Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Loja Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Loja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in Guayaquil vs $752 in Loja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,104 in Loja, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,288 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,456 in Loja, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 39% more than Loja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Loja are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Loja 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$2.96 $2.96

20.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.91 $46.91

$19.63 $19.63

138.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 $7.78

$7.17 $7.17

8.51%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$1.85 $1.85

35.68%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$0.65 $0.65

30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.46 $0.46

41.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 $2.98

$0.98 $0.98

204.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$2.02 $2.02

127.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.03 $1.03

10.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.34 $1.34

32.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.57 $1.57

8.92%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$1.87 $1.87

40.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$5.60 $5.60

7.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$4.56 $4.56

11.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.17 $6.17

1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.37 $1.37

50.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.96 $0.96

59.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.97 $0.97

9.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.08 $1.08

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$0.80 $0.80

136.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.82 $0.82

79.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.47 $0.47

48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.07 $1.07

-8.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.92 $5.92

0.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$7.08 $7.08

68.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.49 $1.49

5.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.85 $2.85

-25.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.29 $0.29

17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.55 $20.55

$39.70 $39.70

-48.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$0.67 $0.67

302.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.97 $0.97

179.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 $10.06

$13.24 $13.24

-24.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.63 $0.63

1.59%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$14.8K $14.8K

71.36%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$29.1K $29.1K

0.16%

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

$111 $111

$20.16 $20.16

448.16%

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

$13.65 $13.65

$10.38 $10.38

31.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.09 $32.09

$28.38 $28.38

13.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.42 $35.42

$34.36 $34.36

3.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.79 $46.79

$14.47 $14.47

223.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 $7.96

$7.40 $7.40

7.57%

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

$319 $319

$182 $182

75.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,838 $5,838

$2,030 $2,030

187.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$55.6 $55.6

-7.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.04 $44.04

$49.95 $49.95

-11.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$83.4 $83.4

23.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$65.3 $65.3

72.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$288 $288

16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$232 $232

57.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$419 $419

21.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 $694

$329 $329

111.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$562 $562

309.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,469 $1,469

$498 $498

195.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 $584

$495 $495

17.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

-6.50%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Last update for Loja: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $288 in Loja. 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 18% higher in Guayaquil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Guayaquil versus $20.00 in Loja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $164 – making Loja 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 Loja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 39%, 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 $1,572 per month in Guayaquil and $1,128 in Loja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Guayaquil and $182 in Loja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Guayaquil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,048 in Guayaquil and $752 in Loja, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Loja – 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 Loja. 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.