Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Loja and Quito

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $675 per month in Loja vs $975 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,061 per month in Loja vs $1,574 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,448 per month in Loja vs $2,174 in Quito, rent included.

Loja is about 31% cheaper than Quito, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Loja and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Loja 51% lower, Quito 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 $2.93

$5.54 $5.54

-47.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.58 $20.58

$53.0 $53.0

-61.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 $5.62

$7.96 $7.96

-29.40%

Cappuccino

$2.24 $2.24

$3.31 $3.31

-32.33%

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

$0.77 $0.77

$1.42 $1.42

-45.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 $0.46

$1.10 $1.10

-58.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 $1.22

$3.60 $3.60

-66.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$5.41 $5.41

-43.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.16 $1.16

-12.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.59 $1.59

-3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.55 $1.55

-18.71%

Eggs

$1.93 $1.93

$2.18 $2.18

-11.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 $5.90

$6.41 $6.41

-7.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$5.60 $5.60

-25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.83 $5.83

$7.94 $7.94

-26.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.28 $2.28

-25.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.23 $1.23

-10.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.28 $1.28

-7.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.14 $1.14

-5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.23 $1.23

-13.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.85 $0.85

-38.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.06 $1.06

9.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 $5.30

$5.89 $5.89

-10.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$10.10 $10.10

-28.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.58 $1.58

-4.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.14 $3.14

0.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.37 $0.37

-16.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.55 $29.55

$21.20 $21.20

39.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.47 $1.47

-17.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.52 $1.52

-28.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 $9.88

$10.11 $10.11

-2.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.85 $0.85

-20.00%

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

$14.9K $14.9K

$21.1K $21.1K

-29.34%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$28.7K $28.7K

0.62%

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

$20.20 $20.20

$28.69 $28.69

-29.59%

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

$11.71 $11.71

$18.11 $18.11

-35.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.47 $25.47

$28.68 $28.68

-11.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.67 $29.67

$46.67 $46.67

-36.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 $14.57

$17.86 $17.86

-18.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.54 $7.54

$6.95 $6.95

8.49%

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

$180 $180

$736 $736

-75.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,033 $2,033

$8,884 $8,884

-77.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$63.9 $63.9

-17.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.83 $47.83

$49.07 $49.07

-2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 $79.6

$118 $118

-32.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.5 $71.5

$106 $106

-32.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 $241

$475 $475

-49.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 $175

$314 $314

-44.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 $378

$934 $934

-59.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 $309

$540 $540

-42.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$554 $554

$1,790 $1,790

-69.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$330 $330

$721 $721

-54.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 $500

$606 $606

-17.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.5

10.12

-16.01%

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

Last update for Loja: September 13, 2026

Last update for Quito: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Loja versus $475 in Quito. 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 21% higher in Quito, 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 $21.00 in Loja versus $53.0 in Quito. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $199 – 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 Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $675 in Loja, $975 in Quito – roughly 44% apart. Quito costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,012 per month in Loja and $1,462 in Quito. 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.

Public transport costs about 39% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $180 per month in Loja and $736 in Quito. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $675, than in Quito at $975. In Loja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Quito has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $675 in Loja to $975 in Quito. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Quito makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.