Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Manta Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Manta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $929 in Quito versus $929 in Manta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,453 in Quito versus $1,558 in Manta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,976 in Quito versus $2,187 in Manta.

Monthly costs are close between Quito and Manta; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quito 31% lower, Manta 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.38 $4.38

$3.49 $3.49

25.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.78 $32.78

$45.11 $45.11

-27.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.17 $7.17

$7.09 $7.09

1.13%

Cappuccino

$2.93 $2.93

$2.37 $2.37

23.63%

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

$1.10 $1.10

$0.85 $0.85

29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.61 $0.61

9.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.78 $1.78

14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.02 $3.02

29.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.13 $1.13

-1.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.75 $1.75

-14.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.65 $1.65

11.52%

Eggs

$2.31 $2.31

$2.49 $2.49

-7.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 $8.61

$5.84 $5.84

47.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$5.10 $5.10

53.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 $8.19

$6.32 $6.32

29.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$2.03 $2.03

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.05 $1.05

10.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.08 $1.08

17.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.97 $0.97

41.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.39 $1.39

-24.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.70 $0.70

22.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 $6.11

$6.04 $6.04

1.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$7.19 $7.19

7.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.47 $1.47

8.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.04 $2.04

41.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.20 $27.20

$23.95 $23.95

13.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.79 $1.79

-15.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$1.96 $1.96

-25.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 $9.96

$9.92 $9.92

0.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.67 $0.67

1.49%

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

$19.7K $19.7K

$20.0K $20.0K

-1.15%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.5K $24.5K

4.38%

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

$35.05 $35.05

$37.58 $37.58

-6.73%

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

$14.17 $14.17

$11.94 $11.94

18.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.39 $29.39

$31.86 $31.86

-7.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.24 $41.24

$39.77 $39.77

3.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 $17.02

$14.71 $14.71

15.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.02 $7.02

$6.94 $6.94

1.15%

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

$274 $274

$240 $240

14.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,799 $8,799

$5,904 $5,904

49.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 $56.2

$51.1 $51.1

9.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 $43.25

$43.70 $43.70

-1.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$102 $102

0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 $86.5

$90.1 $90.1

-3.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 $454

$471 $471

-3.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 $318

$335 $335

-5.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 $763

$473 $473

61.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 $488

$768 $768

-36.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,731 $1,731

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$721 $721

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 $614

$476 $476

28.94%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Manta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $454 in Quito and $471 in Manta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quito pays 29% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $33.00 in Quito vs $45.00 in Manta. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $180, with Manta cheaper for home cooking.

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 Manta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quito pays 29% 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: $454 in Quito versus $471 in Manta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $274 in Quito versus $240 in Manta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Manta – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $33.00 in Quito. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Manta gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Manta 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.

It comes down to priorities – Manta wins on affordability, Quito on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.