Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Orem, UT

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $1,014 a month against $2,487 in Orem, UT, rent and utilities included – about $17,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quito, Ecuador
Orem, UT, United States
Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$1,014
/mo nomad
Orem, UT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,487
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quito and in Orem, UT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Quito and in Orem, UT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Quito versus $2,487 in Orem, UT.

  • Quito $1,014
  • Orem, UT $2,487

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Quito versus $3,371 in Orem, UT.

  • Quito $1,641
  • Orem, UT $3,371

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Quito versus $4,254 in Orem, UT.

  • Quito $2,269
  • Orem, UT $4,254

Living in Quito costs roughly 59% less than in Orem, UT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Quito is 25% below, Orem, UT is 84% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 $5.55
$14.87 $14.87
-62.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6 $54.6
$59.7 $59.7
-8.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 $7.63
$11.05 $11.05
-30.95%
Cappuccino
$3.33 $3.33
$4.44 $4.44
-25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.78 $1.78
-23.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.48 $1.48
-22.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 $3.69
$6.09 $6.09
-39.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.16 $6.16
$7.12 $7.12
-13.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$1.02 $1.02
12.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 $1.61
$3.13 $3.13
-48.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$2.44 $2.44
-38.11%
Eggs
$2.15 $2.15
$2.97 $2.97
-27.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$14.05 $14.05
-53.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$13.07 $13.07
-59.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.77 $7.77
$19.44 $19.44
-60.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.78 $2.78
-19.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.66 $1.66
-25.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.48 $2.48
-48.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$4.47 $4.47
-75.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.29 $1.29
-17.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.73 $1.73
-47.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.92 $1.92
-48.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95 $5.95
$9.73 $9.73
-38.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.35 $8.35
$15.04 $15.04
-44.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.19 $2.19
-30.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$2.96 $2.96
8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$2.53 $2.53
-86.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.42 $21.42
$84.5 $84.5
-74.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.48 $1.48
3.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$0.96 $0.96
59.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.01 $10.01
$20.03 $20.03
-50.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.11 $1.11
-23.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K $22.7K
$25.2K $25.2K
-9.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$26.5K $26.5K
11.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.99 $28.99
$166 $166
-82.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94 $17.94
$43.98 $43.98
-59.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.85 $28.85
$60.5 $60.5
-52.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 $45.09
$22.40 $22.40
101.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.78 $17.78
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.75 $6.75
$15.08 $15.08
-55.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$743 $743
$786 $786
-5.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,223 $8,223
$12.9K $12.9K
-36.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 $69.8
$52.9 $52.9
31.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 $50.3
$40.64 $40.64
23.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 $113
$85.8 $85.8
31.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$132 $132
-19.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 $542
$1,638 $1,638
-66.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 $354
$1,295 $1,295
-72.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,141 $1,141
$2,203 $2,203
-48.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 $638
$1,659 $1,659
-61.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,636 $1,636
$2,636 $2,636
-37.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$663 $663
$2,195 $2,195
-69.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Orem, UT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 $603
$3,693 $3,693
-83.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
6.83
48.17%

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

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Last update for Orem, UT: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Quito
$354
Orem, UT
$1.3K 266% $941
Groceries & Markets
Quito
$193
Orem, UT
$365 * 89.3% $172
Clothing & Footwear
Quito
$153
Orem, UT
$140 8.3% $13
Eating Out
Quito
$148
Orem, UT
$263 77.6% $115
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
$76
Orem, UT
$271 258% $195
Sport & Entertainment
Quito
$59
Orem, UT
$53 10.3% $6
Getting Around
Quito
$32
Orem, UT
$101 216% $69

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $542 in Quito and $1,638 in Orem, UT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Orem, UT pays about 6.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $55 in Quito vs $60 in Orem, UT for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $365 per month, with Quito cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Quito
🇺🇸 Orem, UT
🕒 Local time
13:21 1:21 PM
11:21 11:21 AM
2 h behind Quito
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,671,191 Capital
98,129
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quito Orem, UT 5,620 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quito
  • Orem, UT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Orem, UT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quito cheaper than Orem, UT?
Quito is about 59% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quito or Orem, UT?
On paper, salaries run 84% lower in Quito. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Quito and Orem, UT?
Rent for a central apartment: $542 in Quito versus $1,638 in Orem, UT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Quito and in Orem, UT?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Orem, UT. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Quito or in Orem, UT?
Dining out is cheaper in Quito – a meal for two runs $55 versus $60 in Orem, UT. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quito or in Orem, UT?
At $1,014 in Quito versus $2,487 in Orem, UT, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quito but tight or insufficient in Orem, UT. The gap between the two cities makes Quito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Quito or in Orem, UT?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Quito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Orem, UT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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