Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Chone Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Chone

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $939 in Vilcabamba versus $884 in Chone.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,463 in Vilcabamba versus $1,323 in Chone.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in Vilcabamba versus $1,761 in Chone.

Living in Vilcabamba is roughly 6% more expensive than Chone, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vilcabamba 30% lower, Chone 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 $3.21

$3.56 $3.56

-9.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.64 $35.64

$24.85 $24.85

43.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.20 $7.20

5.97%

Cappuccino

$2.09 $2.09

$2.51 $2.51

-16.73%

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

$0.97 $0.97

$0.85 $0.85

14.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.65 $0.65

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.02 $2.02

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.48 $3.48

2.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.05 $1.05

-12.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.71 $1.71

19.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.52 $1.52

-11.84%

Eggs

$2.29 $2.29

$2.27 $2.27

0.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$5.91 $5.91

24.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.35 $5.35

11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.14 $6.14

14.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.00 $2.00

27.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.09 $1.09

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.04 $1.04

64.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.39 $1.39

-29.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.03 $1.03

-4.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.73 $0.73

1.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.06 $1.06

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.86 $5.86

7.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.02 $10.02

$9.15 $9.15

9.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.59 $1.59

0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.81 $2.81

-11.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.37 $0.37

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.68 $23.68

$23.88 $23.88

-0.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.28 $1.28

17.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.03 $1.03

-10.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 $10.17

$9.81 $9.81

3.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

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

$20.0K $20.0K

$20.3K $20.3K

-1.66%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$29.0K $29.0K

-4.89%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$36.83 $36.83

54.74%

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

$13.53 $13.53

$13.61 $13.61

-0.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.27 $34.27

$30.43 $30.43

12.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 $29.70

$29.57 $29.57

0.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 $14.44

$14.90 $14.90

-3.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 $7.06

$7.35 $7.35

-3.95%

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

$255 $255

$251 $251

1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,645 $5,645

$5,575 $5,575

1.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 $79.7

$57.1 $57.1

39.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.88 $19.88

$43.45 $43.45

-54.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$98.1 $98.1

0.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.2 $76.2

$67.0 $67.0

13.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$339 $339

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 $328

$317 $317

3.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 $633

$623 $623

1.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 $570

$496 $496

14.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 $1,203

$1,319 $1,319

-8.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$773 $773

$819 $819

-5.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 $431

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: June 2, 2026

Last update for Chone: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Vilcabamba and $339 in Chone. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Vilcabamba vs $25.00 in Chone for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $185 per month, with Chone cheaper across the board.

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 Chone: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chone wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Vilcabamba. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Chone the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,409 in Vilcabamba and $1,327 in Chone 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: $336 in Vilcabamba versus $339 in Chone. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $939 per month in Vilcabamba versus $884 in Chone – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Chone runs roughly 1% less than in Vilcabamba. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Chone 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, Vilcabamba and Chone 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 Chone 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.