Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Cotacachi Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Cotacachi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,081 in Guayaquil versus $716 in Cotacachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,691 in Guayaquil versus $1,137 in Cotacachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,301 in Guayaquil versus $1,557 in Cotacachi.

Living in Guayaquil is roughly 51% more expensive than in Cotacachi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Guayaquil 19% lower, Cotacachi 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 $3.53

$3.66 $3.66

-3.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.37 $48.37

$20.20 $20.20

139.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 $8.19

$4.55 $4.55

80.00%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$2.21 $2.21

19.00%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.71 $0.71

-12.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.95 $1.95

57.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.03 $4.03

9.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.11 $1.11

1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.56 $1.56

9.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.87 $1.87

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.51 $2.51

$2.21 $2.21

13.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$8.52 $8.52

-27.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$7.68 $7.68

-31.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$7.32 $7.32

-15.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.01 $2.01

5.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.88 $0.88

71.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.04 $1.04

5.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.28 $1.28

-8.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.44 $1.44

31.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.10 $1.10

26.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.83 $0.83

-15.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.01 $1.01

-3.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 $6.09

$4.45 $4.45

36.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 $12.11

$7.43 $7.43

62.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.59 $1.59

2.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.95 $2.95

-28.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.48 $0.48

-31.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.99 $20.99

$14.77 $14.77

42.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.22 $1.22

131.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.90 $0.90

200.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.82 $9.82

$9.90 $9.90

-0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.71 $0.71

-5.63%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$19.6K $19.6K

29.11%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$25.7K $25.7K

15.31%

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

$107 $107

$34.89 $34.89

207.08%

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

$13.46 $13.46

$12.55 $12.55

7.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.64 $31.64

$25.99 $25.99

21.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.50 $35.50

$30.43 $30.43

16.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.72 $46.72

$8.13 $8.13

474.66%

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 $7.80

$6.89 $6.89

13.21%

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

$312 $312

$74.2 $74.2

320.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,902 $5,902

$3,032 $3,032

94.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$42.10 $42.10

25.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.13 $43.13

$41.46 $41.46

4.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$96.1 $96.1

7.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$61.0 $61.0

82.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$270 $270

25.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 $371

$174 $174

112.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 $516

$413 $413

24.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 $700

$345 $345

103.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,272 $2,272

$588 $588

286.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,417 $1,417

$520 $520

172.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 $582

$428 $428

35.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.19

-16.44%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: July 25, 2026

Last update for Cotacachi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $339 in Guayaquil and $270 in Cotacachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Guayaquil pays 36% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Guayaquil vs $20.00 in Cotacachi. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $205, with Guayaquil cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cotacachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Guayaquil and Cotacachi differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,081 vs $716 including rent). Cotacachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Guayaquil, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $339 in Guayaquil versus $270 in Cotacachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Cotacachi runs roughly 42% less than in Guayaquil. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $312 in Guayaquil versus $74.2 in Cotacachi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cotacachi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Guayaquil and Cotacachi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cotacachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Guayaquil. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.