Cost of Living Comparison Between Portoviejo and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Portoviejo and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $939 in Portoviejo versus $933 in Vilcabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,440 in Portoviejo versus $1,439 in Vilcabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,940 in Portoviejo versus $1,945 in Vilcabamba.

Living in Portoviejo is roughly 1% more expensive than Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Portoviejo 30% lower, Vilcabamba 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 $3.43

$3.30 $3.30

3.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.24 $47.24

$35.09 $35.09

34.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 $7.89

$7.56 $7.56

4.37%

Cappuccino

$2.59 $2.59

$2.16 $2.16

19.91%

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

$0.85 $0.85

$1.02 $1.02

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.93 $0.93

-30.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.98 $1.98

56.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.43 $3.43

29.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.97 $0.97

11.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.95 $1.95

-9.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.35 $1.35

31.11%

Eggs

$2.59 $2.59

$2.17 $2.17

19.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.48 $7.48

-20.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$5.88 $5.88

-8.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$7.21 $7.21

-13.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.53 $2.53

-17.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.23 $1.23

-15.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.80 $1.80

-41.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 $1.05

-0.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$0.98 $0.98

91.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 $1.41

$0.97 $0.97

45.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.71 $0.71

1.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 $6.14

$6.22 $6.22

-1.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.83 $11.83

$10.09 $10.09

17.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.63 $1.63

-3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.52 $2.52

-11.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.37 $0.37

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.26 $24.26

$24.33 $24.33

-0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.54 $1.54

74.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.92 $0.92

6.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.19 $10.19

-2.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.64 $0.64

1.56%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$20.1K $20.1K

22.00%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$27.8K $27.8K

6.43%

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

$36.82 $36.82

$57.8 $57.8

-36.29%

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

$13.46 $13.46

$13.24 $13.24

1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.45 $32.45

$33.92 $33.92

-4.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.92 $29.92

$29.83 $29.83

0.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.55 $14.55

$14.71 $14.71

-1.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.59 $7.59

$7.01 $7.01

8.27%

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

$317 $317

$253 $253

25.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,885 $5,885

$5,676 $5,676

3.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 $52.4

$78.6 $78.6

-33.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.63 $42.63

$20.16 $20.16

111.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$96.2 $96.2

7.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$75.0 $75.0

50.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$348 $348

$339 $339

2.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 $313

$326 $326

-3.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 $620

$632 $632

-1.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 $497

$585 $585

-15.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,216 $1,216

$1,220 $1,220

-0.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$833 $833

$838 $838

-0.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$323 $323

$437 $437

-26.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

10.6

-11.79%

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

Last update for Portoviejo: April 25, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $348 in Portoviejo and $339 in Vilcabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vilcabamba pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Portoviejo vs $35.00 in Vilcabamba. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $203, with Portoviejo cheaper for home cooking.

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

Portoviejo vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vilcabamba wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Portoviejo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vilcabamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Vilcabamba earns 35% less. 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: $348 in Portoviejo versus $339 in Vilcabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Portoviejo pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Vilcabamba – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $47.00 in Portoviejo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Vilcabamba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Portoviejo 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 Vilcabamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Portoviejo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.