Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Cuenca

🙂 Solo nomad: Tulcán is 1.4% cheaper than Cuenca without rent, and 4.9% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Tulcán is 1.9% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 6.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 $4.45
$3.44 $3.44
29.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.22 $15.22
$24.89 $24.89
-38.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.14 $5.14
$7.07 $7.07
-27.30%
Cappuccino
$1.47 $1.47
$2.47 $2.47
-40.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 $0.61
$0.79 $0.79
-22.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 $0.48
$0.66 $0.66
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.02 $2.02
0.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 $4.06
$3.42 $3.42
18.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 $0.72
$1.14 $1.14
-36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.68 $1.68
-11.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.5 $1.5
-24.67%
Eggs
$1.85 $1.85
$2.18 $2.18
-15.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.75 $8.75
$5.57 $5.57
57.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.82 $7.82
$5.47 $5.47
42.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.92 $7.92
$6.36 $6.36
24.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.46 $1.46
36.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.04 $1.04
13.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.16 $1.16
-10.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.06 $1.06
19.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.48 $1.48
-7.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.03 $1.03
2.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.46 $0.46
84.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.07 $1.07
-0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83 $5.83
$5.77 $5.77
1.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.83 $9.83
$9.91 $9.91
-0.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.6 $1.6
$1.43 $1.43
11.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.16 $3.16
-6.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 $0.34
$0.34 $0.34
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.02 $27.02
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 $1.54
$0.68 $0.68
126.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.98 $0.98
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 $10.12
$13.4 $13.4
-24.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 $0.71
$0.66 $0.66
7.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K $19.9K
$29.7K $29.7K
-33.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$29K $29K
-11.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.89 $33.89
$39.72 $39.72
-14.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.23 $14.23
$13.99 $13.99
1.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.22 $29.22
$30.92 $30.92
-5.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.49 $30.49
$28.84 $28.84
5.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.06 $5.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.2 $7.2
$7.45 $7.45
-3.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$79.1 $79.1
$259 $259
-69.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,804 $8,804
$5,712 $5,712
54.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.33 $30.33
$55.7 $55.7
-45.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.81 $43.81
$53.2 $53.2
-17.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 $91.6
$100 $100
-8.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7 $86.7
$66.6 $66.6
30.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 $346
$366 $366
-5.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$320 $320
$330 $330
-3.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$631 $631
$682 $682
-7.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 $503
$508 $508
-0.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,328 $1,328
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,185 $1,185
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulcán
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$594 $594
$481 $481
23.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.19
11.48
-2.53%

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

Last update for Tulcán: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.