Cost of Living Comparison Between Latacunga and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Latacunga and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $672 per month in Latacunga vs $933 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,085 per month in Latacunga vs $1,439 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,498 per month in Latacunga vs $1,945 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

Latacunga is about 28% cheaper than Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Latacunga and Vilcabamba are more affordable than the global median – Latacunga 50% lower, Vilcabamba 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 $2.44

$3.30 $3.30

-26.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 $27.80

$35.09 $35.09

-20.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 $8.19

$7.56 $7.56

8.33%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$2.16 $2.16

16.20%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$1.02 $1.02

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.93 $0.93

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.98 $1.98

48.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 $4.55

$3.43 $3.43

32.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.97 $0.97

16.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.95 $1.95

-13.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.35 $1.35

-24.44%

Eggs

$1.82 $1.82

$2.17 $2.17

-16.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$7.48 $7.48

-34.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$5.88 $5.88

-10.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$7.21 $7.21

-13.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.53 $2.53

-16.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.23 $1.23

-14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.80 $1.80

-41.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.05 $1.05

-1.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.97 $0.97

1.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.71 $0.71

-32.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 $5.92

$6.22 $6.22

-4.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.04 $10.04

$10.09 $10.09

-0.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.63 $1.63

-7.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 $2.22

$2.52 $2.52

-11.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.46 $23.46

$24.33 $24.33

-3.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.54 $1.54

-5.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.92 $0.92

60.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.81 $9.81

$10.19 $10.19

-3.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.64 $0.64

3.13%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$20.1K $20.1K

23.73%

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

$28.8K $28.8K

$27.8K $27.8K

3.56%

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

$36.88 $36.88

$57.8 $57.8

-36.18%

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

$13.61 $13.61

$13.24 $13.24

2.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 $32.40

$33.92 $33.92

-4.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.99 $29.99

$29.83 $29.83

0.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.84 $14.84

$14.71 $14.71

0.88%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 $7.59

$7.01 $7.01

8.27%

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

$315 $315

$253 $253

24.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,795 $5,795

$5,676 $5,676

2.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$78.6 $78.6

-32.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.14 $44.14

$20.16 $20.16

118.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$96.2 $96.2

6.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$75.0 $75.0

46.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$120 $120

$339 $339

-64.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$81.1 $81.1

$326 $326

-75.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 $255

$632 $632

-59.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$198 $198

$585 $585

-66.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,122 $1,122

$1,220 $1,220

-8.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$749 $749

$838 $838

-10.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 $437

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

10.6

-11.79%

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

Last update for Latacunga: April 26, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $120 in Latacunga versus $339 in Vilcabamba. 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 $28.00 in Latacunga versus $35.00 in Vilcabamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $203 – making Latacunga 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

Latacunga vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $672 in Latacunga, $933 in Vilcabamba – roughly 39% apart. Vilcabamba costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,008 per month in Latacunga and $1,399 in Vilcabamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $315 per month in Latacunga and $253 in Vilcabamba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Vilcabamba, 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 $672 in Latacunga and $933 in Vilcabamba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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