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 $962 per month in Cuenca vs $812 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,425 per month in Cuenca vs $1,389 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Cuenca vs $1,966 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

Cuenca costs about 18% more than Bahia de Caraquez, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cuenca and Bahia de Caraquez are more affordable than the global median – Cuenca 30% lower, Bahia de Caraquez 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 $3.40

$4.11 $4.11

-17.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.33 $30.33

$49.59 $49.59

-38.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 $7.83

$9.68 $9.68

-19.11%

Cappuccino

$2.59 $2.59

$2.83 $2.83

-8.48%

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

$0.78 $0.78

$0.84 $0.84

-7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 $0.68

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.06 $3.06

-33.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.34 $4.34

-29.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.16 $1.16

-12.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.95 $1.95

-11.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.43 $1.43

25.87%

Eggs

$2.27 $2.27

$2.04 $2.04

11.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$6.89 $6.89

-15.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.19 $5.19

16.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.35 $7.35

$9.36 $9.36

-21.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.91 $1.91

$1.52 $1.52

25.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.14 $1.14

-4.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.03 $1.03

59.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 $1.32

$0.97 $0.97

36.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.23 $1.23

34.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.96 $0.96

9.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.81 $0.81

-4.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.94 $0.94

32.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 $5.39

$5.85 $5.85

-7.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$12.10 $12.10

-16.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.50 $1.50

-2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.11 $2.11

44.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.38 $0.38

-13.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.71 $15.71

$18.62 $18.62

-15.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.36 $1.36

2.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.71 $1.71

-37.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.82 $10.82

$12.08 $12.08

-10.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.83 $0.83

4.82%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$20.8K $20.8K

20.21%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$31.8K $31.8K

-8.54%

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

$37.14 $37.14

$36.55 $36.55

1.61%

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

$12.73 $12.73

$15.14 $15.14

-15.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 $26.04

$25.75 $25.75

1.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.22 $30.22

$28.52 $28.52

5.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 $5.13

$17.16 $17.16

-70.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 $7.48

$7.42 $7.42

0.81%

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

$216 $216

$407 $407

-47.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,815 $6,815

$6,019 $6,019

13.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$66.4 $66.4

-0.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.84 $47.84

$39.80 $39.80

20.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$127 $127

-9.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.3 $71.3

$94.1 $94.1

-24.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 $495

$259 $259

91.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 $382

$190 $190

101.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 $704

$610 $610

15.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 $580

$411 $411

41.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,239 $1,239

$1,276 $1,276

-2.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$840 $840

$705 $705

19.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$556 $556

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

10.05

11.04%

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

Last update for Cuenca: September 12, 2026

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $495 in Cuenca versus $259 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 $30.00 in Cuenca versus $50.0 in Bahia de Caraquez. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Cuenca vs $199 in Bahia de Caraquez – so Bahia de Caraquez 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 Bahia de Caraquez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $962 in Cuenca, $812 in Bahia de Caraquez – roughly 18% apart. Cuenca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,444 per month in Cuenca and $1,218 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 Bahia de Caraquez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $216 per month in Cuenca and $407 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 1% more in Cuenca, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahia de Caraquez, where all-in costs run around $812, than in Cuenca at $962. In Bahia de Caraquez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cuenca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $812 in Bahia de Caraquez to $962 in Cuenca. 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 Bahia de Caraquez. 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.