Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Guayaquil Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Guayaquil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Quito vs $1,109 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Quito vs $1,765 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Quito vs $2,422 in Guayaquil, rent included.

Quito is about 11% cheaper than Guayaquil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quito and Guayaquil are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Guayaquil 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.98 $4.98

$4.12 $4.12

20.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 $51.1

$52.7 $52.7

-3.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 $7.35

$9.10 $9.10

-19.23%

Cappuccino

$3.28 $3.28

$2.81 $2.81

16.73%

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

$1.42 $1.42

$0.90 $0.90

57.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.71 $0.71

61.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.98 $2.98

19.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$4.55 $4.55

11.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.16 $1.16

-0.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.00 $2.00

-20.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.45 $1.45

7.59%

Eggs

$2.15 $2.15

$2.07 $2.07

3.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$7.11 $7.11

-10.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.01 $5.01

12.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$9.20 $9.20

-16.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.52 $1.52

46.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.19 $1.19

2.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.99 $0.99

34.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.90 $0.90

25.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.28 $1.28

-1.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.91 $0.91

12.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.82 $0.82

12.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 $5.85

$6.04 $6.04

-3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$12.10 $12.10

-18.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.49 $1.49

2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.20 $2.20

38.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.21 $21.21

$19.66 $19.66

7.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.80 $2.80

-46.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.72 $1.72

-13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 $10.15

$12.19 $12.19

-16.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.83 $0.83

2.41%

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

$20.9K $20.9K

$21.1K $21.1K

-1.16%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$30.7K $30.7K

-8.70%

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

$28.70 $28.70

$127 $127

-77.41%

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

$18.14 $18.14

$14.97 $14.97

21.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 $28.97

$25.14 $25.14

15.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.73 $45.73

$46.01 $46.01

-0.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.64 $17.64

$26.48 $26.48

-33.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 $6.70

$7.72 $7.72

-13.21%

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

$734 $734

$407 $407

80.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,986 $8,986

$5,935 $5,935

51.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$65.6 $65.6

0.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 $49.77

$40.34 $40.34

23.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$123 $123

-7.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$91.5 $91.5

16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 $477

$461 $461

3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 $310

$399 $399

-22.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 $958

$803 $803

19.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$738 $738

-25.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,786 $1,786

$2,333 $2,333

-23.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$715 $715

$1,437 $1,437

-50.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 $599

$611 $611

-2.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

10.05

0.70%

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

Last update for Quito: August 30, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Quito versus $461 in Guayaquil. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Guayaquil, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Quito versus $53.0 in Guayaquil. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $200 – making Quito 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 Guayaquil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Guayaquil is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,474 per month in Quito and $1,663 in Guayaquil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $734 per month in Quito and $407 in Guayaquil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Guayaquil, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Guayaquil at $1,109. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guayaquil it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Quito. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guayaquil makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.