Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Puerto Ayora Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Puerto Ayora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $981 per month in Quito vs $750 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,579 per month in Quito vs $1,226 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Quito vs $1,703 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

Quito costs about 31% more than Puerto Ayora, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quito and Puerto Ayora are more affordable than the global median – Quito 29% lower, Puerto Ayora 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.90 $4.90

$3.53 $3.53

38.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.1 $55.1

$29.67 $29.67

85.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 $7.70

$6.59 $6.59

16.84%

Cappuccino

$3.44 $3.44

$2.65 $2.65

29.81%

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

$1.44 $1.44

$0.77 $0.77

87.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.65 $0.65

75.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.03 $2.03

69.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 $5.62

$2.95 $2.95

90.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.01 $1.01

12.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.54 $1.54

2.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.57 $1.57

-0.64%

Eggs

$2.16 $2.16

$2.03 $2.03

6.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 $6.32

$5.48 $5.48

15.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$5.00 $5.00

9.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 $7.61

$7.21 $7.21

5.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.68 $1.68

38.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.08 $1.08

9.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.20 $1.20

10.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.11 $1.11

-1.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.26 $1.26

-5.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.05 $1.05

1.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.65 $0.65

30.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.06 $1.06

-2.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 $6.03

$5.22 $5.22

15.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.92 $9.92

$8.91 $8.91

11.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.52 $1.52

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 $3.18

$3.05 $3.05

4.26%

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

$20.14 $20.14

6.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.26 $1.26

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.12 $1.12

36.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.07 $10.07

$10.12 $10.12

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.87 $0.87

-8.05%

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

$21.0K $21.0K

$21.2K $21.2K

-1.24%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$28.7K $28.7K

-2.29%

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

$28.09 $28.09

$36.11 $36.11

-22.21%

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

$17.68 $17.68

$12.17 $12.17

45.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.57 $28.57

$26.26 $26.26

8.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 $45.71

$29.61 $29.61

54.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 $18.28

$16.61 $16.61

10.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 $6.69

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

$749 $749

$219 $219

241.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,098 $9,098

$6,123 $6,123

48.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 $64.5

$54.6 $54.6

18.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.34 $49.34

$41.77 $41.77

18.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$98.6 $98.6

15.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$73.6 $73.6

46.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 $485

$302 $302

60.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 $312

$185 $185

68.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$949 $949

$672 $672

41.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$408 $408

35.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,787 $1,787

$1,176 $1,176

51.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$705 $705

$767 $767

-8.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 $595

$812 $812

-26.74%

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 Puerto Ayora: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Quito versus $302 in Puerto Ayora. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Puerto Ayora, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Quito versus $30.00 in Puerto Ayora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $181 – making Puerto Ayora the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Puerto Ayora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $981 in Quito, $750 in Puerto Ayora – roughly 31% apart. Quito costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,471 per month in Quito and $1,125 in Puerto Ayora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 6% less in Puerto Ayora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $749 per month in Quito and $219 in Puerto Ayora. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Ayora, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Quito at $981. In Puerto Ayora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Quito has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $750 in Puerto Ayora to $981 in Quito. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Puerto Ayora. 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.