Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Cumbaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Cumbaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $949 per month in Vilcabamba vs $816 in Cumbaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,435 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,385 in Cumbaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,921 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,954 in Cumbaya, rent included.

Vilcabamba costs about 16% more than Cumbaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Vilcabamba and Cumbaya are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 31% lower, Cumbaya 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 $3.44

$5.02 $5.02

-31.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.84 $29.84

$53.0 $53.0

-43.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 $8.12

$7.52 $7.52

7.98%

Cappuccino

$2.21 $2.21

$3.46 $3.46

-36.13%

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

$1.01 $1.01

$1.41 $1.41

-28.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.17 $1.17

-11.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.44 $3.44

-40.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

$4.95 $4.95

-28.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.14 $1.14

-12.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.62 $1.62

-0.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.52 $1.52

-1.32%

Eggs

$2.58 $2.58

$2.09 $2.09

23.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.12 $8.12

$6.58 $6.58

23.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.59 $5.59

-9.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.93 $6.93

$7.84 $7.84

-11.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.32 $2.32

-27.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.19 $1.19

-9.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.33 $1.33

-13.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.08 $1.08

3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.20 $1.20

-21.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.03 $1.03

-1.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.85 $0.85

-22.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.05 $1.05

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 $5.27

$5.89 $5.89

-10.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.07 $11.07

$9.82 $9.82

12.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.56 $1.56

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$3.06 $3.06

-11.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.65 $20.65

$20.40 $20.40

1.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.53 $1.53

-20.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.48 $1.48

-27.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 $9.94

$9.93 $9.93

0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.80 $0.80

-12.50%

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

$20.9K $20.9K

$20.8K $20.8K

0.86%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$28.3K $28.3K

2.94%

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

$36.54 $36.54

$28.32 $28.32

29.03%

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

$13.19 $13.19

$18.02 $18.02

-26.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.42 $36.42

$28.57 $28.57

27.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.59 $29.59

$29.88 $29.88

-0.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.14 $16.14

$16.49 $16.49

-2.12%

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 $6.90

$6.78 $6.78

1.77%

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

$214 $214

$215 $215

-0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,961 $5,961

$9,041 $9,041

-34.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.5 $54.5

$64.8 $64.8

-15.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.87 $41.87

$49.01 $49.01

-14.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 $99.1

$115 $115

-14.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.0 $76.0

$110 $110

-30.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 $388

$301 $301

28.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 $382

$189 $189

101.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$617 $617

$665 $665

-7.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$575 $575

$417 $417

37.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 $1,181

$1,200 $1,200

-1.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$773 $773

$764 $764

1.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$457 $457

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.05

10.12

-0.69%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cumbaya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Vilcabamba versus $301 in Cumbaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Vilcabamba versus $53.0 in Cumbaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $198 – making Vilcabamba 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 Cumbaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Vilcabamba costs about 16% more than Cumbaya, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,224 in Cumbaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1% less in Cumbaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $214 per month in Vilcabamba and $215 in Cumbaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $949 in Vilcabamba and $816 in Cumbaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cumbaya costs $816 versus $949 in Vilcabamba. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Cumbaya. 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.