Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Quito

🙂 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 11.8% cheaper than Quito without rent, and 3.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cuenca is 13.9% cheaper than Quito without rent, and 9.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$4.61 $4.61
-25.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$32.37 $32.37
-23.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$7.26 $7.26
-2.62%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$2.89 $2.89
-14.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.07 $1.07
-26.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.66 $0.66
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.03 $2.03
-0.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.12 $4.12
-16.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.05 $1.05
8.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.49 $1.49
12.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.78 $1.78
-15.73%
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$2.25 $2.25
-3.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$8.65 $8.65
-35.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$7.95 $7.95
-31.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$8.22 $8.22
-22.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.08 $2.08
-29.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.22 $1.22
-14.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.03 $1.03
12.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.35 $1.35
-21.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.43 $1.43
3.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.07 $1.07
-3.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.85 $0.85
-45.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.07 $1.07
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$6.17 $6.17
-6.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$10.06 $10.06
-1.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.53 $1.53
-6.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.86 $2.86
10.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.34 $0.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
$26.78 $26.78
0.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$1.49 $1.49
-54.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.48 $1.48
-33.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$10.08 $10.08
32.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.7 $0.7
-5.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$19.9K $19.9K
48.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$25.3K $25.3K
14.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$34.65 $34.65
14.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$14.52 $14.52
-3.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$29.37 $29.37
5.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$41.1 $41.1
-29.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
$16.93 $16.93
-70.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$6.81 $6.81
9.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$282 $282
-8.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$8,474 $8,474
-32.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$58.3 $58.3
-4.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$42.75 $42.75
24.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$102 $102
-1.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$84.6 $84.6
-21.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$457 $457
-20.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$315 $315
4.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$787 $787
-13.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$506 $506
0.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
$1,622 $1,622
-18.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
$883 $883
34.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Quito
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$659 $659
-26.92%
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 Quito: October 29, 2025

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