Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Montanita Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Montanita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $933 in Vilcabamba versus $905 in Montanita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,439 in Vilcabamba versus $1,355 in Montanita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,945 in Vilcabamba versus $1,805 in Montanita.

Living in Vilcabamba is roughly 3% more expensive than Montanita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vilcabamba 30% lower, Montanita 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.30 $3.30

$3.43 $3.43

-3.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 $35.09

$28.04 $28.04

25.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 $7.56

$7.40 $7.40

2.16%

Cappuccino

$2.16 $2.16

$2.49 $2.49

-13.25%

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

$1.02 $1.02

$0.87 $0.87

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.62 $0.62

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.02 $2.02

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$3.45 $3.45

-0.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.14 $1.14

-14.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.64 $1.64

18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.54 $1.54

-12.34%

Eggs

$2.17 $2.17

$2.18 $2.18

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$5.37 $5.37

39.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$5.58 $5.58

5.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 $7.21

$6.37 $6.37

13.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.00 $2.00

26.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.16 $1.16

6.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.09 $1.09

65.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.08 $1.08

-2.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.43 $1.43

-31.47%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.03 $1.03

-5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.52 $0.52

36.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.98 $0.98

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 $6.22

$6.08 $6.08

2.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 $10.09

$9.84 $9.84

2.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.47 $1.47

10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.46 $2.46

2.44%

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

$24.22 $24.22

0.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.48 $1.48

4.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.02 $1.02

-9.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.85 $9.85

3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$0.68 $0.68

-5.88%

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

$20.1K $20.1K

$25.5K $25.5K

-20.88%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$28.5K $28.5K

-2.35%

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

$57.8 $57.8

$39.47 $39.47

46.41%

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

$13.24 $13.24

$13.53 $13.53

-2.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 $33.92

$30.21 $30.21

12.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 $29.83

$30.55 $30.55

-2.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.85 $14.85

-0.94%

Cinema Ticket

$7.01 $7.01

$7.21 $7.21

-2.77%

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

$253 $253

$260 $260

-2.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,676 $5,676

$5,603 $5,603

1.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.6 $78.6

$56.0 $56.0

40.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 $20.16

$43.66 $43.66

-53.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$97.5 $97.5

-1.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 $75.0

$73.8 $73.8

1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$346 $346

-2.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 $326

$319 $319

1.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$632 $632

$634 $634

-0.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 $585

$502 $502

16.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,220 $1,220

$1,263 $1,263

-3.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 $838

$1,005 $1,005

-16.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 $437

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Montanita: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $339 in Vilcabamba and $346 in Montanita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Vilcabamba vs $28.00 in Montanita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $185 per month, with Montanita 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 Montanita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montanita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,399 in Vilcabamba and $1,357 in Montanita to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $339 in Vilcabamba versus $346 in Montanita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $253 in Vilcabamba versus $260 in Montanita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% 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 Montanita 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 Montanita 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 Montanita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Vilcabamba. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.