Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Pasaje Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Pasaje

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $981 per month in Quito vs $804 in Pasaje, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,579 per month in Quito vs $1,362 in Pasaje, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Quito vs $1,919 in Pasaje, rent included.

Quito costs about 22% more than Pasaje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quito and Pasaje are more affordable than the global median – Quito 29% lower, Pasaje 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 $4.90

$4.10 $4.10

19.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 $55.1

$51.5 $51.5

7.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 $7.70

$9.11 $9.11

-15.48%

Cappuccino

$3.44 $3.44

$2.70 $2.70

27.41%

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

$1.44 $1.44

$0.90 $0.90

60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.71 $0.71

60.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 $3.44

$3.04 $3.04

13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 $5.62

$4.54 $4.54

23.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.16 $1.16

-1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.91 $1.91

-17.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.47 $1.47

6.12%

Eggs

$2.16 $2.16

$2.11 $2.11

2.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$6.97 $6.97

-9.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.01 $5.01

9.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 $7.61

$8.98 $8.98

-15.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.49 $1.49

56.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.14 $1.14

3.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.02 $1.02

30.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.90 $0.90

21.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.22 $1.22

-2.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.99 $0.99

8.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.82 $0.82

3.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.02 $1.02

0.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.88 $5.88

2.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$12.01 $12.01

-17.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.49 $1.49

1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$2.20 $2.20

44.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.41 $21.41

$20.78 $20.78

3.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.29 $1.29

13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.80 $1.80

-15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.07 $10.07

$11.78 $11.78

-14.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.82 $0.82

-2.44%

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

$21.0K $21.0K

$20.9K $20.9K

0.48%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$31.4K $31.4K

-10.65%

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

$28.09 $28.09

$36.13 $36.13

-22.25%

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

$17.68 $17.68

$14.97 $14.97

18.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 $28.57

$25.54 $25.54

11.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 $45.71

$30.50 $30.50

49.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 $18.28

$16.36 $16.36

11.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 $6.69

$7.68 $7.68

-12.89%

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

$749 $749

$400 $400

87.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,098 $9,098

$6,124 $6,124

48.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 $64.5

$64.8 $64.8

-0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.34 $49.34

$40.22 $40.22

22.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$127 $127

-10.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$93.8 $93.8

14.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 $485

$297 $297

63.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 $312

$185 $185

69.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 $949

$685 $685

38.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$415 $415

32.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,787 $1,787

$1,179 $1,179

51.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$705 $705

$762 $762

-7.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 $595

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 5, 2026

Last update for Pasaje: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Quito versus $297 in Pasaje. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Quito versus $51.0 in Pasaje. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Quito vs $198 in Pasaje – so Quito wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pasaje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Quito costs about 22% more than Pasaje, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,471 per month in Quito and $1,206 in Pasaje. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pasaje, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Quito and $51.0 in Pasaje. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $981 in Quito and $804 in Pasaje. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pasaje, where all-in costs run around $804, than in Quito at $981. In Pasaje it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pasaje costs $804 versus $981 in Quito. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Pasaje. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Quito makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.