Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Tulcán Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Tulcán

😐 Solo nomad: Cuenca is 1.4% more expensive than Tulcán without rent, and 5.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cuenca is 1.9% cheaper than Tulcán without rent, and 6.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$4.45 $4.45
-22.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$15.22 $15.22
63.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$5.14 $5.14
37.55%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$1.47 $1.47
68.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.61 $0.61
29.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.48 $0.48
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.04 $2.04
-0.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.06 $4.06
-15.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.72 $0.72
58.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.48 $1.48
13.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.13 $1.13
32.74%
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$1.85 $1.85
17.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$8.75 $8.75
-36.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$7.82 $7.82
-30.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$7.92 $7.92
-19.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.99 $1.99
-26.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.18 $1.18
-11.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.04 $1.04
11.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.27 $1.27
-16.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.37 $1.37
8.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.06 $1.06
-2.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.85 $0.85
-45.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.06 $1.06
0.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$5.83 $5.83
-1.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$9.83 $9.83
0.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.6 $1.6
-10.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.97 $2.97
6.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.34 $0.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$1.54 $1.54
-55.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.47 $1.47
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$10.12 $10.12
32.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.71 $0.71
-7.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$19.9K $19.9K
49.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$25.6K $25.6K
13.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$33.89 $33.89
17.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$14.23 $14.23
-1.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$29.22 $29.22
5.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$30.49 $30.49
-5.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$7.2 $7.2
3.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$79.1 $79.1
227.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$8,804 $8,804
-35.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$30.33 $30.33
83.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$43.81 $43.81
21.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$91.6 $91.6
9.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$86.7 $86.7
-23.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$346 $346
5.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$320 $320
3.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$631 $631
8.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$503 $503
0.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Tulcán
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$594 $594
-18.90%
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 Tulcán: October 29, 2025

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