Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Cuenca

😐 Solo nomad: Quito is 13.4% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 3.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Quito is 16.1% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 10.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.61 $4.61
$3.44 $3.44
34.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.37 $32.37
$24.89 $24.89
30.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.26 $7.26
$7.07 $7.07
2.69%
Cappuccino
$2.89 $2.89
$2.47 $2.47
17.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.79 $0.79
35.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.66 $0.66
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.02 $2.02
0.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.42 $3.42
20.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.14 $1.14
-7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.68 $1.68
-11.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.5 $1.5
18.67%
Eggs
$2.25 $2.25
$2.18 $2.18
3.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 $8.65
$5.57 $5.57
55.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.95 $7.95
$5.47 $5.47
45.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.22 $8.22
$6.36 $6.36
29.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.46 $1.46
42.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.04 $1.04
17.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.16 $1.16
-11.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.06 $1.06
27.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.48 $1.48
-3.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.03 $1.03
3.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.46 $0.46
84.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.07 $1.07
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.17 $6.17
$5.77 $5.77
6.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$9.91 $9.91
1.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.43 $1.43
6.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$3.16 $3.16
-9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.34 $0.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.78 $26.78
$27.02 $27.02
-0.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.68 $0.68
119.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.98 $0.98
51.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.08 $10.08
$13.4 $13.4
-24.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.7 $0.7
$0.66 $0.66
6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K $19.9K
$29.7K $29.7K
-32.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$29K $29K
-12.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.65 $34.65
$39.72 $39.72
-12.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.52 $14.52
$13.99 $13.99
3.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 $29.37
$30.92 $30.92
-5.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.1 $41.1
$28.84 $28.84
42.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.93 $16.93
$5.06 $5.06
234.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.81 $6.81
$7.45 $7.45
-8.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$282 $282
$259 $259
8.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,474 $8,474
$5,712 $5,712
48.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 $58.3
$55.7 $55.7
4.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$53.2 $53.2
-19.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$100 $100
1.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.6 $84.6
$66.6 $66.6
27.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$457 $457
$366 $366
25.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 $315
$330 $330
-4.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$787 $787
$682 $682
15.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$506 $506
$508 $508
-0.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,622 $1,622
$1,328 $1,328
22.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$883 $883
$1,185 $1,185
-25.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$659 $659
$481 $481
36.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
11.48
-2.53%

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

Last update for Quito: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

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