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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Quito vs $962 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,587 per month in Quito vs $1,421 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Quito vs $1,879 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

Quito costs about 2% more than Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Quito and Vilcabamba are more affordable than the global median – Quito 28% lower, Vilcabamba 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.98 $4.98

$3.41 $3.41

46.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 $51.1

$29.74 $29.74

71.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 $7.35

$8.15 $8.15

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$3.28 $3.28

$2.13 $2.13

53.99%

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

$1.42 $1.42

$0.99 $0.99

43.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.07 $1.07

7.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.95 $1.95

82.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.44 $3.44

47.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.00 $1.00

15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.60 $1.60

-0.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.51 $1.51

3.31%

Eggs

$2.15 $2.15

$2.58 $2.58

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$8.14 $8.14

-21.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.23 $5.23

7.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 $7.64

$7.12 $7.12

7.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.68 $1.68

32.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.07 $1.07

14.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.19 $1.19

11.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.07 $1.07

5.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.93 $0.93

35.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.08 $1.08

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 $0.92

$0.70 $0.70

31.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 $5.85

$5.12 $5.12

14.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.91 $9.91

$10.89 $10.89

-9.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.58 $1.58

-3.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$2.82 $2.82

7.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.21 $21.21

$18.18 $18.18

16.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.27 $1.27

18.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.09 $1.09

35.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 $10.15

$9.95 $9.95

2.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.64 $0.64

32.81%

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

$20.9K $20.9K

$20.8K $20.8K

0.36%

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

$28.0K $28.0K

$28.5K $28.5K

-1.66%

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

$28.70 $28.70

$35.48 $35.48

-19.11%

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

$18.14 $18.14

$13.31 $13.31

36.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.97 $28.97

$36.39 $36.39

-20.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.73 $45.73

$29.74 $29.74

53.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.64 $17.64

$16.28 $16.28

8.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.70 $6.70

$6.66 $6.66

0.60%

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

$734 $734

$207 $207

255.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,986 $8,986

$6,722 $6,722

33.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 $65.7

$54.8 $54.8

19.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.77 $49.77

$43.30 $43.30

14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$96.2 $96.2

18.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$74.1 $74.1

44.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 $477

$389 $389

22.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 $310

$390 $390

-20.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 $958

$621 $621

54.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$551 $551

$579 $579

-4.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,786 $1,786

$1,210 $1,210

47.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$715 $715

$778 $778

-8.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$599 $599

$454 $454

31.88%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Quito versus $389 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 32% 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 $51.0 in Quito versus $30.00 in Vilcabamba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $194 – making Vilcabamba 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 Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,474 per month in Quito and $1,444 in Vilcabamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 17% less in Vilcabamba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $734 per month in Quito and $207 in Vilcabamba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vilcabamba, where all-in costs run around $962, than in Quito at $983. In Vilcabamba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vilcabamba – 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 Vilcabamba. 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.