Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Vilcabamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulcán and Vilcabamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $885 in Tulcán versus $940 in Vilcabamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,323 in Tulcán versus $1,457 in Vilcabamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,762 in Tulcán versus $1,975 in Vilcabamba.

Living in Tulcán costs roughly 6% less than in Vilcabamba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tulcán 34% lower, Vilcabamba 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.38 $4.38

$3.19 $3.19

37.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.02 $15.02

$35.49 $35.49

-57.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 $4.91

$7.63 $7.63

-35.65%

Cappuccino

$1.48 $1.48

$2.17 $2.17

-31.80%

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

$0.57 $0.57

$0.98 $0.98

-41.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

$0.88 $0.88

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.98 $1.98

-0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.55 $3.55

15.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.91 $0.91

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.02 $2.02

-27.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.34 $1.34

-19.40%

Eggs

$1.77 $1.77

$2.26 $2.26

-21.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.51 $8.51

$7.48 $7.48

13.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.07 $8.07

$5.84 $5.84

38.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.29 $8.29

$7.06 $7.06

17.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.55 $2.55

-18.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.21 $1.21

-3.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.72 $1.72

-39.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.04 $1.04

24.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.02 $1.02

37.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.03 $1.03

6.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 $0.80

$0.78 $0.78

2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 $6.06

$6.43 $6.43

-5.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.14 $11.14

-10.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.60 $1.60

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$2.48 $2.48

20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.33 $0.33

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.10 $24.10

$24.35 $24.35

-1.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.96 $0.96

52.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.80 $9.80

$10.17 $10.17

-3.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 $0.72

$0.65 $0.65

10.77%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$19.7K $19.7K

1.41%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$27.0K $27.0K

-5.48%

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

$34.57 $34.57

$57.3 $57.3

-39.67%

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

$14.18 $14.18

$13.40 $13.40

5.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.54 $28.54

$35.18 $35.18

-18.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.46 $30.46

$29.98 $29.98

1.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.54 $14.54

$14.69 $14.69

-1.02%

Cinema Ticket

$6.83 $6.83

$7.31 $7.31

-6.57%

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

$78.6 $78.6

$259 $259

-69.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,618 $8,618

$5,641 $5,641

52.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.83 $29.83

$80.2 $80.2

-62.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.09 $43.09

$20.07 $20.07

114.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 $91.2

$96.4 $96.4

-5.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 $86.4

$74.7 $74.7

15.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 $335

$339 $339

-1.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 $312

$324 $324

-3.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$634 $634

$633 $633

0.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 $500

$585 $585

-14.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,179 $1,179

$1,188 $1,188

-0.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$813 $813

$800 $800

1.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$464 $464

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.19

10.6

5.57%

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

Last update for Tulcán: July 28, 2026

Last update for Vilcabamba: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $335 in Tulcán and $339 in Vilcabamba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Tulcán vs $35.00 in Vilcabamba. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $204, with Vilcabamba cheaper for home cooking.

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 Vilcabamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tulcán and Vilcabamba differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($885 vs $940 including rent). Tulcán is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,327 in Tulcán and $1,410 in Vilcabamba to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $335 in Tulcán versus $339 in Vilcabamba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $78.6 in Tulcán versus $259 in Vilcabamba. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Vilcabamba pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tulcán gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Tulcán and Vilcabamba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Tulcán gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.