Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Machala

😐 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 9.2% more expensive than Machala without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Cuenca is 10.7% more expensive than Machala without rent, and 24.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 $3.44

$2.56 $2.56

34.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.89 $24.89

$24.42 $24.42

1.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.07 $7.07

$6.55 $6.55

7.94%

Cappuccino

$2.47 $2.47

$2.63 $2.63

-6.08%

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

$0.79 $0.79

$0.73 $0.73

8.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.51 $0.51

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.63 $4.63

-26.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.06 $1.06

7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.04 $1.04

61.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.5 $1.5

$0.97 $0.97

54.64%

Eggs

$2.18 $2.18

$1.44 $1.44

51.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$3.23 $3.23

72.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$4.02 $4.02

36.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$4.62 $4.62

37.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.1 $2.1

-30.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.72 $0.72

61.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.04 $1.04

1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.39 $0.39

279.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.52 $0.52

98.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.4 $0.4

15.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.03 $1.03

3.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 $5.77

$4.45 $4.45

29.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$7.45 $7.45

33.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.62 $1.62

-11.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.23 $2.23

41.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.02 $27.02

$21.64 $21.64

24.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.53 $1.53

-55.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 $0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.4 $13.4

$7.93 $7.93

68.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.61 $0.61

8.20%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$18K $18K

64.74%

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

$29K $29K

$22.3K $22.3K

30.21%

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

$39.72 $39.72

$37.64 $37.64

5.53%

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

$13.99 $13.99

$13.9 $13.9

0.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.92 $30.92

$26.22 $26.22

17.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.84 $28.84

$42.15 $42.15

-31.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 $5.06

$30.56 $30.56

-83.44%

Cinema Ticket

$7.45 $7.45

$5.12 $5.12

45.51%

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

$259 $259

$134 $134

93.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,712 $5,712

$5,859 $5,859

-2.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 $55.7

$51.6 $51.6

7.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 $53.2

$42.82 $42.82

24.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 $100

$78.9 $78.9

26.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 $66.6

$69.5 $69.5

-4.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$188 $188

94.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 $330

$131 $131

151.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$682 $682

$344 $344

98.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$264 $264

92.41%

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

$455 $455

5.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

129.60%

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

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Machala: October 28, 2025

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