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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $964 per month in Quito vs $1,048 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,468 per month in Quito vs $1,668 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,972 per month in Quito vs $2,288 in Guayaquil, rent included.

Quito is about 8% cheaper than Guayaquil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quito and Guayaquil are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Guayaquil 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.42 $4.42

$3.57 $3.57

23.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.14 $33.14

$46.91 $46.91

-29.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 $7.35

$7.78 $7.78

-5.53%

Cappuccino

$2.90 $2.90

$2.51 $2.51

15.54%

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

$1.11 $1.11

$0.85 $0.85

30.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.65 $0.65

10.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.98 $2.98

-32.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.60 $4.60

-13.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.14 $1.14

-4.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.77 $1.77

-14.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.71 $1.71

8.77%

Eggs

$2.23 $2.23

$2.62 $2.62

-14.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$6.02 $6.02

47.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 $7.71

$5.09 $5.09

51.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 $7.99

$6.27 $6.27

27.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.06 $2.06

-1.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.53 $1.53

-20.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.06 $1.06

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.20 $1.20

10.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.89 $1.89

-26.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.47 $1.47

-28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.70 $0.70

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.98 $0.98

3.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 $5.92

$5.97 $5.97

-0.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$11.90 $11.90

-30.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.57 $1.57

1.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.13 $2.13

38.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.47 $26.47

$20.55 $20.55

28.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 $1.49

$2.70 $2.70

-44.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.71 $2.71

-46.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 $10.19

$10.06 $10.06

1.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.64 $0.64

3.13%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$25.3K $25.3K

-21.19%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$29.2K $29.2K

-12.71%

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

$34.15 $34.15

$111 $111

-69.10%

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

$14.26 $14.26

$13.65 $13.65

4.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.42 $29.42

$32.09 $32.09

-8.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.02 $41.02

$35.42 $35.42

15.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.95 $16.95

$46.79 $46.79

-63.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 $6.89

$7.96 $7.96

-13.44%

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

$278 $278

$319 $319

-12.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,696 $8,696

$5,838 $5,838

48.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 $57.3

$51.5 $51.5

11.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.95 $42.95

$44.04 $44.04

-2.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$103 $103

-1.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 $87.2

$112 $112

-22.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 $448

$336 $336

33.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 $318

$366 $366

-12.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 $767

$508 $508

50.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 $504

$694 $694

-27.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,692 $1,692

$2,305 $2,305

-26.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$729 $729

$1,469 $1,469

-50.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$612 $612

$584 $584

4.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

9.35

19.68%

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

Last update for Quito: May 31, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Quito versus $336 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 5% higher in Quito, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Quito versus $47.00 in Guayaquil. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Quito vs $198 in Guayaquil – so Guayaquil wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,446 per month in Quito and $1,572 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 $278 per month in Quito and $319 in Guayaquil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Guayaquil – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $964, than in Guayaquil at $1,048. 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.