Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Riobamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Riobamba

😐 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 4% more expensive than Riobamba without rent, and 53.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cuenca is 21% more expensive than Riobamba without rent, and 44.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.60 $3.60
$3.60 $3.60
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.87 $24.87
$14.91 $14.91
66.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.13 $7.13
$6.32 $6.32
12.82%
Cappuccino
$2.50 $2.50
$1.92 $1.92
30.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 $0.81
$0.83 $0.83
-2.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.70 $0.70
-2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.48 $1.48
36.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.47 $2.47
44.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.97 $0.97
20.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.65 $1.65
-0.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$0.88 $0.88
76.14%
Eggs
$2.17 $2.17
$1.71 $1.71
26.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.60 $5.60
$1.98 $1.98
182.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$3.09 $3.09
73.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.16 $6.16
$4.63 $4.63
33.05%
Apples (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.47 $1.47
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.48 $0.48
120.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.24 $1.24
-4.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.97 $0.97
9.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.83 $0.83
75.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.88 $0.88
18.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.47 $0.47
-2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.98 $0.98
4.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70 $5.70
$5.84 $5.84
-2.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.88 $9.88
$5.70 $5.70
73.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.45 $1.45
2.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.15 $3.15
3.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Riobamba
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
$24.12 $24.12
10.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 $0.67
$0.68 $0.68
-1.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.97 $0.97
4.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.65 $13.65
$13.62 $13.62
0.22%
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
$29.5K $29.5K
3.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$28.5K $28.5K
0.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.03 $40.03
$20.16 $20.16
98.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.53 $13.53
$7.03 $7.03
92.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.85 $30.85
$31.36 $31.36
-1.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.37 $29.37
$24.84 $24.84
18.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.31 $5.31
$14.82 $14.82
-64.17%
Cinema Ticket
$7.53 $7.53
$5.96 $5.96
26.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$252 $252
$79.4 $79.4
217.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,636 $5,636
$1,425 $1,425
295.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.9 $54.9
$49.13 $49.13
11.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4 $54.4
$49.82 $49.82
9.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 $99.1
$98.7 $98.7
0.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3 $67.3
$65.8 $65.8
2.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$379 $379
$116 $116
226.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 $331
$94.1 $94.1
252.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 $673
$222 $222
203.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 $496
$192 $192
157.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,227 $1,227
$503 $503
143.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$833 $833
$749 $749
11.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Riobamba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$537 $537
$339 $339
58.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
11.48
-

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

Last update for Cuenca: March 1, 2026

Last update for Riobamba: 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

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