Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuenca and Vilcabamba

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Cuenca is 8.6% cheaper than Vilcabamba without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Cuenca is 3.7% more expensive than Vilcabamba without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 $3.44
$3.16 $3.16
8.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.89 $24.89
$35.23 $35.23
-29.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.07 $7.07
$7.71 $7.71
-8.30%
Cappuccino
$2.47 $2.47
$2.06 $2.06
19.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 $0.79
$0.97 $0.97
-18.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.94 $0.94
-29.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.95 $1.95
3.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 $3.42
$3.46 $3.46
-1.16%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.98 $0.98
16.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.96 $1.96
-14.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.27 $1.27
18.11%
Eggs
$2.18 $2.18
$2.19 $2.19
-0.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$7.2 $7.2
-22.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 $5.47
$6.17 $6.17
-11.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$7.12 $7.12
-10.67%
Apples (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.52 $2.52
-42.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.28 $1.28
-18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 $1.16
$1.76 $1.76
-34.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.09 $1.09
-2.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.97 $0.97
52.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.98 $0.98
5.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.78 $0.78
-41.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.01 $1.01
5.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 $5.77
$6.34 $6.34
-8.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 $9.91
$9.87 $9.87
0.41%
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
$2.56 $2.56
23.44%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$1.26 $1.26
-73.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.02 $27.02
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.68 $0.68
$1.51 $1.51
-54.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.94 $0.94
4.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.4 $13.4
$9.96 $9.96
34.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.68 $0.68
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$19.7K $19.7K
50.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29K $29K
$27.7K $27.7K
4.88%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.72 $39.72
$56.8 $56.8
-30.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.99 $13.99
$13.37 $13.37
4.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.92 $30.92
$35.15 $35.15
-12.03%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.84 $28.84
$30.08 $30.08
-4.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.06 $5.06
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.45 $7.45
$7.31 $7.31
1.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$259 $259
$256 $256
1.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,712 $5,712
$5,714 $5,714
-0.05%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 $55.7
$80.4 $80.4
-30.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 $53.2
$19.71 $19.71
169.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$97.1 $97.1
3.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 $66.6
$75.5 $75.5
-11.83%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$366 $366
$340 $340
7.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 $330
$326 $326
1.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$682 $682
$619 $619
10.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 $508
$578 $578
-12.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 $1,328
$1,316 $1,316
0.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,185 $1,185
$1,080 $1,080
9.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cuenca
Vilcabamba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$481 $481
$434 $434
10.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
10.6
8.30%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Last update for Vilcabamba: October 27, 2025

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