Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Cumbaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Cumbaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $975 per month in Cuenca vs $816 in Cumbaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Cuenca vs $1,385 in Cumbaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Cuenca vs $1,954 in Cumbaya, rent included.

Cuenca costs about 19% more than Cumbaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cuenca and Cumbaya are more affordable than the global median – Cuenca 29% lower, Cumbaya 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 $3.45

$5.02 $5.02

-31.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.29 $30.29

$53.0 $53.0

-42.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.52 $7.52

7.98%

Cappuccino

$2.65 $2.65

$3.46 $3.46

-23.41%

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

$0.78 $0.78

$1.41 $1.41

-44.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 $0.63

$1.17 $1.17

-46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 $2.05

$3.44 $3.44

-40.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$4.95 $4.95

-38.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.14 $1.14

-6.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.62 $1.62

8.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.52 $1.52

22.37%

Eggs

$2.26 $2.26

$2.09 $2.09

8.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$6.58 $6.58

-11.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$5.59 $5.59

8.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 $7.49

$7.84 $7.84

-4.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$2.32 $2.32

-21.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.19 $1.19

-8.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.33 $1.33

24.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.08 $1.08

19.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.20 $1.20

32.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 $0.75

$0.85 $0.85

-11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.05 $1.05

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.40 $5.40

$5.89 $5.89

-8.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.83 $9.83

$9.82 $9.82

0.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.56 $1.56

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$3.06 $3.06

1.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.36 $0.36

-13.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.03 $16.03

$20.40 $20.40

-21.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.53 $1.53

-9.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.48 $1.48

-23.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.08 $11.08

$9.93 $9.93

11.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.80 $0.80

8.75%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$20.8K $20.8K

20.25%

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

$29.3K $29.3K

$28.3K $28.3K

3.60%

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

$37.77 $37.77

$28.32 $28.32

33.37%

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

$12.49 $12.49

$18.02 $18.02

-30.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.44 $26.44

$28.57 $28.57

-7.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.73 $29.73

$29.88 $29.88

-0.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.18 $5.18

$16.49 $16.49

-68.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 $7.20

$6.78 $6.78

6.19%

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

$218 $218

$215 $215

1.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,857 $6,857

$9,041 $9,041

-24.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 $65.8

$64.8 $64.8

1.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.95 $46.95

$49.01 $49.01

-4.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$115 $115

-1.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 $71.7

$110 $110

-34.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 $494

$301 $301

64.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 $385

$189 $189

103.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 $679

$665 $665

2.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 $591

$417 $417

41.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,213 $1,213

$1,200 $1,200

1.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$849 $849

$764 $764

11.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$559 $559

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

10.12

10.28%

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

Last update for Cuenca: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cumbaya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Cuenca versus $301 in Cumbaya. 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 $53.0 in Cumbaya. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Cuenca vs $198 in Cumbaya – so Cumbaya 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 Cumbaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cuenca is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,462 per month in Cuenca and $1,224 in Cumbaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cumbaya, 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 $30.00 in Cuenca and $53.0 in Cumbaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $975 in Cuenca and $816 in Cumbaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cumbaya, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Cuenca at $975. In Cumbaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cuenca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cumbaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cumbaya. 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.