Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Bahia de Caraquez Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Bahia de Caraquez

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $981 per month in Quito vs $816 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,579 per month in Quito vs $1,377 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Quito vs $1,938 in Bahia de Caraquez, rent included.

Quito costs about 20% more than Bahia de Caraquez, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quito and Bahia de Caraquez are more affordable than the global median – Quito 29% lower, Bahia de Caraquez 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 $4.90

$4.09 $4.09

19.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 $55.1

$51.8 $51.8

6.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 $7.70

$8.93 $8.93

-13.77%

Cappuccino

$3.44 $3.44

$2.81 $2.81

22.42%

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

$1.44 $1.44

$0.88 $0.88

63.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.71 $0.71

60.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.06 $3.06

12.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 $5.62

$4.57 $4.57

22.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.22 $1.22

-6.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.91 $1.91

-17.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.41 $1.41

10.64%

Eggs

$2.16 $2.16

$2.06 $2.06

4.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$6.90 $6.90

-8.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.25 $5.25

4.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 $7.61

$8.93 $8.93

-14.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.51 $1.51

54.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.15 $1.15

2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.99 $0.99

34.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.27 $1.27

-6.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.97 $0.97

10.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.81 $0.81

4.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.16 $6.16

-2.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$11.80 $11.80

-15.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.21 $2.21

43.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.41 $21.41

$20.51 $20.51

4.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.27 $1.27

15.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.71 $1.71

-10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.07 $10.07

$12.12 $12.12

-16.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.88 $0.88

-9.09%

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

$21.0K $21.0K

$20.7K $20.7K

1.48%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$30.9K $30.9K

-9.21%

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

$28.09 $28.09

$36.07 $36.07

-22.12%

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

$17.68 $17.68

$14.64 $14.64

20.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 $28.57

$25.46 $25.46

12.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 $45.71

$29.67 $29.67

54.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 $18.28

$16.63 $16.63

9.92%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 $6.69

$7.61 $7.61

-12.09%

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

$749 $749

$403 $403

85.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,098 $9,098

$5,960 $5,960

52.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 $64.5

$64.7 $64.7

-0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.34 $49.34

$41.25 $41.25

19.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$127 $127

-10.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$91.4 $91.4

17.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 $485

$305 $305

59.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 $312

$188 $188

66.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 $949

$672 $672

41.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$409 $409

34.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,787 $1,787

$1,169 $1,169

52.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$705 $705

$787 $787

-10.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 $595

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

10.05

0.70%

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

Last update for Quito: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bahia de Caraquez: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Quito versus $305 in Bahia de Caraquez. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Quito versus $52.0 in Bahia de Caraquez. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Quito vs $198 in Bahia de Caraquez – so Quito 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

Quito vs Bahia de Caraquez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $981 in Quito, $816 in Bahia de Caraquez – roughly 20% apart. Quito costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,471 per month in Quito and $1,224 in Bahia de Caraquez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bahia de Caraquez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $749 per month in Quito and $403 in Bahia de Caraquez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Quito – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahia de Caraquez, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Quito at $981. In Bahia de Caraquez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bahia de Caraquez has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $816 in Bahia de Caraquez to $981 in Quito. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bahia de Caraquez. 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.