Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Guayaquil Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Guayaquil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $752 per month in Loja vs $1,048 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Loja vs $1,668 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,456 per month in Loja vs $2,288 in Guayaquil, rent included.

Loja is about 28% cheaper than Guayaquil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Loja and Guayaquil are more affordable than the global median – Loja 44% lower, Guayaquil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 $2.96

$3.57 $3.57

-17.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.63 $19.63

$46.91 $46.91

-58.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.17 $7.17

$7.78 $7.78

-7.84%

Cappuccino

$1.85 $1.85

$2.51 $2.51

-26.29%

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

$0.65 $0.65

$0.85 $0.85

-23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.65 $0.65

-29.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.98 $2.98

-67.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 $2.02

$4.60 $4.60

-56.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.14 $1.14

-9.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.77 $1.77

-24.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.71 $1.71

-8.19%

Eggs

$1.87 $1.87

$2.62 $2.62

-28.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$6.02 $6.02

-6.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 $4.56

$5.09 $5.09

-10.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.27 $6.27

-1.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$2.06 $2.06

-33.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.53 $1.53

-37.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.06 $1.06

-8.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.20 $1.20

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.89 $1.89

-57.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.47 $1.47

-44.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 $0.47

$0.70 $0.70

-32.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.98 $0.98

9.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.97 $5.97

-0.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.08 $7.08

$11.90 $11.90

-40.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.57 $1.57

-5.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.13 $2.13

33.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 $0.29

$0.34 $0.34

-14.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.70 $39.70

$20.55 $20.55

93.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 $0.67

$2.70 $2.70

-75.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$2.71 $2.71

-64.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.24 $13.24

$10.06 $10.06

31.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 $0.63

$0.64 $0.64

-1.56%

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

$14.8K $14.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

-41.64%

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

$29.1K $29.1K

$29.2K $29.2K

-0.16%

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

$20.16 $20.16

$111 $111

-81.76%

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

$10.38 $10.38

$13.65 $13.65

-23.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.38 $28.38

$32.09 $32.09

-11.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.36 $34.36

$35.42 $35.42

-2.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.47 $14.47

$46.79 $46.79

-69.07%

Cinema Ticket

$7.40 $7.40

$7.96 $7.96

-7.04%

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

$182 $182

$319 $319

-42.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,030 $2,030

$5,838 $5,838

-65.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$51.5 $51.5

7.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.95 $49.95

$44.04 $44.04

13.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 $83.4

$103 $103

-19.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.3 $65.3

$112 $112

-41.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 $288

$336 $336

-14.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 $232

$366 $366

-36.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$419 $419

$508 $508

-17.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 $329

$694 $694

-52.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$562 $562

$2,305 $2,305

-75.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$498 $498

$1,469 $1,469

-66.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$495 $495

$584 $584

-15.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

6.95%

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

Last update for Loja: June 1, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $288 in Loja versus $336 in Guayaquil. 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 18% 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 $20.00 in Loja versus $47.00 in Guayaquil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 vs $198 – making Loja 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

Loja vs Guayaquil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 39%, 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 $1,128 per month in Loja and $1,572 in Guayaquil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $182 per month in Loja and $319 in Guayaquil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% more in Guayaquil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $752 in Loja and $1,048 in Guayaquil, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Loja – 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 Loja. 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.