Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Cuenca

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Vilcabamba is 9.4% more expensive than Cuenca without rent, and 2.1% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Vilcabamba is 3.5% cheaper than Cuenca without rent, and 6.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16 $3.16
$3.44 $3.44
-8.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.23 $35.23
$24.89 $24.89
41.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.71 $7.71
$7.07 $7.07
9.05%
Cappuccino
$2.06 $2.06
$2.47 $2.47
-16.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.79 $0.79
22.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.66 $0.66
42.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.02 $2.02
-3.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$3.42 $3.42
1.17%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.14 $1.14
-14.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.68 $1.68
16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$1.5 $1.5
-15.33%
Eggs
$2.19 $2.19
$2.18 $2.18
0.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.2 $7.2
$5.57 $5.57
29.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$5.47 $5.47
12.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$6.36 $6.36
11.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.46 $1.46
72.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.04 $1.04
23.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.16 $1.16
51.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.06 $1.06
2.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 $0.97
$1.48 $1.48
-34.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.03 $1.03
-4.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 $0.78
$0.46 $0.46
69.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.07 $1.07
-5.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34 $6.34
$5.77 $5.77
9.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.87 $9.87
$9.91 $9.91
-0.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.43 $1.43
13.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$3.16 $3.16
-18.99%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.34 $0.34
270.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$27.02 $27.02
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.68 $0.68
122.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.98 $0.98
-4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.96 $9.96
$13.4 $13.4
-25.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.66 $0.66
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K $19.7K
$29.7K $29.7K
-33.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$29K $29K
-4.65%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.8 $56.8
$39.72 $39.72
43.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 $13.37
$13.99 $13.99
-4.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.15 $35.15
$30.92 $30.92
13.68%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.08 $30.08
$28.84 $28.84
4.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.06 $5.06
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.31 $7.31
$7.45 $7.45
-1.88%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$256 $256
$259 $259
-1.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,714 $5,714
$5,712 $5,712
0.05%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.4 $80.4
$55.7 $55.7
44.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.71 $19.71
$53.2 $53.2
-62.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 $97.1
$100 $100
-3.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 $75.5
$66.6 $66.6
13.42%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$340 $340
$366 $366
-6.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 $326
$330 $330
-1.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 $619
$682 $682
-9.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$578 $578
$508 $508
13.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,316 $1,316
$1,328 $1,328
-0.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,080 $1,080
$1,185 $1,185
-8.86%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Vilcabamba
Cuenca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$434 $434
$481 $481
-9.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.6
11.48
-7.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vilcabamba: October 27, 2025

Last update for Cuenca: October 27, 2025

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