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

😐 Solo nomad: Quito is 14.2% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 4.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Quito is 19.2% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 13.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.46 $4.46
$3.48 $3.48
28.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.95 $32.95
$25.23 $25.23
30.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.55 $7.55
$6.81 $6.81
10.87%
Cappuccino
$2.85 $2.85
$2.52 $2.52
13.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 $1.11
$0.79 $0.79
40.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 $0.66
$0.68 $0.68
-2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.98 $1.98
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 $3.98
$3.48 $3.48
14.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 $1.10
$1.13 $1.13
-2.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.67 $1.67
-6.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.57 $1.57
14.65%
Eggs
$2.25 $2.25
$2.16 $2.16
4.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 $8.60
$5.44 $5.44
58.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.81 $7.81
$5.43 $5.43
43.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.34 $8.34
$6.38 $6.38
30.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.43 $1.43
39.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.09 $1.09
5.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 $1.07
$1.17 $1.17
-8.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.08 $1.08
22.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.51 $1.51
-5.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.07 $1.07
-0.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 $0.86
$0.49 $0.49
75.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.07 $1.07
-0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 $5.90
$5.58 $5.58
5.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 $10.13
$10.07 $10.07
0.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$1.50 $1.50
5.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$3.21 $3.21
-9.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.33 $0.33
3.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.48 $26.48
$27.38 $27.38
-3.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.68 $0.68
125.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.02 $1.02
50.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.92 $9.92
$13.36 $13.36
-25.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$0.64 $0.64
12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K $20.1K
$30.4K $30.4K
-33.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$29.2K $29.2K
-11.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.12 $34.12
$40.07 $40.07
-14.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.56 $14.56
$13.60 $13.60
7.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.77 $28.77
$30.45 $30.45
-5.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.55 $40.55
$28.62 $28.62
41.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91 $16.91
$5.10 $5.10
231.57%
Cinema Ticket
$7.01 $7.01
$7.35 $7.35
-4.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 $278
$254 $254
9.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,796 $8,796
$5,604 $5,604
56.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 $56.8
$55.4 $55.4
2.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.08 $44.08
$54.3 $54.3
-18.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$100 $100
1.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.0 $87.0
$64.8 $64.8
34.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 $455
$376 $376
20.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 $313
$325 $325
-3.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$778 $778
$689 $689
13.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 $505
$512 $512
-1.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,658 $1,658
$1,240 $1,240
33.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$761 $761
$845 $845
-10.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$615 $615
$539 $539
14.03%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: April 14, 2026

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

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