Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Ayora and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Ayora and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $975 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $1,432 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,703 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $1,890 in Cuenca, rent included.

Puerto Ayora is about 23% cheaper than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Puerto Ayora and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Ayora 46% lower, Cuenca 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.53 $3.53

$3.45 $3.45

2.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.67 $29.67

$30.29 $30.29

-2.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 $6.59

$8.12 $8.12

-18.84%

Cappuccino

$2.65 $2.65

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

$0.77 $0.77

$0.78 $0.78

-1.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.63 $0.63

3.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.05 $2.05

-0.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$3.05 $3.05

-3.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.07 $1.07

-5.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.76 $1.76

-12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.86 $1.86

-15.59%

Eggs

$2.03 $2.03

$2.26 $2.26

-10.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$5.82 $5.82

-5.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$6.06 $6.06

-17.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 $7.21

$7.49 $7.49

-3.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.83 $1.83

-8.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$1.65 $1.65

-27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.29 $1.29

-13.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.59 $1.59

-20.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.75 $0.75

-13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.26 $1.26

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.22 $5.22

$5.40 $5.40

-3.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.91 $8.91

$9.83 $9.83

-9.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.48 $1.48

2.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.11 $3.11

-1.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.31 $0.31

9.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.14 $20.14

$16.03 $16.03

25.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.39 $1.39

-9.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.13 $1.13

-0.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.12 $10.12

$11.08 $11.08

-8.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

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

$21.2K $21.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

-14.89%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$29.3K $29.3K

-2.17%

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

$36.11 $36.11

$37.77 $37.77

-4.40%

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

$12.17 $12.17

$12.49 $12.49

-2.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.26 $26.26

$26.44 $26.44

-0.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.61 $29.61

$29.73 $29.73

-0.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.61 $16.61

$5.18 $5.18

220.66%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 $6.69

$7.20 $7.20

-7.08%

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

$219 $219

$218 $218

0.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,123 $6,123

$6,857 $6,857

-10.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 $54.6

$65.8 $65.8

-16.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.77 $41.77

$46.95 $46.95

-11.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 $98.6

$114 $114

-13.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 $73.6

$71.7 $71.7

2.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 $302

$494 $494

-39.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 $185

$385 $385

-51.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$672 $672

$679 $679

-1.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 $408

$591 $591

-30.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 $1,176

$1,213 $1,213

-3.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$767 $767

$849 $849

-9.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$812 $812

$559 $559

45.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

11.16

-9.95%

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

Last update for Puerto Ayora: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $302 in Puerto Ayora versus $494 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 45% higher in Puerto Ayora, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Puerto Ayora versus $30.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $202 – making Puerto Ayora 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

Puerto Ayora vs Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cuenca is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,125 per month in Puerto Ayora and $1,462 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Ayora, 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 $30.00 in Puerto Ayora and $30.00 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 $750 in Puerto Ayora and $975 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Ayora, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Cuenca at $975. In Puerto Ayora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cuenca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Ayora – 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 Puerto Ayora. 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.