Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Esmeraldas Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Esmeraldas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $933 in Vilcabamba versus $921 in Esmeraldas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Vilcabamba versus $1,395 in Esmeraldas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,945 in Vilcabamba versus $1,869 in Esmeraldas.

Living in Vilcabamba is roughly 1% more expensive than Esmeraldas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vilcabamba 30% lower, Esmeraldas 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.30 $3.30

$4.03 $4.03

-18.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 $35.09

$32.89 $32.89

6.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 $7.56

$4.10 $4.10

84.39%

Cappuccino

$2.16 $2.16

$2.89 $2.89

-25.26%

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

$1.02 $1.02

$0.52 $0.52

96.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.52 $0.52

78.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.97 $1.97

0.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.91 $3.91

-12.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.99 $0.99

-2.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.56 $1.56

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.83 $1.83

-26.23%

Eggs

$2.17 $2.17

$1.46 $1.46

48.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$8.58 $8.58

-12.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$7.74 $7.74

-24.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 $7.21

$8.38 $8.38

-13.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.99 $1.99

27.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.20 $1.20

2.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.08 $1.08

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.33 $1.33

-21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.39 $1.39

-29.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.10 $1.10

-11.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.51 $0.51

39.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.01 $1.01

0.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 $6.22

$5.92 $5.92

5.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 $10.09

$10.15 $10.15

-0.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.60 $1.60

1.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.97 $2.97

-15.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.34 $0.34

8.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.33 $24.33

$24.38 $24.38

-0.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.52 $1.52

1.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.22 $1.22

-24.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 $10.19

$10.18 $10.18

0.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.66 $0.66

-3.03%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$19.9K $19.9K

0.99%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$25.0K $25.0K

11.00%

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

$57.8 $57.8

$34.28 $34.28

68.58%

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

$13.24 $13.24

$14.31 $14.31

-7.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 $33.92

$29.37 $29.37

15.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 $29.83

$30.34 $30.34

-1.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.67 $14.67

0.27%

Cinema Ticket

$7.01 $7.01

$7.15 $7.15

-1.96%

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

$253 $253

$278 $278

-8.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,676 $5,676

$8,755 $8,755

-35.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.6 $78.6

$56.8 $56.8

38.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 $20.16

$42.91 $42.91

-53.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$99.1 $99.1

-3.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 $75.0

$86.8 $86.8

-13.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$336 $336

0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 $326

$317 $317

2.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$632 $632

$622 $622

1.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 $585

$495 $495

18.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,220 $1,220

$1,238 $1,238

-1.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 $838

$780 $780

7.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 $437

$441 $441

-0.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

11.19

-5.27%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: April 27, 2026

Last update for Esmeraldas: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Esmeraldas pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Vilcabamba vs $33.00 in Esmeraldas. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $211, with Vilcabamba cheaper for home cooking.

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 Esmeraldas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Esmeraldas is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Esmeraldas earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $339 in Vilcabamba versus $336 in Esmeraldas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Vilcabamba pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Esmeraldas – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $35.00 in Vilcabamba. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Esmeraldas 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 Esmeraldas 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 Esmeraldas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.