Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Auburn, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $984 a month against $2,589 in Auburn, WA, rent and utilities included – about $19,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$984
/mo nomad
Auburn, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,589
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quito and in Auburn, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Quito and in Auburn, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $984 per month in Quito vs $2,589 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Quito $984
  • Auburn, WA $2,589

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Quito vs $4,092 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Quito $1,587
  • Auburn, WA $4,092

A family of three spends $2,189 per month in Quito vs $5,595 in Auburn, WA, rent included.

  • Quito $2,189
  • Auburn, WA $5,595

Quito is about 62% cheaper than Auburn, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Quito sits 27% below the global median, while Auburn, WA is 91% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.07 $6.07
$19.69 $19.69
-69.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 $53.8
$96.2 $96.2
-44.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.45 $7.45
$11.71 $11.71
-36.38%
Cappuccino
$3.34 $3.34
$4.46 $4.46
-25.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.05 $2.05
-32.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 $1.15
$2.01 $2.01
-42.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.45 $3.45
$4.93 $4.93
-30.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.98 $5.98
$7.18 $7.18
-16.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$0.89 $0.89
23.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.56 $2.56
-40.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 $1.49
$3.75 $3.75
-60.27%
Eggs
$2.09 $2.09
$3.04 $3.04
-31.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.33 $6.33
$8.58 $8.58
-26.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.58 $5.58
$13.75 $13.75
-59.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.57 $7.57
$18.56 $18.56
-59.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$4.75 $4.75
-53.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.80 $1.80
-31.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$3.81 $3.81
-66.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$4.15 $4.15
-72.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$3.11 $3.11
-62.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$3.26 $3.26
-66.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.83 $1.83
-49.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.11 $2.11
-51.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91 $5.91
$10.79 $10.79
-45.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$15.03 $15.03
-33.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.70 $1.70
-10.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.92 $2.92
9.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 $0.37
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.25 $21.25
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.48 $1.48
$3.54 $3.54
-58.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.84 $1.84
-17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.08 $10.08
$50.2 $50.2
-79.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.30 $1.30
-37.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K $22.8K
$25.6K $25.6K
-10.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K $30.6K
$24.5K $24.5K
24.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.20 $28.20
$216 $216
-86.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.65 $17.65
$40.51 $40.51
-56.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.83 $28.83
$79.5 $79.5
-63.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.91 $46.91
$34.39 $34.39
36.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.10 $18.10
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 $6.58
$14.77 $14.77
-55.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$744 $744
$1,077 $1,077
-30.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,068 $9,068
$16.8K $16.8K
-45.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1 $70.1
$55.7 $55.7
26.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.81 $49.81
$46.82 $46.82
6.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 $115
$78.9 $78.9
45.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$81.3 $81.3
35.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 $481
$1,470 $1,470
-67.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$317 $317
$1,381 $1,381
-77.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$950 $950
$2,298 $2,298
-58.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 $546
$2,844 $2,844
-80.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,775 $1,775
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$722 $722
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Auburn, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$597 $597
$6,864 $6,864
-91.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
6.59
53.57%

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

Last update for Quito: October 17, 2026

Last update for Auburn, WA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Quito
$317
Auburn, WA
$1.4K 336% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Quito
$195
Auburn, WA
$375 92% $180
Clothing & Footwear
Quito
$155
Auburn, WA
$118 23.8% $37
Eating Out
Quito
$150
Auburn, WA
$301 101% $151
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
$75
Auburn, WA
$336 351% $262
Sport & Entertainment
Quito
$60
Auburn, WA
$64 6.4% $3.9
Getting Around
Quito
$32
Auburn, WA
$13 * 59.9% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Quito versus $1,470 in Auburn, WA. 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 1050% higher in Auburn, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Quito versus $96.0 in Auburn, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $375 – making Quito the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Quito
🇺🇸 Auburn, WA
🕒 Local time
16:51 4:51 PM
14:51 2:51 PM
2 h behind Quito
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,671,191 Capital
76,143
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quito Auburn, WA 6,770 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quito
  • Auburn, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Auburn, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quito or Auburn, WA?
Auburn, WA costs about 163% more than Quito, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Quito and in Auburn, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,477 per month in Quito and $3,884 in Auburn, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quito or Auburn, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Quito compared to Auburn, WA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $984 in Quito and $2,589 in Auburn, WA. That's a gap of about 163%.
How do childcare costs compare in Quito and in Auburn, WA?
Kindergarten costs $744 per month in Quito and $1,077 in Auburn, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Quito or in Auburn, WA?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $984, than in Auburn, WA at $2,589. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Auburn, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Quito or Auburn, WA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Quito costs $984 versus $2,589 in Auburn, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Quito compared to Auburn, WA?
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.
Should I move to Quito or to Auburn, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Quito. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Auburn, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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