Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Duncan BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $978 a month against $2,112 in Duncan BC, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$978
/mo nomad
Duncan BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,112
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quito and in Duncan BC

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 Duncan BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $978 in Quito versus $2,112 in Duncan BC.

  • Quito $978
  • Duncan BC $2,112

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Quito versus $3,371 in Duncan BC.

  • Quito $1,586
  • Duncan BC $3,371

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,194 in Quito versus $4,630 in Duncan BC.

  • Quito $2,194
  • Duncan BC $4,630

Living in Quito costs roughly 54% less than in Duncan BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Quito is 28% below, Duncan BC is 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.08 $6.08
$17.26 CA$24.40
-64.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.5 $55.5
$69.2 CA$97.8
-19.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.61 $7.61
$10.57 CA$14.95
-28.00%
Cappuccino
$3.40 $3.40
$4.06 CA$5.73
-16.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 $1.37
$2.13 CA$3.01
-35.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.67 CA$2.36
-34.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 $3.43
$5.40 CA$7.63
-36.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 $6.06
$5.52 CA$7.80
9.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.56 CA$2.20
-26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 $1.60
$2.60 CA$3.68
-38.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 $1.58
$4.35 CA$6.15
-63.68%
Eggs
$2.12 $2.12
$4.04 CA$5.71
-47.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.58 $6.58
$11.99 CA$16.95
-45.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.51 $5.51
$13.34 CA$18.85
-58.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.65 $7.65
$14.24 CA$20.13
-46.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$4.02 CA$5.69
-44.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.31 CA$1.85
-9.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$3.77 CA$5.33
-64.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$3.90 CA$5.52
-71.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$2.71 CA$3.83
-54.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.81 CA$3.97
-63.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 $0.92
$2.54 CA$3.58
-63.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.57 CA$2.22
-33.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.16 $6.16
$13.78 CA$19.49
-55.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.07 $10.07
$11.71 CA$16.56
-14.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 $1.58
$2.64 CA$3.73
-40.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 $3.09
$2.96 CA$4.19
4.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$1.98 CA$2.80
-81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.37 $21.37
$58.7 CA$83.0
-63.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.70 CA$3.82
-43.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.49 $1.49
$1.58 CA$2.24
-5.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.84 $9.84
$30.64 CA$43.32
-67.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.25 CA$1.76
-35.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K $21.3K
$25.4K CA$35.9K
-16.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$19.7K CA$27.8K
41.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.75 $28.75
$82.6 CA$117
-65.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.86 $17.86
$36.70 CA$51.9
-51.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.20 $28.20
$50.9 CA$72.0
-44.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.08 $46.08
$59.4 CA$84.0
-22.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.76 $17.76
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 $6.34
$12.41 CA$17.54
-48.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$739 $739
$1,032 CA$1,459
-28.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,909 $8,909
$9,936 CA$14.0K
-10.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0 $71.0
$56.5 CA$79.8
25.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4 $50.4
$32.64 CA$46.14
54.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 $114
$93.9 CA$133
21.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$94.3 CA$133
13.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 $491
$1,214 CA$1,716
-59.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 $309
$1,015 CA$1,435
-69.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 $932
$2,261 CA$3,196
-58.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 $540
$2,080 CA$2,940
-74.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,759 $1,759
$4,345 CA$6,142
-59.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$715 $715
$3,513 CA$4,967
-79.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Duncan BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$594 $594
$3,075 CA$4,347
-80.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
4.28
136.45%

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

Last update for Quito: October 10, 2026

Last update for Duncan BC: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Quito
$309
Duncan BC
$1K 229% $706
Groceries & Markets
Quito
$198
Duncan BC
$368 86% $170
Clothing & Footwear
Quito
$154
Duncan BC
$125 19.1% $29
Eating Out
Quito
$151
Duncan BC
$272 79.4% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
$75
Duncan BC
$170 128% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Quito
$59
Duncan BC
$84 43.3% $25
Getting Around
Quito
$32
Duncan BC
$77 143% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $491 in Quito and $1,214 in Duncan BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Duncan BC pays 418% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $55.0 in Quito vs $69.0 in Duncan BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $368 per month, with Quito cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Quito
🇨🇦 Duncan BC
🕒 Local time
14:50 2:50 PM
12:50 12:50 PM
2 h behind Quito
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,671,191 Capital
22,199
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quito Duncan BC 6,950 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quito
  • Duncan BC

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 Duncan BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duncan BC cheaper than Quito?
Quito is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quito or Duncan BC?
On paper, salaries run 418% lower in Duncan BC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Quito and Duncan BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $491 in Quito versus $1,214 in Duncan BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Quito and in Duncan BC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Duncan BC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Quito or in Duncan BC?
Dining out is cheaper in Quito – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $69.0 in Duncan BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quito or in Duncan BC?
At $978 in Quito versus $2,112 in Duncan BC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quito but tight or insufficient in Duncan BC. The gap between the two cities makes Quito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Quito or Duncan BC more family-friendly?
For families, Quito is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Duncan BC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Quito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Duncan BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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