Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Loja Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Loja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $961 per month in Quito vs $736 in Loja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Quito vs $1,104 in Loja, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,973 per month in Quito vs $1,472 in Loja, rent included.

Quito costs about 30% more than Loja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quito and Loja are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Loja 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 $4.56

$2.94 $2.94

55.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.57 $32.57

$20.26 $20.26

60.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 $7.39

$7.15 $7.15

3.36%

Cappuccino

$2.84 $2.84

$1.78 $1.78

59.55%

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

$1.06 $1.06

$0.63 $0.63

68.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.45 $0.45

46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.97 $0.97

102.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.94 $1.94

108.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.02 $1.02

8.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.35 $1.35

10.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.51 $1.51

18.54%

Eggs

$2.32 $2.32

$1.98 $1.98

17.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$5.40 $5.40

63.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 $8.02

$4.51 $4.51

77.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.38 $8.38

$5.98 $5.98

40.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.37 $1.37

45.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.93 $0.93

24.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.01 $1.01

0.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.06 $1.06

27.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.78 $0.78

78.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.84 $0.84

30.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.50 $0.50

68.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.17 $6.17

$5.84 $5.84

5.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$6.98 $6.98

40.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.43 $1.43

11.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.86 $2.86

4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.29 $0.29

24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.79 $26.79

$40.69 $40.69

-34.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.67 $0.67

120.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.03 $1.03

44.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 $10.11

$13.61 $13.61

-25.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.68 $0.68

-1.47%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$15.0K $15.0K

34.21%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$28.3K $28.3K

-8.72%

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

$34.69 $34.69

$20.11 $20.11

72.50%

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

$14.53 $14.53

$10.58 $10.58

37.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.55 $29.55

$28.51 $28.51

3.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.92 $40.92

$33.96 $33.96

20.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 $16.44

$14.07 $14.07

16.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 $6.89

$7.34 $7.34

-6.13%

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

$279 $279

$182 $182

52.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,515 $8,515

$2,030 $2,030

319.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 $58.3

$57.0 $57.0

2.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.09 $44.09

$49.75 $49.75

-11.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$85.3 $85.3

18.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 $87.1

$66.0 $66.0

31.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 $448

$286 $286

56.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 $313

$231 $231

35.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 $771

$430 $430

79.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 $505

$330 $330

53.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,708 $1,708

$546 $546

212.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$742 $742

$331 $331

124.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 $606

$490 $490

23.60%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Loja: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Quito versus $286 in Loja. 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 24% higher in Quito, 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 $33.00 in Quito versus $20.00 in Loja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $162 – making Loja 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 Loja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $961 in Quito, $736 in Loja – roughly 30% apart. Quito costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,441 per month in Quito and $1,104 in Loja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 52% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $279 per month in Quito and $182 in Loja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Loja, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Quito at $961. In Loja 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 $736 in Loja to $961 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 Loja. 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.