Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Galapagos Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Galapagos Islands

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $964 per month in Quito vs $882 in Galapagos Islands, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,468 per month in Quito vs $1,343 in Galapagos Islands, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,972 per month in Quito vs $1,805 in Galapagos Islands, rent included.

Quito costs about 9% more than Galapagos Islands, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quito and Galapagos Islands are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Galapagos Islands 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 $4.42

$3.58 $3.58

23.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.14 $33.14

$27.65 $27.65

19.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 $7.35

$7.46 $7.46

-1.47%

Cappuccino

$2.90 $2.90

$2.49 $2.49

16.47%

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

$1.11 $1.11

$0.91 $0.91

21.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.62 $0.62

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.97 $1.97

2.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$3.51 $3.51

13.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.14 $1.14

-4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.68 $1.68

-10.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.49 $1.49

24.83%

Eggs

$2.23 $2.23

$2.11 $2.11

5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$5.33 $5.33

66.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 $7.71

$5.60 $5.60

37.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 $7.99

$6.10 $6.10

30.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.06 $2.06

-1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.18 $1.18

3.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.05 $1.05

-2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.04 $1.04

27.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.03 $1.03

1.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.48 $0.48

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.02 $1.02

-0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.85 $5.85

1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$9.93 $9.93

-17.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.46 $1.46

8.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.55 $2.55

16.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.37 $0.37

-10.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.47 $26.47

$24.17 $24.17

9.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.54 $1.54

-3.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.98 $0.98

48.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.91 $9.91

2.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.63 $0.63

4.76%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

-21.24%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.0K $29.0K

-12.15%

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

$34.15 $34.15

$39.39 $39.39

-13.30%

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

$14.26 $14.26

$13.88 $13.88

2.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 $29.42

$30.45 $30.45

-3.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.02 $41.02

$30.47 $30.47

34.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.95 $16.95

$14.41 $14.41

17.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 $6.89

$7.60 $7.60

-9.34%

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

$278 $278

$250 $250

11.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,696 $8,696

$5,678 $5,678

53.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 $57.3

$56.8 $56.8

0.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.95 $42.95

$43.67 $43.67

-1.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$97.4 $97.4

4.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 $87.2

$73.8 $73.8

18.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 $448

$342 $342

30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 $318

0.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 $767

$628 $628

22.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 $504

$501 $501

0.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,692 $1,692

$1,263 $1,263

33.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$729 $729

$1,016 $1,016

-28.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 $612

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

11.90%

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

Last update for Quito: May 31, 2026

Last update for Galapagos Islands: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Quito versus $342 in Galapagos Islands. 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 $33.00 in Quito versus $28.00 in Galapagos Islands. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $184 – making Galapagos Islands the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Galapagos Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $964 in Quito, $882 in Galapagos Islands – roughly 9% apart. Quito costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,446 per month in Quito and $1,323 in Galapagos Islands. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 15% more in Quito, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Quito and $28.00 in Galapagos Islands. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Galapagos Islands, where all-in costs run around $882, than in Quito at $964. In Galapagos Islands it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Quito has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $882 in Galapagos Islands to $964 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 Galapagos Islands. 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.