Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Santo Domingo Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Santo Domingo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,040 per month in Guayaquil vs $770 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,206 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,284 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,643 in Santo Domingo, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 35% more than Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Guayaquil and Santo Domingo are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 23% lower, Santo Domingo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 $3.53

$3.47 $3.47

1.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.31 $47.31

$48.01 $48.01

-1.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 $8.23

$7.82 $7.82

5.24%

Cappuccino

$2.54 $2.54

$1.95 $1.95

30.26%

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

$0.90 $0.90

$0.91 $0.91

-1.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.67 $0.67

-5.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.05 $2.05

44.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.56 $4.56

-4.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.01 $1.01

11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.68 $1.68

5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.29 $1.29

38.76%

Eggs

$2.63 $2.63

$2.02 $2.02

30.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.51 $4.51

29.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.07 $3.07

65.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$3.44 $3.44

78.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.98 $1.98

3.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.06 $1.06

38.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.08 $1.08

7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.99 $0.99

89.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.99 $0.99

48.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.68 $0.68

1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.99 $0.99

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 $6.04

$5.88 $5.88

2.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.05 $12.05

$4.90 $4.90

145.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.61 $1.61

-0.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.36 $0.36

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.76 $20.76

$23.74 $23.74

-12.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.70 $2.70

2.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.52 $1.52

76.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.84 $9.84

$9.87 $9.87

-0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.67 $0.67

1.49%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

-1.77%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$29.2K $29.2K

0.92%

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

$108 $108

$38.05 $38.05

184.10%

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

$13.92 $13.92

$9.94 $9.94

40.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.99 $31.99

$22.71 $22.71

40.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.17 $36.17

$30.35 $30.35

19.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.69 $46.69

$14.57 $14.57

220.45%

Cinema Ticket

$7.68 $7.68

$7.64 $7.64

0.52%

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

$313 $313

$318 $318

-1.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,940 $5,940

$5,866 $5,866

1.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$20.12 $20.12

161.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.00 $44.00

$30.31 $30.31

45.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$49.14 $49.14

108.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$50.8 $50.8

117.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$340 $340

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 $370

$321 $321

15.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$511 $511

$613 $613

-16.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 $690

$506 $506

36.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,262 $2,262

$1,185 $1,185

90.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 $1,421

$801 $801

77.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$583 $583

$402 $402

45.15%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Santo Domingo: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Guayaquil versus $340 in Santo Domingo. 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 45% 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 $48.00 in Santo Domingo. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Guayaquil vs $147 in Santo Domingo – so Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 35%, 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 $1,560 per month in Guayaquil and $1,155 in Santo Domingo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santo Domingo, 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 $318 in Santo Domingo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $1,040 in Guayaquil and $770 in Santo Domingo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Santo Domingo – 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 Santo Domingo. 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.