Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Cuenca

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Loja is 15.6% cheaper than Cuenca without rent, and 18.8% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Loja is 11% cheaper than Cuenca without rent, and 16.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.08 $3.08
$3.44 $3.44
-10.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.79 $19.79
$24.89 $24.89
-20.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.03 $7.03
$7.07 $7.07
-0.57%
Cappuccino
$1.88 $1.88
$2.47 $2.47
-23.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 $0.64
$0.79 $0.79
-18.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 $0.46
$0.66 $0.66
-30.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 $0.98
$2.02 $2.02
-51.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$3.42 $3.42
-42.40%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.14 $1.14
-14.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.68 $1.68
-17.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.5 $1.5
$1.5 $1.5
-
Eggs
$1.86 $1.86
$2.18 $2.18
-14.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$5.57 $5.57
-2.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.4 $4.4
$5.47 $5.47
-19.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.02 $6.02
$6.36 $6.36
-5.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.46 $1.46
-7.53%
Banana (1kg)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.04 $1.04
-8.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.16 $1.16
-15.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.06 $1.06
-2.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 $0.73
$1.48 $1.48
-50.68%
Onion (1kg)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.03 $1.03
-22.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 $0.47
$0.46 $0.46
2.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.07 $1.07
-3.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76 $5.76
$5.77 $5.77
-0.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.19 $6.19
$9.91 $9.91
-37.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.43 $1.43
4.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$3.16 $3.16
-12.03%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 $0.31
$0.34 $0.34
-8.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.02 $40.02
$27.02 $27.02
48.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 $0.62
$0.68 $0.68
-8.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 $1.01
$0.98 $0.98
3.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.53 $13.53
$13.4 $13.4
0.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 $0.63
$0.66 $0.66
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.9K $14.9K
$29.7K $29.7K
-49.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K $29.2K
$29K $29K
0.64%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$19.62 $19.62
$39.72 $39.72
-50.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.59 $10.59
$13.99 $13.99
-24.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.62 $28.62
$30.92 $30.92
-7.44%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.5 $33.5
$28.84 $28.84
16.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.44 $14.44
$5.06 $5.06
185.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.59 $7.59
$7.45 $7.45
1.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 $180
$259 $259
-30.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,975 $1,975
$5,712 $5,712
-65.43%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57 $57
$55.7 $55.7
2.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.82 $49.82
$53.2 $53.2
-6.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 $85.9
$100 $100
-14.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.2 $65.2
$66.6 $66.6
-2.07%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 $288
$366 $366
-21.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 $231
$330 $330
-30.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$433 $433
$682 $682
-36.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$327 $327
$508 $508
-35.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$651 $651
$1,328 $1,328
-50.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$498 $498
$1,185 $1,185
-57.95%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Loja
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 $432
$481 $481
-10.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
11.48
-12.89%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Loja: October 27, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter โ€“ low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.