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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Machala vs $886 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,006 per month in Machala vs $1,347 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,379 per month in Machala vs $1,809 in Cuenca, rent included.

Machala is about 29% cheaper than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Machala and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Machala 53% lower, Cuenca 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.43 $2.43

$3.43 $3.43

-29.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.77 $24.77

$25.20 $25.20

-1.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 $6.64

$7.18 $7.18

-7.52%

Cappuccino

$2.63 $2.63

$2.51 $2.51

4.78%

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

$0.76 $0.76

$0.82 $0.82

-7.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.64 $0.64

-23.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.96 $1.96

-0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.55 $3.55

23.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.12 $1.12

-1.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.68 $1.68

-38.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.53 $1.53

-37.91%

Eggs

$1.51 $1.51

$2.10 $2.10

-28.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$5.36 $5.36

-38.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$5.63 $5.63

-27.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$6.36 $6.36

-26.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.42 $1.42

45.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.09 $1.09

-2.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 $0.73

$1.18 $1.18

-38.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 $0.41

$1.52 $1.52

-73.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.07 $1.07

-51.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.49 $0.49

-24.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.03 $1.03

-1.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.34 $4.34

$5.60 $5.60

-22.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 $7.42

$9.92 $9.92

-25.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.43 $1.43

13.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$3.18 $3.18

-30.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.33 $0.33

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.27 $24.27

$26.64 $26.64

-8.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.64 $0.64

139.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.97 $0.97

5.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.17 $8.17

$13.28 $13.28

-38.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.64 $0.64

-7.81%

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

$18.3K $18.3K

$30.5K $30.5K

-40.03%

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

$21.8K $21.8K

$28.9K $28.9K

-24.48%

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

$38.13 $38.13

$39.96 $39.96

-4.58%

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

$13.93 $13.93

$13.69 $13.69

1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 $26.57

$30.74 $30.74

-13.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$29.12 $29.12

45.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 $14.78

$5.14 $5.14

187.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 $5.03

$7.43 $7.43

-32.30%

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

$134 $134

$252 $252

-46.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,947 $5,947

$5,751 $5,751

3.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.3 $52.3

$54.9 $54.9

-4.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 $43.82

$55.1 $55.1

-20.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.9 $78.9

$101 $101

-21.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 $68.0

$65.4 $65.4

3.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 $188

$372 $372

-49.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 $134

$324 $324

-58.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 $352

$679 $679

-48.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 $262

$512 $512

-48.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,346 $1,346

$1,233 $1,233

9.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$763 $763

$851 $851

-10.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$441 $441

$536 $536

-17.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

-56.45%

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

Last update for Machala: April 26, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $188 in Machala versus $372 in Cuenca. 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 22% higher in Cuenca, 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 $25.00 in Machala versus $25.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $184 – making Machala 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

Machala vs Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cuenca is pricier by about 40%, 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 $949 per month in Machala and $1,329 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Machala and $25.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $632 in Machala and $886 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $632 in Machala and $886 in Cuenca, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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