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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $949 per month in Vilcabamba vs $605 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,433 per month in Vilcabamba vs $975 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,917 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,345 in Ambato, rent included.

Vilcabamba costs about 57% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vilcabamba and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 31% lower, Ambato 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.49 $3.49

$3.41 $3.41

2.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.81 $29.81

$29.60 $29.60

0.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.26 $5.26

48.86%

Cappuccino

$2.19 $2.19

$2.65 $2.65

-17.36%

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

$1.02 $1.02

$0.72 $0.72

41.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

$0.64 $0.64

62.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 $2.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$3.05 $3.05

13.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.02 $1.02

1.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.60 $1.60

$0.99 $0.99

61.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

Eggs

$2.49 $2.49

$1.76 $1.76

41.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.47 $8.47

$5.48 $5.48

54.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.92 $2.92

76.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.31 $7.31

$4.08 $4.08

79.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.24 $1.24

37.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.92 $0.92

16.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.01 $1.01

13.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.02 $1.02

12.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.81 $0.81

14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.02 $1.02

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.02 $1.02

-2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.11 $5.11

$5.17 $5.17

-1.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.92 $10.92

$8.67 $8.67

25.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.52 $1.52

7.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.76 $2.76

-2.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 $0.35

$0.31 $0.31

12.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.23 $16.23

$14.08 $14.08

15.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 $1.34

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.12 $1.12

-0.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 $10.05

$9.37 $9.37

7.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.87 $0.87

-19.54%

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

$21.3K $21.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

-10.05%

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

$28.4K $28.4K

$28.7K $28.7K

-0.95%

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

$37.48 $37.48

$37.23 $37.23

0.67%

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

$13.36 $13.36

$12.91 $12.91

3.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.80 $35.80

$26.03 $26.03

37.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.59 $30.59

$29.42 $29.42

3.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.40 $17.40

Cinema Ticket

$7.39 $7.39

$4.47 $4.47

65.32%

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

$205 $205

$215 $215

-4.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,463 $6,463

$2,422 $2,422

166.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 $54.5

$47.63 $47.63

14.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.64 $42.64

$34.36 $34.36

24.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 $96.7

$73.8 $73.8

31.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.1 $71.1

$54.9 $54.9

29.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 $386

$177 $177

118.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 $388

$125 $125

209.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 $616

$369 $369

66.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$565 $565

$270 $270

109.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,180 $1,180

$1,136 $1,136

3.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 $764

$894 $894

-14.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 $454

$664 $664

-31.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

11.67%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ambato: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Vilcabamba versus $177 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 46% 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 $30.00 in Vilcabamba versus $30.00 in Ambato. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Vilcabamba vs $148 in Ambato – so Ambato 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

Vilcabamba vs Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vilcabamba costs about 57% 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 $1,423 per month in Vilcabamba and $908 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 $30.00 in Vilcabamba and $30.00 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 $949 in Vilcabamba and $605 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $605, than in Vilcabamba at $949. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vilcabamba it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.