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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $891 per month in Cuenca vs $669 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,325 per month in Cuenca vs $1,002 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,759 per month in Cuenca vs $1,334 in Ambato, rent included.

Cuenca costs about 33% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cuenca and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Cuenca 34% lower, Ambato 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 $3.40

$3.03 $3.03

12.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.57 $24.57

$25.06 $25.06

-1.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 $7.13

$5.12 $5.12

39.26%

Cappuccino

$2.48 $2.48

$2.49 $2.49

-0.40%

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

$0.83 $0.83

$0.78 $0.78

6.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.64 $0.64

9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.01 $2.01

-1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.60 $3.60

-0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.98 $0.98

15.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.02 $1.02

57.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.50 $1.50

2.00%

Eggs

$2.09 $2.09

$1.98 $1.98

5.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$3.05 $3.05

78.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$2.93 $2.93

87.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 $6.25

$4.11 $4.11

52.07%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.97 $0.97

51.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.02 $1.02

20.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.01 $1.01

4.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.02 $1.02

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.98 $0.98

8.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.50 $0.50

-8.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.03 $1.03

0.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.70 $5.70

$5.90 $5.90

-3.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.33 $10.33

$8.93 $8.93

15.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.50 $1.50

-4.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.04 $3.04

8.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.31 $0.31

6.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.98 $26.98

$24.02 $24.02

12.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.67 $0.67

1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 $0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.64 $13.64

$9.62 $9.62

41.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.66 $0.66

-4.55%

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

$30.4K $30.4K

-0.04%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$28.4K $28.4K

-0.53%

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

$39.61 $39.61

$39.33 $39.33

0.71%

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

$13.71 $13.71

$13.79 $13.79

-0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.29 $31.29

$30.26 $30.26

3.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.47 $29.47

$29.61 $29.61

-0.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 $5.30

$14.84 $14.84

-64.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.46 $7.46

$6.07 $6.07

22.90%

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

$250 $250

$255 $255

-1.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,599 $5,599

$2,356 $2,356

137.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 $55.2

$49.59 $49.59

11.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.5 $54.5

$37.10 $37.10

46.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 $99.7

$88.5 $88.5

12.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.6 $65.6

$58.9 $58.9

11.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 $370

$336 $336

10.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$325 $325

$187 $187

73.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$674 $674

$616 $616

9.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 $503

$251 $251

100.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,245 $1,245

$1,133 $1,133

9.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$827 $827

$883 $883

-6.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$537 $537

$668 $668

-19.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

43.50%

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

Last update for Cuenca: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ambato: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $370 in Cuenca versus $336 in Ambato. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Ambato, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Cuenca versus $25.00 in Ambato. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Cuenca vs $141 in Ambato – so Ambato wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cuenca vs Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cuenca costs about 33% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,336 per month in Cuenca and $1,004 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Cuenca and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $891 in Cuenca and $669 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $891 in Cuenca and $669 in Ambato, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $669 versus $891 in Cuenca. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ambato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cuenca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.