Cost of Living Comparison Between Montanita and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Montanita and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $901 in Montanita versus $949 in Vilcabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,342 in Montanita versus $1,433 in Vilcabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,783 in Montanita versus $1,917 in Vilcabamba.

Living in Montanita costs roughly 5% less than in Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Montanita 34% lower, Vilcabamba 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 $3.40

$3.49 $3.49

-2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 $28.17

$29.81 $29.81

-5.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 $7.26

$7.83 $7.83

-7.28%

Cappuccino

$2.44 $2.44

$2.19 $2.19

11.42%

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

$0.91 $0.91

$1.02 $1.02

-10.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.04 $1.04

-35.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.04 $2.04

-3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.04 $1.04

9.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.60 $1.60

5.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.57 $1.57

-0.64%

Eggs

$2.16 $2.16

$2.49 $2.49

-13.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.59 $5.59

$8.47 $8.47

-34.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$5.14 $5.14

7.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$7.31 $7.31

-12.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.71 $1.71

18.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.07 $1.07

13.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.15 $1.15

-9.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.15 $1.15

-10.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.93 $0.93

53.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.08 $1.08

-4.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 $0.49

$0.71 $0.71

-30.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.99 $0.99

-1.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 $6.08

$5.11 $5.11

18.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 $9.95

$10.92 $10.92

-8.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.63 $1.63

-6.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.69 $2.69

-8.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.35 $0.35

-2.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.90 $23.90

$16.23 $16.23

47.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.34 $1.34

11.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.11 $1.11

-10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 $10.08

$10.05 $10.05

0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.70 $0.70

-4.29%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$21.3K $21.3K

15.26%

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

$29.0K $29.0K

$28.4K $28.4K

2.16%

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

$40.09 $40.09

$37.48 $37.48

6.96%

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

$13.52 $13.52

$13.36 $13.36

1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.20 $30.20

$35.80 $35.80

-15.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.85 $29.85

$30.59 $30.59

-2.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.46 $14.46

$17.40 $17.40

-16.90%

Cinema Ticket

$7.31 $7.31

$7.39 $7.39

-1.08%

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

$250 $250

$205 $205

22.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,541 $5,541

$6,463 $6,463

-14.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.9 $56.9

$54.5 $54.5

4.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.72 $43.72

$42.64 $42.64

2.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$96.7 $96.7

3.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 $74.0

$71.1 $71.1

4.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$386 $386

-12.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 $320

$388 $388

-17.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 $630

$616 $616

2.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 $498

$565 $565

-11.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,244 $1,244

$1,180 $1,180

5.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 $1,014

$764 $764

32.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 $454

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

-0.50%

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

Last update for Montanita: September 13, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Montanita and $386 in Vilcabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Montanita vs $30.00 in Vilcabamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $196 per month, with Montanita cheaper across the board.

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

Montanita vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montanita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,352 in Montanita and $1,423 in Vilcabamba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $336 in Montanita versus $386 in Vilcabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $250 in Montanita versus $205 in Vilcabamba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Vilcabamba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $901 in Montanita versus $949 in Vilcabamba, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Montanita but tight or insufficient in Vilcabamba. The gap between the two cities makes Montanita 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.

Safety-wise, Montanita and Vilcabamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Montanita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.