Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Quito vs $589 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Quito vs $963 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Quito vs $1,337 in Ambato, rent included.

Quito costs about 67% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Quito and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Ambato 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.98 $4.98

$3.51 $3.51

41.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 $51.1

$30.47 $30.47

67.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 $7.35

$5.30 $5.30

38.68%

Cappuccino

$3.28 $3.28

$2.64 $2.64

24.24%

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

$1.42 $1.42

$0.71 $0.71

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.64 $0.64

79.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.95 $1.95

82.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.99 $2.99

69.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.99 $0.99

16.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.01 $1.01

57.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.58 $1.58

-1.27%

Eggs

$2.15 $2.15

$1.75 $1.75

22.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$5.40 $5.40

17.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.06 $3.06

84.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$3.91 $3.91

95.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.27 $1.27

74.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.89 $0.89

37.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.97 $0.97

37.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.98 $0.98

15.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.83 $0.83

51.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.98 $0.98

4.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.63 $0.63

46.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 $5.85

$5.27 $5.27

11.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$8.84 $8.84

12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.47 $1.47

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.77 $2.77

9.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.29 $0.29

17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.21 $21.21

$13.92 $13.92

52.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.97 $0.97

55.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.13 $1.13

30.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 $10.15

$9.41 $9.41

7.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.82 $0.82

3.66%

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

$20.9K $20.9K

$23.3K $23.3K

-10.25%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$28.2K $28.2K

-0.84%

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

$28.70 $28.70

$36.45 $36.45

-21.26%

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

$18.14 $18.14

$12.16 $12.16

49.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 $28.97

$26.25 $26.25

10.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.73 $45.73

$29.83 $29.83

53.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.64 $17.64

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 $6.70

$4.52 $4.52

48.23%

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

$734 $734

$221 $221

232.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,986 $8,986

$2,437 $2,437

268.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$48.05 $48.05

36.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 $49.77

$35.06 $35.06

41.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$72.6 $72.6

57.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$55.2 $55.2

93.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 $477

$180 $180

165.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 $310

$123 $123

151.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 $958

$376 $376

154.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$276 $276

99.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,786 $1,786

$1,139 $1,139

56.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$715 $715

$889 $889

-19.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 $599

$666 $666

-10.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

12.44%

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

Last update for Quito: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ambato: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Quito versus $180 in Ambato. 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 11% higher in Ambato, 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 $51.0 in Quito versus $30.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $147 – making Ambato 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

Quito vs Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quito costs about 67% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,474 per month in Quito and $884 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, 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 $51.0 in Quito and $30.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $983 in Quito and $589 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Quito at $983. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $589 versus $983 in Quito. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ambato. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Quito makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.