Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Quito Cost of Living Comparison Between Vilcabamba and Quito

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $939 per month in Vilcabamba vs $964 in Quito, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,463 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,468 in Quito, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Vilcabamba vs $1,972 in Quito, rent included.

Vilcabamba is about 3% cheaper than Quito, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Vilcabamba and Quito are more affordable than the global median – Vilcabamba 30% lower, Quito 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 $3.21

$4.42 $4.42

-27.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.64 $35.64

$33.14 $33.14

7.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.63 $7.63

$7.35 $7.35

3.81%

Cappuccino

$2.09 $2.09

$2.90 $2.90

-27.93%

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

$0.97 $0.97

$1.11 $1.11

-12.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 $0.95

$0.72 $0.72

31.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.02 $2.02

-3.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.97 $3.97

-9.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.09 $1.09

-15.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.51 $1.51

35.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.86 $1.86

-27.96%

Eggs

$2.29 $2.29

$2.23 $2.23

2.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$8.85 $8.85

-17.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.97 $5.97

$7.71 $7.71

-22.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.99 $7.99

-11.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$2.03 $2.03

25.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.22 $1.22

0.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.02 $1.02

67.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.33 $1.33

-18.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.39 $1.39

-29.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.05 $1.05

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 $0.74

$0.80 $0.80

-7.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.01 $1.01

-2.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.30 $6.30

$5.92 $5.92

6.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.02 $10.02

$8.22 $8.22

21.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

$1.59 $1.59

0.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.96 $2.96

-16.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.33 $0.33

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.68 $23.68

$26.47 $26.47

-10.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.49 $1.49

1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.46 $1.46

-36.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 $10.17

$10.19 $10.19

-0.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 $0.69

$0.66 $0.66

4.55%

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

$20.0K $20.0K

$19.9K $19.9K

0.33%

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

$27.6K $27.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

8.36%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$34.15 $34.15

66.88%

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

$13.53 $13.53

$14.26 $14.26

-5.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.27 $34.27

$29.42 $29.42

16.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.70 $29.70

$41.02 $41.02

-27.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.44 $14.44

$16.95 $16.95

-14.81%

Cinema Ticket

$7.06 $7.06

$6.89 $6.89

2.47%

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

$255 $255

$278 $278

-8.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,645 $5,645

$8,696 $8,696

-35.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.7 $79.7

$57.3 $57.3

38.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.88 $19.88

$42.95 $42.95

-53.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 $98.3

$102 $102

-3.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.2 $76.2

$87.2 $87.2

-12.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$448 $448

-24.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 $328

$318 $318

3.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 $633

$767 $767

-17.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$570 $570

$504 $504

12.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 $1,203

$1,692 $1,692

-28.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$773 $773

$729 $729

6.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$431 $431

$612 $612

-29.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.6

11.19

-5.27%

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

Last update for Vilcabamba: June 2, 2026

Last update for Quito: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Vilcabamba versus $448 in Quito. 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 42% higher in Quito, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Vilcabamba versus $33.00 in Quito. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Vilcabamba vs $212 in Quito – so Vilcabamba wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Quito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Quito is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,409 per month in Vilcabamba and $1,446 in Quito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 12% less in Vilcabamba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $255 per month in Vilcabamba and $278 in Quito. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Vilcabamba, where all-in costs run around $939, than in Quito at $964. In Vilcabamba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Quito it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Vilcabamba – 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 Vilcabamba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Quito makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.