Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Billings, MT

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $1,014 a month against $2,390 in Billings, MT, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quito, Ecuador
Billings, MT, United States
Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$1,014
/mo nomad
Billings, MT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,390
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quito and in Billings, MT

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 Billings, MT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Quito vs $2,390 in Billings, MT, rent included.

  • Quito $1,014
  • Billings, MT $2,390

A couple spends around $1,641 per month in Quito vs $3,554 in Billings, MT, rent included.

  • Quito $1,641
  • Billings, MT $3,554

A family of three spends $2,269 per month in Quito vs $4,718 in Billings, MT, rent included.

  • Quito $2,269
  • Billings, MT $4,718

Quito is about 58% cheaper than Billings, MT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Quito sits 25% below the global median, while Billings, MT is 77% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 $5.55
$25.92 $25.92
-78.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6 $54.6
$76.2 $76.2
-28.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 $7.63
$13.32 $13.32
-42.72%
Cappuccino
$3.33 $3.33
$6.35 $6.35
-47.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$2.51 $2.51
-45.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.65 $1.65
-30.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 $3.69
$4.21 $4.21
-12.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.16 $6.16
$5.02 $5.02
22.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.00 $1.00
15.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 $1.61
$3.44 $3.44
-53.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$3.15 $3.15
-52.06%
Eggs
$2.15 $2.15
$3.15 $3.15
-31.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$11.83 $11.83
-45.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$11.72 $11.72
-54.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.77 $7.77
$17.67 $17.67
-56.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$3.52 $3.52
-36.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.44 $1.44
-13.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.87 $2.87
-55.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$4.69 $4.69
-76.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.18 $1.18
5.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.97 $1.97
-46.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 $0.91
$2.39 $2.39
-61.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.47 $1.47
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95 $5.95
$9.82 $9.82
-39.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.35 $8.35
$10.70 $10.70
-21.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.26 $2.26
-32.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$5.18 $5.18
-38.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$2.02 $2.02
-83.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.42 $21.42
$28.45 $28.45
-24.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.44 $2.44
-37.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.40 $1.40
9.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.01 $10.01
$60.9 $60.9
-83.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.02 $1.02
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K $22.7K
$29.2K $29.2K
-22.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$23.9K $23.9K
23.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.99 $28.99
$175 $175
-83.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94 $17.94
$49.70 $49.70
-63.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.85 $28.85
$82.9 $82.9
-65.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 $45.09
$41.56 $41.56
8.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.78 $17.78
$14.97 $14.97
18.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.75 $6.75
$14.02 $14.02
-51.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$743 $743
$1,066 $1,066
-30.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,223 $8,223
$8,517 $8,517
-3.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 $69.8
$59.0 $59.0
18.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 $50.3
$66.9 $66.9
-24.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 $113
$99.3 $99.3
13.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$120 $120
-11.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 $542
$1,198 $1,198
-54.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 $354
$1,085 $1,085
-67.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,141 $1,141
$1,860 $1,860
-38.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 $638
$1,804 $1,804
-64.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,636 $1,636
$2,525 $2,525
-35.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$663 $663
$2,047 $2,047
-67.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Billings, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 $603
$3,874 $3,874
-84.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
6.4
58.12%

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

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Last update for Billings, MT: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Quito
$354
Billings, MT
$1.1K 206% $731
Groceries & Markets
Quito
$193
Billings, MT
$356 84.6% $163
Clothing & Footwear
Quito
$153
Billings, MT
$155 1.6% $2.4
Eating Out
Quito
$148
Billings, MT
$371 151% $223
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
$76
Billings, MT
$308 306% $232
Sport & Entertainment
Quito
$59
Billings, MT
$70 18.8% $11
Getting Around
Quito
$32
Billings, MT
$46 43.8% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $542 in Quito versus $1,198 in Billings, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Billings, MT are about 6.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Quito versus $76 in Billings, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $356 – making Quito the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Quito
🇺🇸 Billings, MT
🕒 Local time
00:43 12:43 AM
22:43 10:43 PM
2 h behind Quito
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,671,191 Capital
117,116
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.891 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quito Billings, MT 5,900 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quito
  • Billings, MT

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 Billings, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Quito or Billings, MT?
Billings, MT costs about 136% more than Quito, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Billings, MT?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Quito and $3,586 in Billings, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Quito or Billings, MT?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Quito, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $542 there versus $1,198 in Billings, MT.
How expensive is transport in Quito compared to Billings, MT?
Public transport costs about 25% less in Quito. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Quito and in Billings, MT?
Kindergarten costs $743 per month in Quito and $1,066 in Billings, MT. 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 Billings, MT?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Billings, MT at $2,390. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Billings, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Quito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Quito or to Billings, MT?
If budget matters most, go with Quito. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Billings, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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