Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Loja Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Loja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $945 per month in Vilcabamba vs $734 in Loja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,437 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,093 in Loja, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,928 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,452 in Loja, rent included.

Vilcabamba costs about 29% more than Loja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Vilcabamba and Loja are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 29% lower, Loja 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.16 $3.16

$3.07 $3.07

2.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.39 $35.39

$19.62 $19.62

80.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 $7.56

$6.83 $6.83

10.69%

Cappuccino

$2.14 $2.14

$1.78 $1.78

20.22%

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

$1.03 $1.03

$0.60 $0.60

71.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.49 $0.49

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.03 $1.03

96.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.05 $2.05

72.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.03 $1.03

-5.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.35 $1.35

44.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.51 $1.51

-15.23%

Eggs

$2.27 $2.27

$1.89 $1.89

20.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.28 $7.28

$5.35 $5.35

36.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$4.37 $4.37

36.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 $6.96

$5.94 $5.94

17.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.31 $1.31

93.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.90 $0.90

42.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.03 $1.03

74.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.02 $1.02

5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$0.79 $0.79

22.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.86 $0.86

18.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.49 $0.49

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.04 $1.04

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.10 $6.10

$5.79 $5.79

5.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.79 $10.79

$7.14 $7.14

51.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.50 $1.50

2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.77 $2.77

-12.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.31 $0.31

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.89 $23.89

$39.98 $39.98

-40.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.62 $0.62

137.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.02 $1.02

-6.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.15 $10.15

$13.55 $13.55

-25.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.64 $0.64

9.37%

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

$19.8K $19.8K

$15.2K $15.2K

29.91%

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

$26.9K $26.9K

$28.9K $28.9K

-7.07%

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

$56.2 $56.2

$20.15 $20.15

178.66%

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

$13.55 $13.55

$10.75 $10.75

26.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.77 $34.77

$28.74 $28.74

20.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.39 $30.39

$34.30 $34.30

-11.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.37 $14.37

$14.08 $14.08

2.06%

Cinema Ticket

$7.16 $7.16

$7.32 $7.32

-2.19%

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

$255 $255

$178 $178

43.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,605 $5,605

$1,999 $1,999

180.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 $79.7

$57.1 $57.1

39.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.24 $20.24

$49.60 $49.60

-59.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 $95.4

$85.7 $85.7

11.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.8 $74.8

$65.2 $65.2

14.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 $337

$281 $281

19.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 $321

$234 $234

37.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 $614

$421 $421

45.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$584 $584

$334 $334

74.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,195 $1,195

$555 $555

115.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$777 $777

$326 $326

138.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$461 $461

$481 $481

-4.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

6.00%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: July 12, 2026

Last update for Loja: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Vilcabamba versus $281 in Loja. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 4% higher in Loja, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Vilcabamba versus $20.00 in Loja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $160 – making Loja 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 Loja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $945 in Vilcabamba, $734 in Loja – roughly 29% apart. Vilcabamba costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,418 per month in Vilcabamba and $1,101 in Loja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 67% less in Loja. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $255 per month in Vilcabamba and $178 in Loja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $945 in Vilcabamba and $734 in Loja, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Loja – 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 Loja. 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.