Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Riobamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Riobamba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,040 per month in Guayaquil vs $566 in Riobamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in Guayaquil vs $882 in Riobamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,284 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,198 in Riobamba, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 84% more than Riobamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Riobamba are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 23% lower, Riobamba 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 $3.53

$3.43 $3.43

2.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.31 $47.31

$14.74 $14.74

220.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 $8.23

$6.68 $6.68

23.20%

Cappuccino

$2.54 $2.54

$2.00 $2.00

27.00%

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

$0.90 $0.90

$0.76 $0.76

18.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.64 $0.64

-1.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.53 $1.53

94.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 $4.37

$2.49 $2.49

75.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.01 $1.01

11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.71 $1.71

3.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.82 $0.82

118.29%

Eggs

$2.63 $2.63

$1.69 $1.69

55.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$2.04 $2.04

185.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.22 $3.22

58.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$4.84 $4.84

26.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.47 $1.47

38.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.51 $0.51

188.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.17 $1.17

-6.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.02 $1.02

13.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.77 $0.77

144.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.88 $0.88

67.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.47 $0.47

46.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.88 $5.88

2.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 $12.05

$5.69 $5.69

111.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.50 $1.50

6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.19 $3.19

-30.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.29 $0.29

27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.76 $20.76

$24.01 $24.01

-13.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$0.63 $0.63

341.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 $2.69

$0.97 $0.97

177.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.84 $9.84

$13.62 $13.62

-27.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.63 $0.63

7.94%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$29.8K $29.8K

-16.72%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$28.2K $28.2K

4.58%

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

$108 $108

$19.73 $19.73

447.90%

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

$13.92 $13.92

$7.03 $7.03

98.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.99 $31.99

$30.66 $30.66

4.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.17 $36.17

$25.23 $25.23

43.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.69 $46.69

$14.43 $14.43

223.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 $7.68

$5.92 $5.92

29.73%

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

$313 $313

$78.8 $78.8

297.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,940 $5,940

$1,466 $1,466

305.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$49.34 $49.34

6.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.00 $44.00

$49.73 $49.73

-11.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$97.2 $97.2

5.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$65.7 $65.7

68.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$116 $116

191.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 $370

$96.2 $96.2

284.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 $511

$228 $228

123.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 $690

$188 $188

267.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,262 $2,262

$1,196 $1,196

89.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 $1,421

$781 $781

81.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$583 $583

$327 $327

78.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

11.48

-18.55%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: June 8, 2026

Last update for Riobamba: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Guayaquil versus $116 in Riobamba. 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 78% 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 $15.00 in Riobamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $137 – making Riobamba 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 Riobamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 84%, 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 $1,560 per month in Guayaquil and $848 in Riobamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $313 per month in Guayaquil and $78.8 in Riobamba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 44% 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 $1,040 in Guayaquil and $566 in Riobamba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Riobamba – 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 Riobamba. 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.