Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Montanita Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Montanita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $962 in Quito versus $887 in Montanita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,468 in Quito versus $1,348 in Montanita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,973 in Quito versus $1,810 in Montanita.

Living in Quito is roughly 8% more expensive than Montanita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Quito 28% lower, Montanita 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 $4.63

$3.52 $3.52

31.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.51 $32.51

$27.74 $27.74

17.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 $7.31

Cappuccino

$2.79 $2.79

$2.39 $2.39

16.74%

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

$1.12 $1.12

$0.91 $0.91

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.62 $0.62

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.04 $2.04

0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.60 $3.60

9.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.12 $1.12

-4.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.62 $1.62

-6.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.55 $1.55

20.65%

Eggs

$2.21 $2.21

$2.14 $2.14

3.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

$5.61 $5.61

52.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.95 $7.95

$5.49 $5.49

44.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.23 $8.23

$6.09 $6.09

35.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.99 $1.99

4.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.17 $1.17

4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.08 $1.08

-4.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.04 $1.04

27.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.40 $1.40

-1.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.03 $1.03

5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.48 $0.48

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.98 $0.98

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.08 $6.08

-3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$10.13 $10.13

-20.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.47 $1.47

3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.57 $2.57

12.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.37 $27.37

$23.83 $23.83

14.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.48 $1.48

-0.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.02 $1.02

49.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.92 $9.92

$10.17 $10.17

-2.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.64 $0.64

9.37%

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

$20.2K $20.2K

$25.0K $25.0K

-19.16%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$28.9K $28.9K

-10.08%

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

$34.04 $34.04

$39.30 $39.30

-13.38%

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

$14.56 $14.56

$13.81 $13.81

5.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.82 $28.82

$30.75 $30.75

-6.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.71 $41.71

$30.26 $30.26

37.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.91 $16.91

$14.55 $14.55

16.22%

Cinema Ticket

$7.07 $7.07

$7.39 $7.39

-4.33%

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

$277 $277

$258 $258

7.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,773 $8,773

$5,611 $5,611

56.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 $56.6

$57.0 $57.0

-0.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$42.99 $42.99

2.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 $99.8

$101 $101

-0.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.7 $86.7

$74.0 $74.0

17.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 $455

$341 $341

33.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$316 $316

$322 $322

-1.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 $771

$626 $626

23.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$493 $493

$498 $498

-1.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,713 $1,713

$1,220 $1,220

40.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$736 $736

$988 $988

-25.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$611 $611

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Montanita: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Quito and $341 in Montanita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Quito vs $28.00 in Montanita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $184 per month, with Montanita 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 Montanita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montanita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,444 in Quito and $1,331 in Montanita to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $455 in Quito versus $341 in Montanita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $277 in Quito versus $258 in Montanita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Quito. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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

For families, Montanita 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 Montanita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Quito. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.