Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Montanita Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Montanita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in Guayaquil vs $872 in Montanita, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,334 in Montanita, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,288 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,796 in Montanita, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 20% more than Montanita, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Guayaquil and Montanita are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Montanita 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$3.42 $3.42

4.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.91 $46.91

$27.53 $27.53

70.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 $7.78

$7.54 $7.54

3.18%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$2.53 $2.53

-0.79%

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

$0.85 $0.85

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.66 $0.66

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 $2.98

$1.99 $1.99

49.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.55 $3.55

29.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.64 $1.64

7.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.51 $1.51

13.25%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$2.09 $2.09

25.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$5.53 $5.53

8.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.45 $5.45

-6.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$6.29 $6.29

-0.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.00 $2.00

3.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.21 $1.21

26.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.04 $1.04

1.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.07 $1.07

12.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.37 $1.37

37.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.03 $1.03

42.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.49 $0.49

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.02 $1.02

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.89 $5.89

1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.13 $10.13

17.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.54 $1.54

1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.46 $2.46

-13.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.37 $0.37

-8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.55 $20.55

$24.26 $24.26

-15.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.53 $1.53

76.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.98 $0.98

176.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 $10.06

$9.93 $9.93

1.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.68 $0.68

-5.88%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

2.75%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$28.2K $28.2K

3.22%

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

$111 $111

$39.66 $39.66

178.64%

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

$13.65 $13.65

$13.43 $13.43

1.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.09 $32.09

$30.22 $30.22

6.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.42 $35.42

$30.12 $30.12

17.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.79 $46.79

$14.75 $14.75

217.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 $7.96

$7.25 $7.25

9.79%

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

$319 $319

$258 $258

23.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,838 $5,838

$5,626 $5,626

3.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$55.2 $55.2

-6.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.04 $44.04

$43.41 $43.41

1.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$98.7 $98.7

4.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$74.4 $74.4

51.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$337 $337

-0.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$315 $315

16.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$635 $635

-19.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 $694

$507 $507

36.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,227 $1,227

87.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,469 $1,469

$994 $994

47.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 $584

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 Montanita: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $337 in Montanita. 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 $47.00 in Guayaquil versus $28.00 in Montanita. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $185 – making Montanita 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 Montanita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 20%, 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 $1,572 per month in Guayaquil and $1,308 in Montanita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montanita, 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 $258 in Montanita. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Guayaquil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,048 in Guayaquil and $872 in Montanita, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Montanita – 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 Montanita. 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.