Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and La Libertad Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and La Libertad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $939 in Vilcabamba versus $900 in La Libertad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,463 in Vilcabamba versus $1,329 in La Libertad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in Vilcabamba versus $1,757 in La Libertad.

Living in Vilcabamba is roughly 4% more expensive than La Libertad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vilcabamba 30% lower, La Libertad 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 $3.21

$3.57 $3.57

-10.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.64 $35.64

$24.58 $24.58

45.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.17 $7.17

6.42%

Cappuccino

$2.09 $2.09

$2.48 $2.48

-15.73%

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

$0.97 $0.97

$0.84 $0.84

15.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.68 $0.68

39.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.05 $2.05

-4.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.60 $3.60

-0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.11 $1.11

-17.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.69 $1.69

20.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.53 $1.53

-12.42%

Eggs

$2.29 $2.29

$2.16 $2.16

6.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$6.14 $6.14

19.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$5.38 $5.38

10.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.21 $6.21

13.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.10 $2.10

20.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.09 $1.09

12.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.08 $1.08

58.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.09 $1.09

-0.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.43 $1.43

-31.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.02 $1.02

-3.92%

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

$5.64 $5.64

11.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.02 $10.02

$8.54 $8.54

17.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.55 $1.55

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.86 $2.86

-13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.33 $0.33

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.68 $23.68

$23.81 $23.81

-0.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.26 $1.26

19.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.02 $1.02

-9.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.02 $10.02

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.65 $0.65

6.15%

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

$20.0K $20.0K

$19.9K $19.9K

0.72%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$28.1K $28.1K

-1.99%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$37.88 $37.88

50.45%

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

$13.53 $13.53

$13.46 $13.46

0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.27 $34.27

$31.32 $31.32

9.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 $29.70

$29.56 $29.56

0.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 $14.44

$14.67 $14.67

-1.57%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 $7.06

$7.36 $7.36

-4.08%

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

$255 $255

$259 $259

-1.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,645 $5,645

$5,713 $5,713

-1.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 $79.7

$54.9 $54.9

45.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.88 $19.88

$42.48 $42.48

-53.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$98.4 $98.4

-0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.2 $76.2

$66.7 $66.7

14.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$446 $446

-24.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 $328

$349 $349

-5.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 $633

$687 $687

-7.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 $570

$524 $524

8.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 $1,203

$1,289 $1,289

-6.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$773 $773

$886 $886

-12.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 $431

$455 $455

-5.21%

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 La Libertad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Vilcabamba and $446 in La Libertad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

La Libertad pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Vilcabamba vs $25.00 in La Libertad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $186 per month, with La Libertad 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 La Libertad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Libertad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, La Libertad earns 6% 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: $336 in Vilcabamba versus $446 in La Libertad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $255 in Vilcabamba versus $259 in La Libertad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Vilcabamba. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though La Libertad 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 La Libertad 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 La Libertad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.