Cost of Living Comparison Between Esmeraldas and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Esmeraldas and Cuenca

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Esmeraldas is 7.9% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 2.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Esmeraldas is 13.7% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 2.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.98 $3.98
$3.44 $3.44
15.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.47 $33.47
$24.89 $24.89
34.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 $4.08
$7.07 $7.07
-42.29%
Cappuccino
$2.88 $2.88
$2.47 $2.47
16.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$0.79 $0.79
-37.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 $0.49
$0.66 $0.66
-25.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.02 $2.02
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 $4.06
$3.42 $3.42
18.71%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.14 $1.14
-14.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.68 $1.68
-10.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.5 $1.5
19.33%
Eggs
$1.52 $1.52
$2.18 $2.18
-30.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.57 $8.57
$5.57 $5.57
53.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.77 $7.77
$5.47 $5.47
42.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.34 $8.34
$6.36 $6.36
31.13%
Apples (1kg)
$2 $2
$1.46 $1.46
36.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.04 $1.04
16.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.16 $1.16
-10.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.06 $1.06
25.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.48 $1.48
-2.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.03 $1.03
7.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.46 $0.46
13.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.07 $1.07
-4.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 $5.88
$5.77 $5.77
1.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.86 $9.86
$9.91 $9.91
-0.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.43 $1.43
7.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.16 $3.16
-5.70%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$0.34 $0.34
-2.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.02 $27.02
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.68 $0.68
126.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.98 $0.98
25.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.93 $9.93
$13.4 $13.4
-25.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.66 $0.66
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K $19.7K
$29.7K $29.7K
-33.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$29K $29K
-11.66%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.06 $35.06
$39.72 $39.72
-11.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.21 $14.21
$13.99 $13.99
1.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.57 $28.57
$30.92 $30.92
-7.60%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.57 $30.57
$28.84 $28.84
6.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.06 $5.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 $6.91
$7.45 $7.45
-7.25%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 $281
$259 $259
8.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,625 $8,625
$5,712 $5,712
51.00%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.3 $56.3
$55.7 $55.7
1.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.67 $42.67
$53.2 $53.2
-19.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 $103
$100 $100
2.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.9 $83.9
$66.6 $66.6
26.11%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$339 $339
$366 $366
-7.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$311 $311
$330 $330
-5.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 $621
$682 $682
-8.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$489 $489
$508 $508
-3.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,328 $1,328
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,185 $1,185
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Esmeraldas
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$450 $450
$481 $481
-6.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
11.48
-2.53%

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

Last update for Esmeraldas: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

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