Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Quito

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in Guayaquil vs $964 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,468 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,288 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,972 in Quito, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 9% more than Quito, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Quito 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$4.42 $4.42

-19.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.91 $46.91

$33.14 $33.14

41.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 $7.78

$7.35 $7.35

5.85%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$2.90 $2.90

-13.45%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$1.11 $1.11

-23.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.72 $0.72

-9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.02 $2.02

47.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.97 $3.97

15.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.09 $1.09

4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.51 $1.51

17.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.86 $1.86

-8.06%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$2.23 $2.23

17.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$8.85 $8.85

-31.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$7.71 $7.71

-33.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$7.99 $7.99

-21.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.03 $2.03

1.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.22 $1.22

25.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.02 $1.02

3.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.33 $1.33

-9.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.39 $1.39

35.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.05 $1.05

40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.80 $0.80

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.01 $1.01

-2.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.92 $5.92

0.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$8.22 $8.22

44.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.59 $1.59

-1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.96 $2.96

-28.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.33 $0.33

3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.55 $20.55

$26.47 $26.47

-22.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$1.49 $1.49

81.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.46 $1.46

85.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 $10.06

$10.19 $10.19

-1.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.66 $0.66

-3.03%

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

$25.3K $25.3K

$19.9K $19.9K

26.88%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$25.4K $25.4K

14.57%

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

$111 $111

$34.15 $34.15

223.60%

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

$13.65 $13.65

$14.26 $14.26

-4.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.09 $32.09

$29.42 $29.42

9.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.42 $35.42

$41.02 $41.02

-13.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.79 $46.79

$16.95 $16.95

176.05%

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 $7.96

$6.89 $6.89

15.53%

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

$319 $319

$278 $278

14.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,838 $5,838

$8,696 $8,696

-32.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$57.3 $57.3

-10.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.04 $44.04

$42.95 $42.95

2.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$102 $102

1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$87.2 $87.2

28.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$448 $448

-24.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$318 $318

14.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$767 $767

-33.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 $694

$504 $504

37.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$1,692 $1,692

36.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,469 $1,469

$729 $729

101.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 $584

$612 $612

-4.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.19

-16.44%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Last update for Quito: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $448 in Quito. 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 5% higher in Quito, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Guayaquil versus $33.00 in Quito. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Guayaquil vs $212 in Quito – so Guayaquil 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 Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,446 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, 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 $278 in Quito. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Guayaquil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Guayaquil at $1,048. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guayaquil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quito – 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 Quito. 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.