Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Machala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in Quito versus $632 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,449 in Quito versus $1,006 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,930 in Quito versus $1,379 in Machala.

Living in Quito is roughly 53% more expensive than Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quito 28% lower, Machala 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 $4.59

$2.43 $2.43

88.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.51 $33.51

$24.77 $24.77

35.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 $7.28

$6.64 $6.64

9.64%

Cappuccino

$2.83 $2.83

$2.63 $2.63

7.60%

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

$1.07 $1.07

$0.76 $0.76

40.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.49 $0.49

36.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.95 $1.95

5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.40 $4.40

-8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.10 $1.10

-3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.04 $1.04

49.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$0.95 $0.95

89.47%

Eggs

$2.31 $2.31

$1.51 $1.51

52.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 $8.62

$3.32 $3.32

159.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.06 $4.06

95.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.29 $8.29

$4.67 $4.67

77.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.06 $2.06

0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.06 $1.06

9.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.73 $0.73

47.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.08 $1.08

24.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.41 $0.41

239.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.52 $0.52

111.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 $0.79

$0.37 $0.37

113.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.01 $1.01

1.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 $6.08

$4.34 $4.34

40.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.06 $10.06

$7.42 $7.42

35.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.63 $1.63

-3.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 $2.91

$2.20 $2.20

32.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.36 $0.36

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.80 $26.80

$24.27 $24.27

10.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 $1.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.02 $1.02

50.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.89 $9.89

$8.17 $8.17

21.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.59 $0.59

22.03%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$18.3K $18.3K

8.89%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$21.8K $21.8K

17.68%

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

$34.76 $34.76

$38.13 $38.13

-8.84%

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

$14.25 $14.25

$13.93 $13.93

2.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.13 $29.13

$26.57 $26.57

9.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 $42.07

$42.24 $42.24

-0.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.77 $16.77

$14.78 $14.78

13.46%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 $7.04

$5.03 $5.03

39.96%

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

$272 $272

$134 $134

102.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,732 $8,732

$5,947 $5,947

46.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 $57.3

$52.3 $52.3

9.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.88 $42.88

$43.82 $43.82

-2.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$78.9 $78.9

28.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 $84.8

$68.0 $68.0

24.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 $445

$188 $188

137.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 $311

$134 $134

131.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$768 $768

$352 $352

118.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 $491

$262 $262

87.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,710 $1,710

$1,346 $1,346

27.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$755 $755

$763 $763

-1.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 $604

$441 $441

36.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

123.80%

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

Last update for Quito: April 27, 2026

Last update for Machala: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Quito and $188 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quito pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $34.00 in Quito vs $25.00 in Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $144 per month, with Machala cheaper across the board.

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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Quito pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Quito versus $188 in Machala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $34.00 in Quito. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $969 per month in Quito versus $632 in Machala – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $632 in Machala versus $969 in Quito, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Quito. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Quito, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Quito. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.