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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $886 per month in Cuenca vs $632 in Machala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,347 per month in Cuenca vs $1,006 in Machala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Cuenca vs $1,379 in Machala, rent included.

Cuenca costs about 40% more than Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cuenca and Machala are more affordable than the global median – Cuenca 34% lower, Machala 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 $3.43

$2.43 $2.43

41.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.20 $25.20

$24.77 $24.77

1.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 $7.18

$6.64 $6.64

8.13%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$2.63 $2.63

-4.56%

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

$0.82 $0.82

$0.76 $0.76

7.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.49 $0.49

30.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.95 $1.95

0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.40 $4.40

-19.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.10 $1.10

1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.04 $1.04

61.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.95 $0.95

61.05%

Eggs

$2.10 $2.10

$1.51 $1.51

39.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 $5.36

$3.32 $3.32

61.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 $5.63

$4.06 $4.06

38.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$4.67 $4.67

36.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.06 $2.06

-31.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.06 $1.06

2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.73 $0.73

61.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.08 $1.08

-4.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.41 $0.41

270.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.52 $0.52

105.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.37 $0.37

32.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.01 $1.01

1.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.60 $5.60

$4.34 $4.34

29.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$7.42 $7.42

33.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 $1.43

$1.63 $1.63

-12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.20 $2.20

44.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.36 $0.36

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.64 $26.64

$24.27 $24.27

9.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.53 $1.53

-58.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.28 $13.28

$8.17 $8.17

62.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.59 $0.59

8.47%

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

$30.5K $30.5K

$18.3K $18.3K

66.74%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$21.8K $21.8K

32.42%

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

$39.96 $39.96

$38.13 $38.13

4.80%

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

$13.69 $13.69

$13.93 $13.93

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.74 $30.74

$26.57 $26.57

15.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.12 $29.12

$42.24 $42.24

-31.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.14 $5.14

$14.78 $14.78

-65.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 $7.43

$5.03 $5.03

47.71%

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

$252 $252

$134 $134

87.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,751 $5,751

$5,947 $5,947

-3.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 $54.9

$52.3 $52.3

5.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

$43.82 $43.82

25.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$78.9 $78.9

27.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.4 $65.4

$68.0 $68.0

-3.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 $372

$188 $188

98.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 $324

$134 $134

141.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 $679

$352 $352

92.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 $512

$262 $262

95.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 $1,233

$1,346 $1,346

-8.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$851 $851

$763 $763

11.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$536 $536

$441 $441

21.55%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Machala: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Cuenca versus $188 in Machala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Cuenca, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Cuenca versus $25.00 in Machala. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Cuenca vs $144 in Machala – so Machala 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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cuenca is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,329 per month in Cuenca and $949 in Machala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Machala, 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 $25.00 in Cuenca and $25.00 in Machala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $886 in Cuenca and $632 in Machala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $886 in Cuenca and $632 in Machala, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Machala – 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 Machala. 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.