Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Guayaquil vs $677 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,691 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,028 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,301 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,379 in Ambato, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 60% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 19% lower, Ambato 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 $3.53

$3.07 $3.07

14.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.37 $48.37

$24.73 $24.73

95.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 $8.19

$5.16 $5.16

58.72%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$2.48 $2.48

6.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.81 $0.81

4.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.65 $0.65

-4.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.99 $1.99

54.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 $4.43

$3.57 $3.57

24.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.97 $0.97

16.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.03 $1.03

66.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.58 $1.58

7.59%

Eggs

$2.51 $2.51

$2.04 $2.04

23.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$3.07 $3.07

100.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$2.95 $2.95

78.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.02 $4.02

53.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.02 $1.02

108.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.97 $0.97

55.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.97 $0.97

13.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.02 $1.02

14.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.02 $1.02

85.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.01 $1.01

37.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.50 $0.50

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.87 $5.87

3.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 $12.11

$8.96 $8.96

35.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.50 $1.50

8.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$3.06 $3.06

-30.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.31 $0.31

6.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.99 $20.99

$23.73 $23.73

-11.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 $2.83

$0.62 $0.62

356.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.97 $0.97

178.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.82 $9.82

$9.28 $9.28

5.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.66 $0.66

1.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$29.7K $29.7K

-14.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.6K $29.6K

$28.7K $28.7K

3.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$107 $107

$39.25 $39.25

172.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.46 $13.46

$13.83 $13.83

-2.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.64 $31.64

$30.33 $30.33

4.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.50 $35.50

$29.86 $29.86

18.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.72 $46.72

$14.44 $14.44

223.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 $7.80

$6.21 $6.21

25.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 $312

$253 $253

23.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,902 $5,902

$2,376 $2,376

148.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$50.3 $50.3

5.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 $43.13

$37.97 $37.97

13.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$86.9 $86.9

18.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$60.3 $60.3

84.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$345 $345

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 $371

$185 $185

100.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 $516

$631 $631

-18.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 $700

$248 $248

182.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,272 $2,272

$1,165 $1,165

95.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,417 $1,417

$889 $889

59.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 $582

$679 $679

-14.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

16.87%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: July 25, 2026

Last update for Ambato: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Guayaquil versus $345 in Ambato. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Ambato, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Guayaquil versus $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $141 – making Ambato the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Guayaquil vs Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Guayaquil costs about 60% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,621 per month in Guayaquil and $1,016 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Guayaquil and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,081 in Guayaquil and $677 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,081 in Guayaquil and $677 in Ambato, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ambato – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ambato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guayaquil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.