Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Tulcán Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Tulcán

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $975 per month in Quito vs $827 in Tulcán, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,574 per month in Quito vs $1,400 in Tulcán, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,174 per month in Quito vs $1,973 in Tulcán, rent included.

Quito costs about 18% more than Tulcán, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Quito and Tulcán are more affordable than the global median – Quito 29% lower, Tulcán 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 $5.54

$5.47 $5.47

1.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 $53.0

$54.4 $54.4

-2.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 $7.96

$7.80 $7.80

2.05%

Cappuccino

$3.31 $3.31

$3.42 $3.42

-3.22%

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

$1.42 $1.42

$1.41 $1.41

0.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.08 $1.08

1.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.56 $3.56

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.41 $5.41

$5.38 $5.38

0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.10 $1.10

5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 $1.59

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.57 $1.57

-1.27%

Eggs

$2.18 $2.18

$2.11 $2.11

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$6.35 $6.35

0.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$5.50 $5.50

1.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.51 $7.51

5.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.33 $2.33

-2.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.20 $1.20

2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.33 $1.33

-3.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.12 $1.12

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.03 $1.03

-0.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.91 $0.91

-6.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.05 $1.05

0.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.07 $6.07

-2.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 $10.10

$10.16 $10.16

-0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.51 $1.51

4.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$3.06 $3.06

2.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.31 $0.31

19.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.20 $21.20

$15.54 $15.54

36.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.54 $1.54

-4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.53 $1.53

-0.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.11 $10.11

$9.90 $9.90

2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.81 $0.81

4.94%

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

$21.1K $21.1K

$20.6K $20.6K

2.36%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$28.0K $28.0K

2.54%

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

$28.69 $28.69

$29.09 $29.09

-1.38%

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

$18.11 $18.11

$17.76 $17.76

1.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.68 $28.68

$28.00 $28.00

2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 $46.67

$33.57 $33.57

39.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.86 $17.86

$14.26 $14.26

25.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.95 $6.95

$6.71 $6.71

3.58%

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

$736 $736

$218 $218

237.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,884 $8,884

$8,848 $8,848

0.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.9 $63.9

$63.5 $63.5

0.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.07 $49.07

$49.48 $49.48

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 $118

$113 $113

3.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$107 $107

-0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 $475

$345 $345

37.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 $314

$193 $193

62.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$934 $934

$649 $649

43.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 $540

$380 $380

42.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,790 $1,790

$1,309 $1,309

36.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$721 $721

$828 $828

-12.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 $606

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

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

Last update for Quito: September 13, 2026

Last update for Tulcán: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Quito versus $345 in Tulcán. 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 $53.0 in Quito versus $54.0 in Tulcán. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Quito vs $197 in Tulcán – so Tulcán 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 Tulcán: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,462 per month in Quito and $1,240 in Tulcán. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 36% less in Tulcán. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $736 per month in Quito and $218 in Tulcán. 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 Tulcán, where all-in costs run around $827, than in Quito at $975. In Tulcán it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Tulcán. 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.