Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and La Libertad Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and La Libertad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,114 per month in Guayaquil vs $745 in La Libertad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,210 in La Libertad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,451 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,675 in La Libertad, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 50% more than La Libertad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Guayaquil and La Libertad are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 19% lower, La Libertad 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.90 $3.90

$3.55 $3.55

9.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 $53.1

$29.46 $29.46

80.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 $8.90

$6.64 $6.64

34.04%

Cappuccino

$2.81 $2.81

$2.58 $2.58

8.91%

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

$0.84 $0.84

$0.74 $0.74

13.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.66 $0.66

7.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.06 $2.06

47.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.96 $2.96

50.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.06 $1.06

11.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.58 $1.58

24.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.58 $1.58

-8.23%

Eggs

$2.04 $2.04

$2.10 $2.10

-2.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$5.42 $5.42

25.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$5.18 $5.18

0.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.24 $9.24

$7.21 $7.21

28.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.65 $1.65

-7.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.12 $1.12

6.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.20 $1.20

-14.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.07 $1.07

-16.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.26 $1.26

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.02 $1.02

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.71 $0.71

22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.06 $1.06

-5.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.28 $5.28

13.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.95 $11.95

$8.93 $8.93

33.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.53 $1.53

-2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$3.08 $3.08

-30.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.97 $19.97

$20.88 $20.88

-4.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.22 $1.22

131.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.08 $1.08

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.12 $12.12

$9.98 $9.98

21.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.80 $0.80

6.25%

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

$21.1K $21.1K

$21.3K $21.3K

-0.90%

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

$30.8K $30.8K

$28.5K $28.5K

8.14%

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

$129 $129

$36.60 $36.60

252.95%

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

$14.71 $14.71

$12.28 $12.28

19.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.71 $25.71

$26.27 $26.27

-2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.37 $46.37

$29.77 $29.77

55.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.43 $26.43

$16.55 $16.55

59.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.60 $7.60

$6.86 $6.86

10.79%

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

$393 $393

$215 $215

82.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,078 $6,078

$6,005 $6,005

1.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 $64.6

$55.8 $55.8

15.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.67 $40.67

$42.68 $42.68

-4.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$102 $102

24.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.7 $91.7

$74.3 $74.3

23.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$468 $468

$301 $301

55.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 $393

$191 $191

106.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 $813

$682 $682

19.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$739 $739

$416 $416

77.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,257 $2,257

$1,182 $1,182

91.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,425 $1,425

$781 $781

82.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 $614

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

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

Last update for Guayaquil: September 7, 2026

Last update for La Libertad: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $468 in Guayaquil versus $301 in La Libertad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Guayaquil versus $29.00 in La Libertad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $183 – making La Libertad 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 La Libertad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,671 per month in Guayaquil and $1,117 in La Libertad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $393 per month in Guayaquil and $215 in La Libertad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Guayaquil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Libertad, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Guayaquil at $1,114. In La Libertad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guayaquil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Libertad – 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 La Libertad. 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.