Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Machala

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Vilcabamba is 19.5% more expensive than Machala without rent, and 45% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Vilcabamba is 6.7% more expensive than Machala without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16 $3.16
$2.56 $2.56
23.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.23 $35.23
$24.42 $24.42
44.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.71 $7.71
$6.55 $6.55
17.71%
Cappuccino
$2.06 $2.06
$2.63 $2.63
-21.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.73 $0.73
32.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.51 $0.51
84.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.02 $2.02
-3.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$4.63 $4.63
-25.27%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.06 $1.06
-7.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.04 $1.04
88.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.97 $0.97
30.93%
Eggs
$2.19 $2.19
$1.44 $1.44
52.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.2 $7.2
$3.23 $3.23
122.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$4.02 $4.02
53.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$4.62 $4.62
54.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.1 $2.1
20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.05 $1.05
21.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.72 $0.72
144.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.04 $1.04
4.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.39 $0.39
148.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.52 $0.52
88.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.78 $0.78
$0.4 $0.4
95.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.03 $1.03
-1.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34 $6.34
$4.45 $4.45
42.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.87 $9.87
$7.45 $7.45
32.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.62 $1.62
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.23 $2.23
14.80%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.34 $0.34
270.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$21.64 $21.64
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.53 $1.53
-1.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.94 $0.94
$0.98 $0.98
-4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.96 $9.96
$7.93 $7.93
25.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 $0.68
$0.61 $0.61
11.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K $19.7K
$18K $18K
9.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$22.3K $22.3K
24.15%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.8 $56.8
$37.64 $37.64
50.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 $13.37
$13.9 $13.9
-3.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.15 $35.15
$26.22 $26.22
34.06%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.08 $30.08
$42.15 $42.15
-28.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.56 $30.56
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.31 $7.31
$5.12 $5.12
42.77%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$256 $256
$134 $134
90.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,714 $5,714
$5,859 $5,859
-2.46%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.4 $80.4
$51.6 $51.6
55.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.71 $19.71
$42.82 $42.82
-53.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 $97.1
$78.9 $78.9
23.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 $75.5
$69.5 $69.5
8.62%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$340 $340
$188 $188
81.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 $326
$131 $131
148.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 $619
$344 $344
80.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$578 $578
$264 $264
118.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,316 $1,316
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,080 $1,080
-
-
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Vilcabamba
Machala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$434 $434
$455 $455
-4.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.6
5
112.00%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vilcabamba: October 27, 2025

Last update for Machala: October 28, 2025

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