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: $961 in Quito versus $902 in Manta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,467 in Quito versus $1,533 in Manta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,973 in Quito versus $2,165 in Manta.

Living in Quito is roughly 7% more expensive than in Manta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quito 28% lower, Manta 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 $4.56

$3.53 $3.53

29.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.57 $32.57

$45.05 $45.05

-27.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 $7.39

$6.82 $6.82

8.36%

Cappuccino

$2.84 $2.84

$2.38 $2.38

19.33%

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

$1.06 $1.06

$0.90 $0.90

17.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.80 $1.80

8.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 $4.04

$3.03 $3.03

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.12 $1.12

-0.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.77 $1.77

-15.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.71 $1.71

4.68%

Eggs

$2.32 $2.32

$2.40 $2.40

-3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.85 $8.85

$6.14 $6.14

44.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 $8.02

$5.10 $5.10

57.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.38 $8.38

$6.19 $6.19

35.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 $2.00

$2.06 $2.06

-2.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.09 $1.09

6.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.06 $1.06

-3.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.08 $1.08

25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.01 $1.01

37.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.47 $1.47

-25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.68 $0.68

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.02 $1.02

4.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.17 $6.17

$6.16 $6.16

0.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$6.86 $6.86

43.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.46 $1.46

8.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.02 $2.02

47.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.33 $0.33

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.79 $26.79

$23.68 $23.68

13.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.80 $1.80

-17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.99 $1.99

-25.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 $10.11

$9.64 $9.64

4.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.61 $0.61

9.84%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$20.1K $20.1K

0.34%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$23.7K $23.7K

9.01%

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

$34.69 $34.69

$36.83 $36.83

-5.81%

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

$14.53 $14.53

$12.23 $12.23

18.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.55 $29.55

$31.85 $31.85

-7.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.92 $40.92

$39.96 $39.96

2.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.44 $16.44

$14.70 $14.70

11.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.89 $6.89

$7.03 $7.03

-1.99%

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

$279 $279

$235 $235

18.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,515 $8,515

$5,854 $5,854

45.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 $58.3

$51.5 $51.5

13.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.09 $44.09

$43.71 $43.71

0.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

-0.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 $87.1

$91.0 $91.0

-4.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 $448

$456 $456

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 $313

$341 $341

-8.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 $771

$478 $478

61.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 $505

$746 $746

-32.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,708 $1,708

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$742 $742

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 $606

$474 $474

27.82%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Manta: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Quito and $456 in Manta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quito pays 28% 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: $33.00 in Quito vs $45.00 in Manta. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 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

Manta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Quito, 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: $448 in Quito versus $456 in Manta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $279 in Quito versus $235 in Manta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Quito. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $902 in Manta versus $961 in Quito, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manta but tight or insufficient in Quito. The gap between the two cities makes Manta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Manta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Quito. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.