Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Portoviejo Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Portoviejo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,040 per month in Guayaquil vs $939 in Portoviejo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,693 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,440 in Portoviejo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,346 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,940 in Portoviejo, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 11% more than Portoviejo, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Guayaquil and Portoviejo are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Portoviejo 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 $3.44

$3.43 $3.43

0.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.55 $47.55

$47.24 $47.24

0.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 $8.05

$7.89 $7.89

2.03%

Cappuccino

$2.53 $2.53

$2.59 $2.59

-2.32%

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

$0.84 $0.84

$0.85 $0.85

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.65 $0.65

-4.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.09 $3.09

-4.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 $4.41

$4.44 $4.44

-0.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.76 $1.76

-1.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

Eggs

$2.61 $2.61

$2.59 $2.59

0.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$5.98 $5.98

-1.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.37 $5.37

$5.38 $5.38

-0.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.34 $6.34

$6.23 $6.23

1.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.04 $1.04

48.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.04 $1.04

15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.88 $1.88

-3.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.72 $0.72

-2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.97 $0.97

2.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.13 $6.13

$6.14 $6.14

-0.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 $12.12

$11.83 $11.83

2.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.58 $1.58

-0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.23 $2.23

-4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.98 $20.98

$24.26 $24.26

-13.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.68 $2.68

1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.79 $2.79

$0.98 $0.98

184.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.81 $9.81

$9.92 $9.92

-1.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.65 $0.65

4.62%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$24.6K $24.6K

2.82%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$29.6K $29.6K

-1.68%

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

$109 $109

$36.82 $36.82

197.15%

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

$13.43 $13.43

$13.46 $13.46

-0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.21 $32.21

$32.45 $32.45

-0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.35 $35.35

$29.92 $29.92

18.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.24 $47.24

$14.55 $14.55

224.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 $7.56

$7.59 $7.59

-0.40%

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

$310 $310

$317 $317

-2.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,810 $5,810

$5,885 $5,885

-1.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 $52.0

$52.4 $52.4

-0.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.76 $43.76

$42.63 $42.63

2.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$103 $103

0.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

0.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$348 $348

-3.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 $364

$313 $313

16.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 $517

$620 $620

-16.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 $712

$497 $497

43.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,290 $2,290

$1,216 $1,216

88.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 $1,523

$833 $833

82.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$578 $578

$323 $323

79.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

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

Last update for Guayaquil: April 27, 2026

Last update for Portoviejo: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $348 in Portoviejo. 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 79% 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 $48.00 in Guayaquil versus $47.00 in Portoviejo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $195 – making Portoviejo 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 Portoviejo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,560 per month in Guayaquil and $1,409 in Portoviejo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $310 per month in Guayaquil and $317 in Portoviejo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 2% 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 $1,040 in Guayaquil and $939 in Portoviejo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Portoviejo – 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 Portoviejo. 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.