Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Riobamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Riobamba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $929 per month in Quito vs $566 in Riobamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,453 per month in Quito vs $882 in Riobamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,976 per month in Quito vs $1,198 in Riobamba, rent included.

Quito costs about 64% more than Riobamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Quito and Riobamba are more affordable than the global median – Quito 31% lower, Riobamba 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.38 $4.38

$3.43 $3.43

27.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.78 $32.78

$14.74 $14.74

122.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.17 $7.17

$6.68 $6.68

7.34%

Cappuccino

$2.93 $2.93

$2.00 $2.00

46.50%

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

$1.10 $1.10

$0.76 $0.76

44.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.64 $0.64

4.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.53 $1.53

32.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.49 $2.49

57.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.01 $1.01

9.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 $1.49

$1.71 $1.71

-12.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 $1.84

$0.82 $0.82

124.39%

Eggs

$2.31 $2.31

$1.69 $1.69

36.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 $8.61

$2.04 $2.04

322.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$3.22 $3.22

142.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 $8.19

$4.84 $4.84

69.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.47 $1.47

41.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.51 $0.51

127.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.17 $1.17

-11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.02 $1.02

24.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.77 $0.77

77.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.88 $0.88

19.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.47 $0.47

82.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.98 $0.98

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 $6.11

$5.88 $5.88

3.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$5.69 $5.69

36.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.50 $1.50

6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$3.19 $3.19

-9.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.29 $0.29

13.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.20 $27.20

$24.01 $24.01

13.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.63 $0.63

141.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.97 $0.97

50.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 $9.96

$13.62 $13.62

-26.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.63 $0.63

7.94%

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

$19.7K $19.7K

$29.8K $29.8K

-33.74%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$28.2K $28.2K

-9.36%

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

$35.05 $35.05

$19.73 $19.73

77.65%

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

$14.17 $14.17

$7.03 $7.03

101.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.39 $29.39

$30.66 $30.66

-4.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.24 $41.24

$25.23 $25.23

63.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.02 $17.02

$14.43 $14.43

17.95%

Cinema Ticket

$7.02 $7.02

$5.92 $5.92

18.58%

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

$274 $274

$78.8 $78.8

248.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,799 $8,799

$1,466 $1,466

500.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 $56.2

$49.34 $49.34

13.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 $43.25

$49.73 $49.73

-13.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$97.2 $97.2

5.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 $86.5

$65.7 $65.7

31.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$454 $454

$116 $116

290.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 $318

$96.2 $96.2

230.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 $763

$228 $228

234.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 $488

$188 $188

160.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,731 $1,731

$1,196 $1,196

44.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$721 $721

$781 $781

-7.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$614 $614

$327 $327

87.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

11.48

-2.53%

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

Last update for Quito: June 7, 2026

Last update for Riobamba: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $454 in Quito versus $116 in Riobamba. 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 88% higher in Quito, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Quito versus $15.00 in Riobamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $137 – making Riobamba 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 Riobamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,393 per month in Quito and $848 in Riobamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 13% less in Riobamba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $274 per month in Quito and $78.8 in Riobamba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $929 in Quito and $566 in Riobamba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Riobamba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Riobamba. 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.