Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Vilcabamba

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Machala is 16.3% cheaper than Vilcabamba without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Machala is 6.3% cheaper than Vilcabamba without rent, and 24.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.56 $2.56
$3.16 $3.16
-18.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.42 $24.42
$35.23 $35.23
-30.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.55 $6.55
$7.71 $7.71
-15.05%
Cappuccino
$2.63 $2.63
$2.06 $2.06
27.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 $0.73
$0.97 $0.97
-24.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 $0.51
$0.94 $0.94
-45.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.95 $1.95
3.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$3.46 $3.46
33.82%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$0.98 $0.98
8.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.96 $1.96
-46.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.27 $1.27
-23.62%
Eggs
$1.44 $1.44
$2.19 $2.19
-34.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$7.2 $7.2
-55.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.02 $4.02
$6.17 $6.17
-34.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.62 $4.62
$7.12 $7.12
-35.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.1 $2.1
$2.52 $2.52
-16.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.28 $1.28
-17.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.76 $1.76
-59.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.09 $1.09
-4.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 $0.39
$0.97 $0.97
-59.79%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 $0.52
$0.98 $0.98
-46.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.4 $0.4
$0.78 $0.78
-48.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.01 $1.01
1.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 $4.45
$6.34 $6.34
-29.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.45 $7.45
$9.87 $9.87
-24.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.62 $1.62
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.56 $2.56
-12.89%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$1.26 $1.26
-73.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.64 $21.64
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.51 $1.51
1.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.94 $0.94
4.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.93 $7.93
$9.96 $9.96
-20.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.68 $0.68
-10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18K $18K
$19.7K $19.7K
-8.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K $22.3K
$27.7K $27.7K
-19.45%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$37.64 $37.64
$56.8 $56.8
-33.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.9 $13.9
$13.37 $13.37
3.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.22 $26.22
$35.15 $35.15
-25.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.15 $42.15
$30.08 $30.08
40.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.56 $30.56
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.12 $5.12
$7.31 $7.31
-29.96%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 $134
$256 $256
-47.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,859 $5,859
$5,714 $5,714
2.52%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6 $51.6
$80.4 $80.4
-35.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.82 $42.82
$19.71 $19.71
117.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.9 $78.9
$97.1 $97.1
-18.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5 $69.5
$75.5 $75.5
-7.93%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$188 $188
$340 $340
-44.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$131 $131
$326 $326
-59.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$344 $344
$619 $619
-44.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 $264
$578 $578
-54.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,316 $1,316
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,080 $1,080
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Machala
Vilcabamba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$455 $455
$434 $434
4.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10.6
-52.83%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Machala: October 28, 2025

Last update for Vilcabamba: October 27, 2025

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