Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Bahia de Caraquez Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Bahia de Caraquez

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $886 per month in Cuenca vs $942 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,347 per month in Cuenca vs $1,457 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Cuenca vs $1,971 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

Cuenca is about 6% cheaper than Bahia de Caraquez, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cuenca and Bahia de Caraquez are more affordable than the global median – Cuenca 34% lower, Bahia de Caraquez 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 $3.43

$3.42 $3.42

0.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.20 $25.20

$47.84 $47.84

-47.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 $7.18

$8.09 $8.09

-11.25%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$2.63 $2.63

-4.56%

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

$0.82 $0.82

$0.85 $0.85

-3.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.63 $0.63

1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.96 $2.96

-33.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.62 $4.62

-23.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.13 $1.13

-0.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.72 $1.72

-2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.76 $1.76

-13.07%

Eggs

$2.10 $2.10

$2.50 $2.50

-16.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$6.18 $6.18

-13.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$5.16 $5.16

9.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$6.42 $6.42

-0.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.13 $2.13

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.06 $1.06

2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.10 $1.10

7.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.08 $1.08

-4.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.89 $1.89

-19.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.45 $1.45

-26.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.68 $0.68

-27.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.98 $0.98

5.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.87 $5.87

-4.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.86 $11.86

-16.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.63 $1.63

-12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.13 $2.13

49.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.36 $0.36

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.64 $26.64

$23.80 $23.80

11.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 $0.64

$2.81 $2.81

-77.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.28 $13.28

$10.05 $10.05

32.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.67 $0.67

-4.48%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$25.4K $25.4K

20.00%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$28.8K $28.8K

0.32%

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

$39.96 $39.96

$38.08 $38.08

4.94%

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

$13.69 $13.69

$13.81 $13.81

-0.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.74 $30.74

$31.69 $31.69

-3.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.12 $29.12

$29.99 $29.99

-2.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.14 $5.14

$14.69 $14.69

-65.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 $7.43

$7.81 $7.81

-4.87%

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

$252 $252

$317 $317

-20.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,751 $5,751

$5,931 $5,931

-3.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$53.1 $53.1

3.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.91 $43.91

25.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$104 $104

-3.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.4 $65.4

$112 $112

-41.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 $372

$342 $342

8.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 $324

$311 $311

3.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 $679

$631 $631

7.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 $512

$499 $499

2.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 $1,233

$1,320 $1,320

-6.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$851 $851

$933 $933

-8.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 $536

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

9.35

22.78%

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

Last update for Cuenca: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Cuenca versus $342 in Bahia de Caraquez. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Cuenca versus $48.00 in Bahia de Caraquez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $195 – making Cuenca the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bahia de Caraquez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $886 in Cuenca, $942 in Bahia de Caraquez – roughly 6% apart. Bahia de Caraquez costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,329 per month in Cuenca and $1,413 in Bahia de Caraquez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $252 per month in Cuenca and $317 in Bahia de Caraquez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Bahia de Caraquez, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $886 in Cuenca and $942 in Bahia de Caraquez, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $886 in Cuenca to $942 in Bahia de Caraquez. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cuenca. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bahia de Caraquez makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.