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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $926 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $1,048 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,437 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $1,668 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,948 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $2,288 in Guayaquil, rent included.

Puerto Ayora is about 12% cheaper than Guayaquil, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Puerto Ayora and Guayaquil are more affordable than the global median – Puerto Ayora 31% lower, Guayaquil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 $4.43

$3.57 $3.57

24.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.56 $39.56

$46.91 $46.91

-15.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.89 $6.89

$7.78 $7.78

-11.44%

Cappuccino

$2.92 $2.92

$2.51 $2.51

16.33%

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

$1.35 $1.35

$0.85 $0.85

58.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.65 $0.65

49.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.98 $2.98

-6.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 $3.92

$4.60 $4.60

-14.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.14 $1.14

-7.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.77 $1.77

-4.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.71 $1.71

-8.77%

Eggs

$3.78 $3.78

$2.62 $2.62

44.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$6.02 $6.02

-38.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.57 $5.57

$5.09 $5.09

9.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 $9.62

$6.27 $6.27

53.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$2.06 $2.06

41.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.53 $1.53

-26.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.06 $1.06

30.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.20 $1.20

-10.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.89 $1.89

-32.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.47 $1.47

25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.70 $0.70

-1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.98 $0.98

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.97 $5.97

-2.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.12 $8.12

$11.90 $11.90

-31.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.57 $1.57

-2.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.13 $2.13

30.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.24 $24.24

$20.55 $20.55

17.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 $1.29

$2.70 $2.70

-52.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.71 $2.71

-43.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.97 $9.97

$10.06 $10.06

-0.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.64 $0.64

7.81%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

-21.40%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$29.2K $29.2K

-3.37%

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

$37.70 $37.70

$111 $111

-65.89%

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

$13.89 $13.89

$13.65 $13.65

1.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.46 $30.46

$32.09 $32.09

-5.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.73 $29.73

$35.42 $35.42

-16.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 $14.71

$46.79 $46.79

-68.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.99 $6.99

$7.96 $7.96

-12.19%

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

$253 $253

$319 $319

-20.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,692 $5,692

$5,838 $5,838

-2.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 $55.4

$51.5 $51.5

7.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.82 $42.82

$44.04 $44.04

-2.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 $95.8

$103 $103

-7.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.2 $66.2

$112 $112

-41.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 $335

$336 $336

-0.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 $313

$366 $366

-14.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 $630

$508 $508

24.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 $498

$694 $694

-28.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 $1,203

$2,305 $2,305

-47.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$774 $774

$1,469 $1,469

-47.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 $800

$584 $584

37.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

9.35

13.37%

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

Last update for Puerto Ayora: June 1, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $335 in Puerto Ayora versus $336 in Guayaquil. 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 37% 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 $40.00 in Puerto Ayora versus $47.00 in Guayaquil. Groceries tell a different story – $201 in Puerto Ayora vs $198 in Guayaquil – so Guayaquil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Guayaquil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,390 per month in Puerto Ayora and $1,572 in Guayaquil. 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.

Kindergarten costs $253 per month in Puerto Ayora and $319 in Guayaquil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Guayaquil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $926 in Puerto Ayora and $1,048 in Guayaquil, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Guayaquil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.