Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Manta Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Manta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,148 per month in Guayaquil vs $691 in Manta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,770 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,169 in Manta, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,648 in Manta, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 66% more than Manta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Manta are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 16% lower, Manta 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 $3.96

$3.44 $3.44

15.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.03 $49.03

$50.9 $50.9

-3.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 $9.72

$6.33 $6.33

53.55%

Cappuccino

$2.86 $2.86

$2.96 $2.96

-3.38%

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

$0.86 $0.86

$0.76 $0.76

13.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.69 $0.69

7.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.96 $1.96

51.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.91 $2.91

48.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.02 $1.02

15.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.91 $1.91

0.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.03 $1.03

36.89%

Eggs

$2.03 $2.03

$2.05 $2.05

-0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.10 $7.10

$2.92 $2.92

143.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$3.05 $3.05

70.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.40 $9.40

$7.06 $7.06

33.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.01 $1.01

49.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$0.78 $0.78

51.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.68 $0.68

44.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.81 $0.81

9.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.48 $0.48

166.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.52 $0.52

76.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.71 $0.71

22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.96 $0.96

3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$3.99 $3.99

49.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$7.04 $7.04

69.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$0.98 $0.98

58.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.14 $2.14

3.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.47 $0.47

-23.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 $19.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.06 $2.06

31.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.78 $1.78

-2.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.82 $11.82

$9.12 $9.12

29.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.71 $0.71

25.35%

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

$21.2K $21.2K

-0.15%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$31.0K $31.0K

2.84%

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

$130 $130

$95.0 $95.0

36.86%

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

$15.08 $15.08

$10.90 $10.90

38.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.48 $25.48

$25.64 $25.64

-0.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.99 $46.99

$22.10 $22.10

112.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.64 $26.64

$35.42 $35.42

-24.79%

Cinema Ticket

$7.32 $7.32

$4.88 $4.88

50.00%

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

$403 $403

$393 $393

2.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,963 $5,963

$6,067 $6,067

-1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 $65.6

$55.6 $55.6

18.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.69 $40.69

$40.40 $40.40

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$101 $101

25.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 $93.6

$63.2 $63.2

48.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 $471

$304 $304

54.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 $403

$138 $138

191.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$784 $784

$921 $921

-14.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 $735

$334 $334

120.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,311 $2,311

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,432 $1,432

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$609 $609

$482 $482

26.40%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Manta: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Guayaquil versus $304 in Manta. 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 26% 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 $49.00 in Guayaquil versus $51.0 in Manta. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Guayaquil vs $143 in Manta – so Manta wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Manta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 66%, 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 $1,721 per month in Guayaquil and $1,036 in Manta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manta, 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 $49.00 in Guayaquil and $51.0 in Manta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 Manta, where all-in costs run around $691, than in Guayaquil at $1,148. In Manta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guayaquil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manta – 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 Manta. 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.