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

😐 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 7.9% more expensive than Loja without rent, and 21% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cuenca is 20.3% more expensive than Loja without rent, and 19.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.60 $3.60
$3.03 $3.03
18.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.87 $24.87
$20.10 $20.10
23.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.13 $7.13
$6.81 $6.81
4.70%
Cappuccino
$2.50 $2.50
$1.79 $1.79
39.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 $0.81
$0.65 $0.65
24.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.45 $0.45
51.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$0.98 $0.98
106.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.06 $2.06
73.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.98 $0.98
19.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.35 $1.35
21.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.49 $1.49
4.03%
Eggs
$2.17 $2.17
$1.94 $1.94
11.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.60 $5.60
$5.53 $5.53
1.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$4.54 $4.54
18.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$6.02 $6.02
2.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.36 $1.36
8.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.91 $0.91
16.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$0.98 $0.98
21.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.03 $1.03
2.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.79 $0.79
84.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.84 $0.84
23.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.47 $0.47
-2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.03 $1.03
-0.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70 $5.70
$5.64 $5.64
1.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.88 $9.88
$6.33 $6.33
56.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.46 $1.46
1.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.75 $2.75
18.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$0.29 $0.29
24.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.54 $26.54
$40.38 $40.38
-34.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 $0.67
$0.66 $0.66
1.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.98 $0.98
3.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.65 $13.65
$13.44 $13.44
1.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 $0.63
$0.68 $0.68
-7.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$15.0K $15.0K
103.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$28.4K $28.4K
1.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.03 $40.03
$20.26 $20.26
97.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.53 $13.53
$10.68 $10.68
26.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.85 $30.85
$27.75 $27.75
11.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.37 $29.37
$33.30 $33.30
-11.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.31 $5.31
$14.05 $14.05
-62.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.53 $7.53
$7.43 $7.43
1.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 $252
$176 $176
43.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,636 $5,636
$1,986 $1,986
183.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9 $54.9
$56.1 $56.1
-2.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 $54.4
$49.94 $49.94
8.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 $99.1
$85.6 $85.6
15.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3 $67.3
$64.8 $64.8
3.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$379 $379
$283 $283
33.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 $331
$226 $226
46.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 $673
$430 $430
56.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 $496
$328 $328
50.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,227 $1,227
$651 $651
88.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$833 $833
$502 $502
65.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Loja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$537 $537
$443 $443
21.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
10
14.80%

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

Last update for Cuenca: March 1, 2026

Last update for Loja: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar cities