Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $941 per month in Quito vs $945 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,434 per month in Quito vs $1,437 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,927 per month in Quito vs $1,928 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

Quito and Vilcabamba have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Quito and Vilcabamba are more affordable than the global median – Quito 30% lower, Vilcabamba 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 $4.41

$3.16 $3.16

39.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.72 $32.72

$35.39 $35.39

-7.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 $7.59

$7.56 $7.56

0.40%

Cappuccino

$2.81 $2.81

$2.14 $2.14

31.31%

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

$1.12 $1.12

$1.03 $1.03

8.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.91 $0.91

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.02 $2.02

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.53 $3.53

14.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$0.97 $0.97

14.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.95 $1.95

-18.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.28 $1.28

38.28%

Eggs

$2.28 $2.28

$2.27 $2.27

0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.51 $8.51

$7.28 $7.28

16.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.90 $7.90

$5.96 $5.96

32.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 $7.99

$6.96 $6.96

14.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.54 $2.54

-20.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.28 $1.28

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.80 $1.80

-40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.08 $1.08

18.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 $1.37

$0.97 $0.97

41.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.02 $1.02

8.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.77 $0.77

1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 $5.91

$6.10 $6.10

-3.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.67 $8.67

$10.79 $10.79

-19.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.53 $1.53

3.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.43 $2.43

18.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$0.36 $0.36

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.22 $27.22

$23.89 $23.89

13.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.47 $1.47

2.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$0.95 $0.95

61.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 $10.05

$10.15 $10.15

-0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

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

$20.4K $20.4K

$19.8K $19.8K

2.91%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.9K $26.9K

-4.78%

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

$34.65 $34.65

$56.2 $56.2

-38.29%

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

$14.08 $14.08

$13.55 $13.55

3.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.37 $29.37

$34.77 $34.77

-15.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.72 $41.72

$30.39 $30.39

37.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.60 $16.60

$14.37 $14.37

15.52%

Cinema Ticket

$7.14 $7.14

$7.16 $7.16

-0.28%

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

$279 $279

$255 $255

9.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,502 $8,502

$5,605 $5,605

51.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 $57.8

$79.7 $79.7

-27.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.11 $43.11

$20.24 $20.24

112.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$95.4 $95.4

6.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.0 $86.0

$74.8 $74.8

15.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 $446

$337 $337

32.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 $312

$321 $321

-2.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 $758

$614 $614

23.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 $494

$584 $584

-15.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,740 $1,740

$1,195 $1,195

45.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$739 $739

$777 $777

-4.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$592 $592

$461 $461

28.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

10.6

5.57%

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

Last update for Quito: July 13, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $446 in Quito versus $337 in Vilcabamba. 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 28% higher in Quito. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Quito versus $35.00 in Vilcabamba. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Quito vs $203 in Vilcabamba – so Vilcabamba 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 Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,412 per month in Quito and $1,418 in Vilcabamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Vilcabamba – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $279 per month in Quito and $255 in Vilcabamba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Quito, where all-in costs run around $941, than in Vilcabamba at $945. In Quito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vilcabamba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Quito – 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 Quito. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vilcabamba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.