Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Ibarra Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Ibarra

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,043 per month in Guayaquil vs $618 in Ibarra, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,654 per month in Guayaquil vs $957 in Ibarra, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,264 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,295 in Ibarra, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 69% more than Ibarra, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Ibarra are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Ibarra 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.55 $3.55

$2.95 $2.95

20.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.65 $47.65

$24.70 $24.70

92.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 $7.98

$5.81 $5.81

37.35%

Cappuccino

$2.54 $2.54

$2.23 $2.23

13.90%

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

$0.89 $0.89

$0.76 $0.76

17.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.45 $0.45

35.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 $3.09

$0.98 $0.98

215.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 $4.57

$1.95 $1.95

134.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.94 $0.94

15.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.15 $1.15

52.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.69 $1.69

4.14%

Eggs

$2.53 $2.53

$1.42 $1.42

78.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.79 $2.79

112.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$2.93 $2.93

77.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$6.10 $6.10

5.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.54 $1.54

33.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.64 $0.64

140.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.08 $1.08

0.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.77 $0.77

50.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.43 $0.43

337.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.02 $1.02

39.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.57 $0.57

19.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.96 $5.96

$6.14 $6.14

-2.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.01 $12.01

$9.86 $9.86

21.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.51 $1.51

3.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.47 $1.47

51.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.43 $0.43

-20.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.82 $20.82

$5.07 $5.07

310.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.47 $1.47

87.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.10 $1.10

142.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 $9.96

$4.95 $4.95

101.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.61 $0.61

3.28%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$19.8K $19.8K

25.12%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$25.1K $25.1K

14.98%

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

$109 $109

$34.75 $34.75

213.21%

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

$13.63 $13.63

$14.32 $14.32

-4.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.94 $31.94

$28.52 $28.52

11.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.49 $35.49

$29.77 $29.77

19.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.53 $47.53

$15.26 $15.26

211.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 $7.72

$4.10 $4.10

88.29%

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

$308 $308

$91.2 $91.2

238.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,870 $5,870

$8,676 $8,676

-32.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 $51.1

$56.5 $56.5

-9.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.44 $42.44

$32.90 $32.90

29.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$68.8 $68.8

47.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$75.9 $75.9

47.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 $347

$185 $185

87.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 $369

$168 $168

119.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 $511

$247 $247

106.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$713 $713

$246 $246

189.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,301 $2,301

$746 $746

208.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,568 $1,568

$624 $624

151.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$577 $577

$598 $598

-3.40%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Ibarra: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Guayaquil versus $185 in Ibarra. 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 4% higher in Ibarra, 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 in Guayaquil versus $25 in Ibarra. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $142 – making Ibarra 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 Ibarra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,565 per month in Guayaquil and $927 in Ibarra. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $308 per month in Guayaquil and $91.2 in Ibarra. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Guayaquil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,043 in Guayaquil and $618 in Ibarra, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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

If budget matters most, go with Ibarra. 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.