Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $933 per month in Vilcabamba vs $679 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,439 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,021 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,945 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,363 in Ambato, rent included.

Vilcabamba costs about 37% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vilcabamba and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 30% lower, Ambato 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.30 $3.30

$3.07 $3.07

7.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 $35.09

$25.02 $25.02

40.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 $7.56

$5.16 $5.16

46.51%

Cappuccino

$2.16 $2.16

$2.41 $2.41

-10.37%

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

$1.02 $1.02

$0.84 $0.84

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.69 $0.69

34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.02 $2.02

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.51 $3.51

-2.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.02 $1.02

-4.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.98 $0.98

98.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.52 $1.52

-11.18%

Eggs

$2.17 $2.17

$1.97 $1.97

10.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$3.07 $3.07

143.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$3.01 $3.01

95.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 $7.21

$4.09 $4.09

76.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$0.98 $0.98

158.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.99 $0.99

24.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.01 $1.01

78.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.99 $0.99

6.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.98 $0.98

-1.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.49 $0.49

44.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.98 $0.98

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 $6.22

$5.90 $5.90

5.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 $10.09

$8.72 $8.72

15.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.49 $1.49

9.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.93 $2.93

-13.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.29 $0.29

27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.33 $24.33

$23.95 $23.95

1.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.63 $0.63

144.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.02 $1.02

-9.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.43 $9.43

8.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.68 $0.68

-5.88%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$29.4K $29.4K

-31.55%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$28.2K $28.2K

-1.49%

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

$57.8 $57.8

$40.38 $40.38

43.12%

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

$13.24 $13.24

$13.69 $13.69

-3.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 $33.92

$31.08 $31.08

9.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 $29.83

$29.72 $29.72

0.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.35 $14.35

2.51%

Cinema Ticket

$7.01 $7.01

$6.37 $6.37

10.05%

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

$253 $253

0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,676 $5,676

$2,391 $2,391

137.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.6 $78.6

$49.98 $49.98

57.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 $20.16

$37.69 $37.69

-46.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$88.0 $88.0

9.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 $75.0

$59.3 $59.3

26.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$341 $341

-0.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 $326

$182 $182

78.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$632 $632

$626 $626

0.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 $585

$254 $254

130.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,220 $1,220

$1,167 $1,167

4.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 $838

$893 $893

-6.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 $437

$677 $677

-35.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

32.50%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ambato: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Vilcabamba versus $341 in Ambato. 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 55% higher in Ambato, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Vilcabamba versus $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $140 – making Ambato 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

Vilcabamba vs Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vilcabamba costs about 37% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,399 per month in Vilcabamba and $1,019 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Vilcabamba and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $933 in Vilcabamba and $679 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $933 in Vilcabamba and $679 in Ambato, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Ambato – 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 Ambato. 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.