Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Cuenca

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Machala is 8.5% cheaper than Cuenca without rent, and 29.6% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Machala is 9.6% cheaper than Cuenca without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56 $2.56
$3.44 $3.44
-25.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.42 $24.42
$24.89 $24.89
-1.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.55 $6.55
$7.07 $7.07
-7.36%
Cappuccino
$2.63 $2.63
$2.47 $2.47
6.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.79 $0.79
-7.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.66 $0.66
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$2.02 $2.02
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$3.42 $3.42
35.38%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.14 $1.14
-7.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.68 $1.68
-38.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.5 $1.5
-35.33%
Eggs
$1.44 $1.44
$2.18 $2.18
-33.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$5.57 $5.57
-42.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$5.47 $5.47
-26.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$6.36 $6.36
-27.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.1 $2.1
$1.46 $1.46
43.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.04 $1.04
0.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.16 $1.16
-37.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.06 $1.06
-1.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 $0.39
$1.48 $1.48
-73.65%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 $0.52
$1.03 $1.03
-49.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.4 $0.4
$0.46 $0.46
-13.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.07 $1.07
-3.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 $4.45
$5.77 $5.77
-22.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.45 $7.45
$9.91 $9.91
-24.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.43 $1.43
13.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.16 $3.16
-29.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.34 $0.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.64 $21.64
$27.02 $27.02
-19.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.68 $0.68
125.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.98 $0.98
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.93 $7.93
$13.4 $13.4
-40.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.66 $0.66
-7.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18K $18K
$29.7K $29.7K
-39.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K $22.3K
$29K $29K
-23.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.64 $37.64
$39.72 $39.72
-5.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.9 $13.9
$13.99 $13.99
-0.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.22 $26.22
$30.92 $30.92
-15.20%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 $42.15
$28.84 $28.84
46.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.56 $30.56
$5.06 $5.06
503.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.12 $5.12
$7.45 $7.45
-31.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 $134
$259 $259
-48.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,859 $5,859
$5,712 $5,712
2.57%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 $51.6
$55.7 $55.7
-7.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.82 $42.82
$53.2 $53.2
-19.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 $78.9
$100 $100
-21.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5 $69.5
$66.6 $66.6
4.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$188 $188
$366 $366
-48.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$131 $131
$330 $330
-60.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 $344
$682 $682
-49.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 $264
$508 $508
-48.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,328 $1,328
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,185 $1,185
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Machala
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$455 $455
$481 $481
-5.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.48
-56.45%

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

Last update for Machala: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

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