Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Latacunga Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Latacunga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $940 per month in Vilcabamba vs $677 in Latacunga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,083 in Latacunga, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,975 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,490 in Latacunga, rent included.

Vilcabamba costs about 39% more than Latacunga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vilcabamba and Latacunga are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 29% lower, Latacunga 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.19 $3.19

$2.57 $2.57

24.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.49 $35.49

$28.34 $28.34

25.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.97 $7.97

-4.27%

Cappuccino

$2.17 $2.17

$2.53 $2.53

-14.23%

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

$0.98 $0.98

$0.85 $0.85

15.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.67 $0.67

31.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.95 $2.95

-32.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$4.53 $4.53

-21.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.09 $1.09

-16.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.72 $1.72

17.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$0.98 $0.98

36.73%

Eggs

$2.26 $2.26

$1.85 $1.85

22.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$5.14 $5.14

45.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$5.18 $5.18

12.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$6.42 $6.42

9.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.10 $2.10

21.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.05 $1.05

15.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.09 $1.09

57.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.08 $1.08

-3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.03 $1.03

-0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.98 $0.98

5.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.48 $0.48

62.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.98 $0.98

3.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.43 $6.43

$5.93 $5.93

8.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.14 $11.14

$10.12 $10.12

10.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.52 $1.52

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.23 $2.23

11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.34 $0.34

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.35 $24.35

$23.72 $23.72

2.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.54 $1.54

-37.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 $10.17

$9.80 $9.80

3.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.62 $0.62

4.84%

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

$19.7K $19.7K

$25.4K $25.4K

-22.62%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$29.4K $29.4K

-8.03%

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

$57.3 $57.3

$38.12 $38.12

50.31%

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

$13.40 $13.40

$13.62 $13.62

-1.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.18 $35.18

$32.38 $32.38

8.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.98 $29.98

$29.43 $29.43

1.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.69 $14.69

$14.77 $14.77

-0.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.31 $7.31

$7.80 $7.80

-6.28%

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

$259 $259

$317 $317

-18.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,641 $5,641

$5,743 $5,743

-1.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.2 $80.2

$52.7 $52.7

52.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.07 $20.07

$42.50 $42.50

-52.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 $96.4

$101 $101

-4.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 $74.7

$110 $110

-32.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$119 $119

185.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 $324

$79.8 $79.8

305.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 $633

$249 $249

153.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 $585

$202 $202

189.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,188 $1,188

$1,044 $1,044

13.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$800 $800

$736 $736

8.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$464 $464

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

9.35

13.37%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: July 28, 2026

Last update for Latacunga: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Vilcabamba versus $119 in Latacunga. 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 $35.00 in Vilcabamba versus $28.00 in Latacunga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $177 – making Latacunga 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 Latacunga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $940 in Vilcabamba, $677 in Latacunga – roughly 39% apart. Vilcabamba costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,410 per month in Vilcabamba and $1,016 in Latacunga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $259 per month in Vilcabamba and $317 in Latacunga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Vilcabamba, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $940 in Vilcabamba and $677 in Latacunga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Latacunga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Latacunga. 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.