Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Esmeraldas Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Esmeraldas

🙂 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 7.3% cheaper than Esmeraldas without rent, and 2.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Cuenca is 12% cheaper than Esmeraldas without rent, and 2.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 $3.44

$3.98 $3.98

-13.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.89 $24.89

$33.47 $33.47

-25.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 $7.07

$4.08 $4.08

73.28%

Cappuccino

$2.47 $2.47

$2.88 $2.88

-14.24%

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

$0.79 $0.79

$0.49 $0.49

61.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.49 $0.49

34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.06 $4.06

-15.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.98 $0.98

16.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.5 $1.5

12.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.5 $1.5

$1.79 $1.79

-16.20%

Eggs

$2.18 $2.18

$1.52 $1.52

43.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$8.57 $8.57

-35.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$7.77 $7.77

-29.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$8.34 $8.34

-23.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2 $2

-27.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.21 $1.21

-14.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.04 $1.04

11.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.33 $1.33

-20.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.45 $1.45

2.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.11 $1.11

-7.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.52 $0.52

-11.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.02 $1.02

4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 $5.77

$5.88 $5.88

-1.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$9.86 $9.86

0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.54 $1.54

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.98 $2.98

6.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.33 $0.33

3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.02 $27.02

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.54 $1.54

-55.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.23 $1.23

-20.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.4 $13.4

$9.93 $9.93

34.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$19.7K $19.7K

50.45%

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

$29K $29K

$25.6K $25.6K

13.20%

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

$39.72 $39.72

$35.06 $35.06

13.29%

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

$13.99 $13.99

$14.21 $14.21

-1.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.92 $30.92

$28.57 $28.57

8.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.84 $28.84

$30.57 $30.57

-5.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 $5.06

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 $7.45

$6.91 $6.91

7.81%

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

$259 $259

$281 $281

-7.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,712 $5,712

$8,625 $8,625

-33.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$56.3 $56.3

-1.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 $53.2

$42.67 $42.67

24.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$103 $103

-2.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 $66.6

$83.9 $83.9

-20.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$339 $339

7.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 $330

$311 $311

6.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 $682

$621 $621

9.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$489 $489

3.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,328 $1,328

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,185 $1,185

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$481 $481

$450 $450

6.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

11.19

2.59%

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

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Esmeraldas: October 28, 2025

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