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: $975 in Quito versus $691 in Manta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,574 in Quito versus $1,169 in Manta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,174 in Quito versus $1,648 in Manta.

Living in Quito is roughly 41% more expensive than in Manta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quito 29% lower, Manta 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 $5.54

$3.44 $3.44

61.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 $53.0

$50.9 $50.9

4.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 $7.96

$6.33 $6.33

25.75%

Cappuccino

$3.31 $3.31

$2.96 $2.96

11.82%

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

$1.42 $1.42

$0.76 $0.76

86.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 $1.10

$0.69 $0.69

59.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.96 $1.96

83.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.41 $5.41

$2.91 $2.91

85.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.02 $1.02

13.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.91 $1.91

-16.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.03 $1.03

50.49%

Eggs

$2.18 $2.18

$2.05 $2.05

6.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$2.92 $2.92

119.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$3.05 $3.05

83.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.06 $7.06

12.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.01 $1.01

125.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.78 $0.78

57.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.68 $0.68

88.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.81 $0.81

40.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.48 $0.48

156.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.52 $0.52

96.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.71 $0.71

19.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.96 $0.96

10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.89 $5.89

$3.99 $3.99

47.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 $10.10

$7.04 $7.04

43.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.98 $0.98

61.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.14 $2.14

46.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.47 $0.47

-21.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.20 $21.20

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.06 $2.06

-28.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.78 $1.78

-14.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 $10.11

$9.12 $9.12

10.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.71 $0.71

19.72%

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

$21.1K $21.1K

$21.2K $21.2K

-0.67%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$31.0K $31.0K

-7.26%

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

$28.69 $28.69

$95.0 $95.0

-69.79%

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

$18.11 $18.11

$10.90 $10.90

66.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.68 $28.68

$25.64 $25.64

11.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$22.10 $22.10

111.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.86 $17.86

$35.42 $35.42

-49.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 $6.95

$4.88 $4.88

42.42%

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

$736 $736

$393 $393

87.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,884 $8,884

$6,067 $6,067

46.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$55.6 $55.6

15.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.07 $49.07

$40.40 $40.40

21.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$101 $101

16.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$63.2 $63.2

68.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 $475

$304 $304

56.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 $314

$138 $138

126.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$934 $934

$921 $921

1.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 $540

$334 $334

61.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,790 $1,790

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$721 $721

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 $606

$482 $482

25.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

10.05

0.70%

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

Last update for Quito: September 13, 2026

Last update for Manta: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Quito and $304 in Manta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quito pays 26% 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: $53.0 in Quito vs $51.0 in Manta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $143 per month, with Manta 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 Manta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manta is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 26% 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: $475 in Quito versus $304 in Manta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $736 in Quito versus $393 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 $51.0 versus $53.0 in Quito. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $691 in Manta versus $975 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 41% less than in Quito. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.