Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Latacunga Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Latacunga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $981 per month in Quito vs $780 in Latacunga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,579 per month in Quito vs $1,284 in Latacunga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Quito vs $1,788 in Latacunga, rent included.

Quito costs about 26% more than Latacunga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quito and Latacunga are more affordable than the global median – Quito 29% lower, Latacunga 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 $4.90

$2.46 $2.46

99.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 $55.1

$27.85 $27.85

97.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 $7.70

$9.22 $9.22

-16.49%

Cappuccino

$3.44 $3.44

$2.78 $2.78

23.74%

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

$1.44 $1.44

$0.85 $0.85

69.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.52 $0.52

119.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.94 $2.94

17.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 $5.62

$4.60 $4.60

22.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.17 $1.17

-2.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.97 $1.97

-19.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.01 $1.01

54.46%

Eggs

$2.16 $2.16

$1.78 $1.78

21.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$4.92 $4.92

28.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.01 $5.01

9.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 $7.61

$9.43 $9.43

-19.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.53 $1.53

52.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.19 $1.19

-0.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.99 $0.99

34.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.89 $0.89

22.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.98 $0.98

21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.99 $0.99

8.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.52 $0.52

63.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 $6.03

$6.05 $6.05

-0.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.12 $10.12

-1.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.47 $1.47

2.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.11 $2.11

50.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.41 $21.41

$20.25 $20.25

5.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.27 $1.27

15.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.73 $1.73

-11.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.07 $10.07

$11.89 $11.89

-15.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.67 $0.67

19.40%

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

$21.0K $21.0K

$20.8K $20.8K

0.62%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$30.9K $30.9K

-9.24%

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

$28.09 $28.09

$35.50 $35.50

-20.87%

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

$17.68 $17.68

$15.11 $15.11

17.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 $28.57

$25.83 $25.83

10.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 $45.71

$30.11 $30.11

51.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 $18.28

$16.69 $16.69

9.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 $6.69

$7.53 $7.53

-11.16%

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

$749 $749

$400 $400

87.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,098 $9,098

$6,014 $6,014

51.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 $64.5

$65.5 $65.5

-1.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.34 $49.34

$39.86 $39.86

23.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$127 $127

-10.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$93.2 $93.2

15.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 $485

$302 $302

60.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 $312

$189 $189

65.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 $949

$685 $685

38.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$406 $406

35.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,787 $1,787

$1,186 $1,186

50.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$705 $705

$776 $776

-9.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 $595

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

1.20%

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

Last update for Quito: September 5, 2026

Last update for Latacunga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Quito versus $302 in Latacunga. 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 $55.0 in Quito versus $28.00 in Latacunga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $185 – making Latacunga 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 Latacunga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $981 in Quito, $780 in Latacunga – roughly 26% apart. Quito costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,471 per month in Quito and $1,169 in Latacunga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $749 per month in Quito and $400 in Latacunga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Latacunga, where all-in costs run around $780, than in Quito at $981. In Latacunga 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 $780 in Latacunga to $981 in Quito. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Latacunga. 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.