Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Quito

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $876 per month in Tulcán vs $969 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,295 per month in Tulcán vs $1,449 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,714 per month in Tulcán vs $1,930 in Quito, rent included.

Tulcán is about 10% cheaper than Quito, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Tulcán and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Tulcán 35% lower, Quito 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 $4.45

$4.59 $4.59

-3.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.72 $14.72

$33.51 $33.51

-56.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.96 $4.96

$7.28 $7.28

-31.87%

Cappuccino

$1.53 $1.53

$2.83 $2.83

-45.94%

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

$0.62 $0.62

$1.07 $1.07

-42.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.67 $0.67

-22.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$2.05 $2.05

-4.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.04 $4.04

0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.06 $1.06

-27.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.55 $1.55

-4.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.80 $1.80

-39.44%

Eggs

$1.85 $1.85

$2.31 $2.31

-19.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 $8.78

$8.62 $8.62

1.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.94 $7.94

1.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 $8.22

$8.29 $8.29

-0.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.08 $2.08

-2.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.16 $1.16

0.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$1.34 $1.34

-5.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.39 $1.39

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.10 $1.10

0.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 $0.79

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.03 $1.03

2.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.16 $6.16

$6.08 $6.08

1.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.96 $9.96

$10.06 $10.06

-0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.57 $1.57

1.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$2.91 $2.91

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.33 $0.33

12.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.55 $23.55

$26.80 $26.80

-12.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 $1.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.54 $1.54

-3.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.89 $9.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.72 $0.72

-6.94%

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

$20.3K $20.3K

$19.9K $19.9K

1.65%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.7K $25.7K

-1.10%

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

$34.10 $34.10

$34.76 $34.76

-1.90%

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

$14.37 $14.37

$14.25 $14.25

0.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.48 $28.48

$29.13 $29.13

-2.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.73 $29.73

$42.07 $42.07

-29.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.60 $14.60

$16.77 $16.77

-12.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.97 $6.97

$7.04 $7.04

-0.99%

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

$79.6 $79.6

$272 $272

-70.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,633 $8,633

$8,732 $8,732

-1.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.87 $29.87

$57.3 $57.3

-47.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.03 $43.03

$42.88 $42.88

0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$101 $101

-12.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$84.8 $84.8

0.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 $343

$445 $445

-22.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 $315

$311 $311

1.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$634 $634

$768 $768

-17.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 $497

$491 $491

1.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,192 $1,192

$1,710 $1,710

-30.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$773 $773

$755 $755

2.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 $604

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

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

Last update for Tulcán: April 26, 2026

Last update for Quito: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $343 in Tulcán versus $445 in Quito. 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 $15.00 in Tulcán versus $34.00 in Quito. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $217 – making Tulcán 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

Tulcán vs Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 11%, 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 $1,314 per month in Tulcán and $1,453 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 14% less in Tulcán. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $79.6 per month in Tulcán and $272 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 Tulcán, where all-in costs run around $876, than in Quito at $969. In Tulcán it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Tulcán – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Tulcán. 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.