Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Puerto Ayora Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Puerto Ayora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $933 per month in Vilcabamba vs $917 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,439 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,415 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,945 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,914 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

Vilcabamba costs about 2% more than Puerto Ayora, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Vilcabamba and Puerto Ayora are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 30% lower, Puerto Ayora 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.30 $3.30

$4.43 $4.43

-25.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.09 $35.09

$40.11 $40.11

-12.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 $7.56

$7.11 $7.11

6.33%

Cappuccino

$2.16 $2.16

$2.84 $2.84

-23.94%

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

$1.02 $1.02

$1.37 $1.37

-25.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.99 $0.99

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.78 $2.78

-28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$4.11 $4.11

-16.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.10 $1.10

-11.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.69 $1.69

15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.64 $1.64

-17.68%

Eggs

$2.17 $2.17

$3.74 $3.74

-41.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.48 $7.48

$3.60 $3.60

107.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$5.65 $5.65

4.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 $7.21

$10.14 $10.14

-28.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.98 $2.98

-15.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.15 $1.15

6.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.44 $1.44

25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 $1.05

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.27 $1.27

-22.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.76 $1.76

-44.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 $0.71

$0.70 $0.70

1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.06 $1.06

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.22 $6.22

$5.87 $5.87

5.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 $10.09

$8.90 $8.90

13.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.54 $1.54

5.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.76 $2.76

-8.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.36 $0.36

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.33 $24.33

$24.18 $24.18

0.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.28 $1.28

20.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.46 $1.46

-36.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.19 $10.19

$10.01 $10.01

1.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

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

$20.1K $20.1K

0.01%

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

$27.8K $27.8K

$28.3K $28.3K

-1.81%

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

$57.8 $57.8

$36.79 $36.79

57.08%

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

$13.24 $13.24

$13.88 $13.88

-4.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.92 $33.92

$30.85 $30.85

9.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 $29.83

$30.49 $30.49

-2.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.71 $14.71

$14.86 $14.86

-1.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.01 $7.01

$7.05 $7.05

-0.57%

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

$253 $253

$254 $254

-0.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,676 $5,676

$5,589 $5,589

1.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.6 $78.6

$55.4 $55.4

41.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 $20.16

$43.80 $43.80

-53.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 $96.2

$96.0 $96.0

0.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 $75.0

$64.9 $64.9

15.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$342 $342

-1.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 $326

$324 $324

0.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$632 $632

$619 $619

2.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 $585

$498 $498

17.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,220 $1,220

$1,356 $1,356

-10.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$838 $838

$869 $869

-3.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$437 $437

$795 $795

-45.02%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Puerto Ayora: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $339 in Vilcabamba versus $342 in Puerto Ayora. 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 82% higher in Puerto Ayora, 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 $40.00 in Puerto Ayora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $205 – making Vilcabamba 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 Puerto Ayora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $933 in Vilcabamba, $917 in Puerto Ayora – roughly 2% apart. Vilcabamba costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,399 per month in Vilcabamba and $1,376 in Puerto Ayora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1% less in Puerto Ayora. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $253 per month in Vilcabamba and $254 in Puerto Ayora. 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 $933 in Vilcabamba and $917 in Puerto Ayora, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Ayora – 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 Puerto Ayora. 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.