Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Quito

For one person, living is cheaper in Machala: $655 a month against $1,014 in Quito, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

31

Cost of Living Index in Machala
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Machala Living Index
49

Cost of Living Index in Quito
Learn more

Quito Living Index

Jump to prices

Machala

🇪🇨 Ecuador

$655

/mo nomad

Quito

🇪🇨 Ecuador

$1,014

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Machala and in Quito

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Machala and in Quito actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $655 in Machala versus $1,014 in Quito.

Machala $655
Quito $1,014

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,044 in Machala versus $1,641 in Quito.

Machala $1,044
Quito $1,641

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,433 in Machala versus $2,269 in Quito.

Machala $1,433
Quito $2,269

Living in Machala costs roughly 35% less than in Quito, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machala 52% lower, Quito 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 $2.80

$5.55 $5.55

-49.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.64 $24.64

$54.6 $54.6

-54.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.27 $5.27

$7.63 $7.63

-30.93%

Cappuccino

$2.71 $2.71

$3.33 $3.33

-18.62%

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

$0.91 $0.91

$1.36 $1.36

-33.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 $0.68

$1.14 $1.14

-40.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$3.69 $3.69

-47.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 $3.85

$6.16 $6.16

-37.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.15 $1.15

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.61 $1.61

-34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.51 $1.51

-37.75%

Eggs

$1.45 $1.45

$2.15 $2.15

-32.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$6.47 $6.47

-48.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$5.33 $5.33

-21.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$7.77 $7.77

-38.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.23 $2.23

-34.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.24 $1.24

-48.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 $0.72

$1.27 $1.27

-43.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 $0.53

$1.08 $1.08

-50.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 $0.38

$1.24 $1.24

-69.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.06 $1.06

-50.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 $0.39

$0.91 $0.91

-57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.98 $0.98

-3.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 $4.31

$5.95 $5.95

-27.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$8.35 $8.35

-7.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.52 $1.52

-1.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$3.20 $3.20

-30.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.17 $22.17

$21.42 $21.42

3.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.53 $1.53

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.53 $1.53

-3.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 $7.89

$10.01 $10.01

-21.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.85 $0.85

-24.71%

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

$18.1K $18.1K

$22.7K $22.7K

-20.47%

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

$21.9K $21.9K

$29.6K $29.6K

-25.97%

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

$52.2 $52.2

$28.99 $28.99

79.96%

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

$14.95 $14.95

$17.94 $17.94

-16.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.06 $26.06

$28.85 $28.85

-9.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.32 $43.32

$45.09 $45.09

-3.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.54 $30.54

$17.78 $17.78

71.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.03 $5.03

$6.75 $6.75

-25.48%

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

$135 $135

$743 $743

-81.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,038 $9,038

$8,223 $8,223

9.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 $66.5

$69.8 $69.8

-4.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.79 $40.79

$50.3 $50.3

-18.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 $79.8

$113 $113

-29.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.8 $67.8

$107 $107

-36.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 $192

$542 $542

-64.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$131 $131

$354 $354

-62.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 $354

$1,141 $1,141

-68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 $262

$638 $638

-58.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,636 $1,636

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$663 $663

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 $454

$603 $603

-24.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

-50.59%

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

Last update for Machala: November 2, 2026

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Machala

$136 20.7%

Quito

$193 19% 42.1% $57

Accommodation & Living

Machala

$131 20.1%

Quito

$354 34.9% 170% $223

Clothing & Footwear

Machala

$115 17.5%

Quito

$153 15.1% 33.3% $38

Eating Out

Machala

$95 14.4%

Quito

$148 14.6% 56.6% $54

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Machala

$93 14.2%

Quito

$76 7.5% 18.7% $17

Sport & Entertainment

Machala

$53 8.2%

Quito

$59 5.8% 9.8% $5.2

Getting Around

Machala

$32 4.9%

Quito

$32 3.2% 1.2% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Machala and $542 in Quito. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quito pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25 in Machala vs $55 in Quito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $136 vs $193 per month, with Machala cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇪🇨 Machala

🇪🇨 Quito

🕒 Local time

22:08 10:08 PM

Same time as Machala

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

231,260

2,671,191 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.894 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Machala Quito 370 km

From you

Machala
Quito

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is about 35% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Machala. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $192 in Machala versus $542 in Quito. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25 versus $55 in Quito. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $655 per month in Machala versus $1,014 in Quito – Machala is about 35% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

At $655 in Machala versus $1,014 in Quito, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Quito. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

It comes down to priorities – Machala wins on affordability, Quito on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.