Cost of Living Comparison Between Tena and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Tena and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $820 per month in Tena vs $949 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Tena vs $1,433 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Tena vs $1,917 in Vilcabamba, rent included.

Tena is about 14% cheaper than Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tena and Vilcabamba are more affordable than the global median – Tena 40% lower, Vilcabamba 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 $5.54

$3.49 $3.49

58.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 $54.7

$29.81 $29.81

83.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 $7.78

$7.83 $7.83

-0.64%

Cappuccino

$3.41 $3.41

$2.19 $2.19

55.71%

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

$1.42 $1.42

$1.02 $1.02

39.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.04 $1.04

9.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.04 $2.04

67.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 $5.62

$3.47 $3.47

61.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.04 $1.04

6.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.60 $1.60

-2.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.57 $1.57

-4.46%

Eggs

$2.09 $2.09

$2.49 $2.49

-16.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 $6.36

$8.47 $8.47

-24.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.74 $5.74

$5.14 $5.14

11.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$7.31 $7.31

3.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.71 $1.71

34.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.07 $1.07

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.15 $1.15

11.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.15 $1.15

-5.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.93 $0.93

34.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.08 $1.08

-0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.71 $0.71

22.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.99 $0.99

3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 $6.09

$5.11 $5.11

19.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$10.92 $10.92

-9.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.63 $1.63

-6.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.69 $2.69

13.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.35 $0.35

2.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 $20.17

$16.23 $16.23

24.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.34 $1.34

13.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.11 $1.11

-31.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.05 $10.05

1.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.70 $0.70

22.86%

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

$20.9K $20.9K

$21.3K $21.3K

-1.95%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$28.4K $28.4K

-0.84%

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

$28.51 $28.51

$37.48 $37.48

-23.93%

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

$17.85 $17.85

$13.36 $13.36

33.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.35 $28.35

$35.80 $35.80

-20.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.05 $30.05

$30.59 $30.59

-1.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.81 $14.81

$17.40 $17.40

-14.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 $6.96

$7.39 $7.39

-5.82%

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

$215 $215

$205 $205

5.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,077 $9,077

$6,463 $6,463

40.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.3 $63.3

$54.5 $54.5

16.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.80 $48.80

$42.64 $42.64

14.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 $114

$96.7 $96.7

17.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$71.1 $71.1

51.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 $300

$386 $386

-22.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 $184

$388 $388

-52.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 $685

$616 $616

11.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$411 $411

$565 $565

-27.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,094 $1,094

$1,180 $1,180

-7.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$784 $784

$764 $764

2.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 $454

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 Tena: September 13, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $300 in Tena versus $386 in Vilcabamba. 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 $55.0 in Tena versus $30.00 in Vilcabamba. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Tena vs $196 in Vilcabamba – so Tena 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

Tena vs Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vilcabamba is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,229 per month in Tena and $1,423 in Vilcabamba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $215 per month in Tena and $205 in Vilcabamba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Vilcabamba, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Tena, where all-in costs run around $820, than in Vilcabamba at $949. In Tena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vilcabamba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tena – 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 Tena. 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.