Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Loja Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Loja

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Cuenca is 18.4% more expensive than Loja without rent, and 23.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Cuenca is 12.3% more expensive than Loja without rent, and 19.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$3.08 $3.08
11.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$19.79 $19.79
25.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$7.03 $7.03
0.57%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$1.88 $1.88
31.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.64 $0.64
23.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.46 $0.46
43.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.98 $0.98
106.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$1.97 $1.97
73.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.97 $0.97
17.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.38 $1.38
21.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.5 $1.5
-
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$1.86 $1.86
17.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$5.43 $5.43
2.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$4.4 $4.4
24.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$6.02 $6.02
5.65%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.35 $1.35
8.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.95 $0.95
9.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$0.98 $0.98
18.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.03 $1.03
2.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.73 $0.73
102.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.8 $0.8
28.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.47 $0.47
-2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.03 $1.03
3.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$5.76 $5.76
0.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$6.19 $6.19
60.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.49 $1.49
-4.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.78 $2.78
13.67%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.31 $0.31
9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
$40.02 $40.02
-32.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.62 $0.62
9.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.01 $1.01
-2.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$13.53 $13.53
-0.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.63 $0.63
4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$14.9K $14.9K
99.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$29.2K $29.2K
-0.64%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$19.62 $19.62
102.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$10.59 $10.59
32.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$28.62 $28.62
8.04%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$33.5 $33.5
-13.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
$14.44 $14.44
-64.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$7.59 $7.59
-1.84%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$180 $180
44.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$1,975 $1,975
189.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$57 $57
-2.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$49.82 $49.82
6.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$85.9 $85.9
16.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$65.2 $65.2
2.12%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$288 $288
26.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$231 $231
43.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$433 $433
57.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$327 $327
55.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
$651 $651
103.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
$498 $498
137.84%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$432 $432
11.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
10
14.80%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Loja: October 27, 2025

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