Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibarra and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibarra and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $618 per month in Ibarra vs $914 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $957 per month in Ibarra vs $1,336 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,295 per month in Ibarra vs $1,759 in Cuenca, rent included.

Ibarra is about 32% cheaper than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ibarra and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Ibarra 54% lower, Cuenca 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.95 $2.95

$3.46 $3.46

-14.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.70 $24.70

$24.60 $24.60

0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.81 $5.81

$7.09 $7.09

-18.05%

Cappuccino

$2.23 $2.23

$2.41 $2.41

-7.47%

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

$0.76 $0.76

$0.81 $0.81

-6.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 $0.45

$0.69 $0.69

-34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.97 $1.97

-50.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.55 $3.55

-45.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.12 $1.12

-16.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.67 $1.67

-31.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.51 $1.51

11.92%

Eggs

$1.42 $1.42

$2.16 $2.16

-34.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$5.35 $5.35

-47.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 $2.93

$5.64 $5.64

-48.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

$6.17 $6.17

-1.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.46 $1.46

5.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.04 $1.04

-38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.23 $1.23

-12.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.03 $1.03

-25.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 $0.43

$1.53 $1.53

-71.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.03 $1.03

-0.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.46 $0.46

23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.03 $1.03

-1.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.86 $5.86

4.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.04 $10.04

-1.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.46 $1.46

3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$3.32 $3.32

-55.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 $0.43

$0.36 $0.36

19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 $5.07

$26.57 $26.57

-80.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.66 $0.66

122.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.02 $1.02

7.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.95 $4.95

$13.45 $13.45

-63.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 $0.61

$0.68 $0.68

-10.29%

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

$19.8K $19.8K

$30.4K $30.4K

-35.01%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$28.4K $28.4K

-11.46%

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

$34.75 $34.75

$40.43 $40.43

-14.05%

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

$14.32 $14.32

$13.90 $13.90

3.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.52 $28.52

$30.88 $30.88

-7.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.77 $29.77

$28.74 $28.74

3.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.26 $15.26

$5.26 $5.26

190.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 $4.10

$7.57 $7.57

-45.84%

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

$91.2 $91.2

$256 $256

-64.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,676 $8,676

$5,634 $5,634

53.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 $56.5

$55.6 $55.6

1.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.90 $32.90

$53.1 $53.1

-38.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 $68.8

$99.0 $99.0

-30.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 $75.9

$66.7 $66.7

13.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$185 $185

$373 $373

-50.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$168 $168

$331 $331

-49.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 $247

$671 $671

-63.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$246 $246

$500 $500

-50.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$746 $746

$1,219 $1,219

-38.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$624 $624

$858 $858

-27.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$598 $598

$545 $545

9.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

11.48

-2.53%

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

Last update for Ibarra: April 20, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $185 in Ibarra versus $373 in Cuenca. 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 10% higher in Ibarra, 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 $25 in Ibarra versus $25 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $142 vs $184 – making Ibarra 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

Ibarra vs Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cuenca is pricier by about 48%, 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 $927 per month in Ibarra and $1,371 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ibarra and $25.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $618 in Ibarra and $914 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $618 in Ibarra and $914 in Cuenca, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ibarra – 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 Ibarra. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cuenca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.