $36.88
47.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$86.8 $86.8
15.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8 $64.8
$59.1 $59.1
9.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 $376
$348 $348
8.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$325 $325
$186 $186
75.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$689 $689
$631 $631
9.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 $512
$246 $246
108.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 $1,240
$990 $990
25.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$845 $845
$794 $794
6.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Ambato
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$539 $539
$695 $695
-22.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
8
43.50%

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

Last update for Cuenca: April 14, 2026

Last update for Ambato: April 12, 2026

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

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