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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $558 per month in Riobamba vs $961 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $895 per month in Riobamba vs $1,467 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,233 per month in Riobamba vs $1,973 in Quito, rent included.

Riobamba is about 42% cheaper than Quito, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Riobamba and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Riobamba 58% lower, Quito 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 $3.40

$4.56 $4.56

-25.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.78 $14.78

$32.57 $32.57

-54.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.57 $6.57

$7.39 $7.39

-11.10%

Cappuccino

$2.00 $2.00

$2.84 $2.84

-29.58%

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

$0.79 $0.79

$1.06 $1.06

-25.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.66 $0.66

-1.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.96 $1.96

-22.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$4.04 $4.04

-38.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.11 $1.11

-8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.49 $1.49

13.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.79 $1.79

-54.19%

Eggs

$1.76 $1.76

$2.32 $2.32

-24.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$8.85 $8.85

-77.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 $3.13

$8.02 $8.02

-60.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$8.38 $8.38

-41.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$2.00 $2.00

-29.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.51 $0.51

$1.16 $1.16

-56.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.02 $1.02

15.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.35 $1.35

-28.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 $0.78

$1.39 $1.39

-43.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.10 $1.10

-20.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 $0.46

$0.84 $0.84

-45.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.07 $1.07

-8.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.73 $5.73

$6.17 $6.17

-7.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$9.84 $9.84

-42.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.59 $1.59

-6.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.98 $2.98

7.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 $0.27

$0.36 $0.36

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.11 $24.11

$26.79 $26.79

-10.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 $0.67

$1.48 $1.48

-54.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.49 $1.49

-31.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.31 $13.31

$10.11 $10.11

31.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.67 $0.67

1.49%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$20.2K $20.2K

51.44%

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

$28.9K $28.9K

$25.9K $25.9K

11.75%

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

$20.19 $20.19

$34.69 $34.69

-41.80%

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

$7.11 $7.11

$14.53 $14.53

-51.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.66 $30.66

$29.55 $29.55

3.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.06 $25.06

$40.92 $40.92

-38.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.58 $14.58

$16.44 $16.44

-11.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 $6.02

$6.89 $6.89

-12.63%

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

$81.2 $81.2

$279 $279

-70.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,441 $1,441

$8,515 $8,515

-83.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.7 $50.7

$58.3 $58.3

-13.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.69 $49.69

$44.09 $44.09

12.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$101 $101

-1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.0 $67.0

$87.1 $87.1

-23.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 $117

$448 $448

-73.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.2 $93.2

$313 $313

-70.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 $221

$771 $771

-71.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 $189

$505 $505

-62.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 $1,168

$1,708 $1,708

-31.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$748 $748

$742 $742

0.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$339 $339

$606 $606

-44.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.48

11.19

2.59%

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

Last update for Riobamba: July 27, 2026

Last update for Quito: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Riobamba versus $448 in Quito. 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 79% 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 $15.00 in Riobamba versus $33.00 in Quito. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $136 vs $218 – 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

Riobamba vs Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 72%, 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 $837 per month in Riobamba and $1,441 in Quito. 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 11% less in Riobamba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $81.2 per month in Riobamba and $279 in Quito. 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 Riobamba, where all-in costs run around $558, than in Quito at $961. In Riobamba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.