Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Tulcán Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Tulcán

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,148 per month in Guayaquil vs $827 in Tulcán, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,770 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,400 in Tulcán, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,393 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,973 in Tulcán, rent included.

Guayaquil costs about 39% more than Tulcán, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Guayaquil and Tulcán are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 16% lower, Tulcán 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 $3.96

$5.47 $5.47

-27.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.03 $49.03

$54.4 $54.4

-9.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 $9.72

$7.80 $7.80

24.62%

Cappuccino

$2.86 $2.86

$3.42 $3.42

-16.37%

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

$0.86 $0.86

$1.41 $1.41

-39.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.08 $1.08

-31.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 $2.96

$3.56 $3.56

-16.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 $4.32

$5.38 $5.38

-19.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.10 $1.10

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.59 $1.59

20.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.57 $1.57

-10.19%

Eggs

$2.03 $2.03

$2.11 $2.11

-3.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.10 $7.10

$6.35 $6.35

11.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 $5.19

$5.50 $5.50

-5.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.40 $9.40

$7.51 $7.51

25.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.33 $2.33

-35.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.20 $1.20

-1.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.33 $1.33

-26.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.12 $1.12

-20.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.23 $1.23

4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.03 $1.03

-10.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.91 $0.91

-4.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.05 $1.05

-5.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$6.07 $6.07

-1.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$10.16 $10.16

17.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.51 $1.51

2.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$3.06 $3.06

-27.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.31 $0.31

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 $19.73

$15.54 $15.54

26.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.54 $1.54

75.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.74 $1.74

$1.53 $1.53

13.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.82 $11.82

$9.90 $9.90

19.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$0.81 $0.81

9.88%

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

$21.2K $21.2K

$20.6K $20.6K

2.89%

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

$31.8K $31.8K

$28.0K $28.0K

13.71%

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

$130 $130

$29.09 $29.09

346.85%

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

$15.08 $15.08

$17.76 $17.76

-15.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.48 $25.48

$28.00 $28.00

-9.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.99 $46.99

$33.57 $33.57

39.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.64 $26.64

$14.26 $14.26

86.82%

Cinema Ticket

$7.32 $7.32

$6.71 $6.71

9.09%

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

$403 $403

$218 $218

84.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,963 $5,963

$8,848 $8,848

-32.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 $65.6

$63.5 $63.5

3.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.69 $40.69

$49.48 $49.48

-17.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$113 $113

11.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.6 $93.6

$107 $107

-12.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$471 $471

$345 $345

36.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 $403

$193 $193

109.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$784 $784

$649 $649

20.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$735 $735

$380 $380

93.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,311 $2,311

$1,309 $1,309

76.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,432 $1,432

$828 $828

73.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$609 $609

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

10.12

-0.69%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tulcán: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $471 in Guayaquil versus $345 in Tulcán. 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 $49.00 in Guayaquil versus $54.0 in Tulcán. Groceries tell a different story – $200 in Guayaquil vs $197 in Tulcán – so Tulcán 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 Tulcán: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,721 per month in Guayaquil and $1,240 in Tulcán. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $403 per month in Guayaquil and $218 in Tulcán. 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tulcán, where all-in costs run around $827, than in Guayaquil at $1,148. In Tulcán it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guayaquil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tulcán – 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 Tulcán. 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.