Cost of Living in Ecuador - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Ecuador
Address: EC

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $551 (excluding rent), and $866 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,303 (excluding rent), and $1,830 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.54 $3.54

$2.53 $2.53

$6.07 $6.07

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.03 $30.03

$20.02 $20.02

$60.1 $60.1

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 $7.08

$6.07 $6.07

$8.10 $8.10

Cappuccino

$2.50 $2.50

$1.52 $1.52

$4.04 $4.04

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

$1.00 $1.00

$0.57 $0.57

$2.09 $2.09

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.49 $0.49

$1.46 $1.46

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.26 $1.26

$4.04 $4.04

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.04 $2.04

$6.12 $6.12

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$0.89 $0.89

$1.39 $1.39

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.99 $0.99

$2.96 $2.96

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$0.88 $0.88

$2.44 $2.44

Eggs

$2.14 $2.14

$1.33 $1.33

$3.64 $3.64

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$2.57 $2.57

$13.60 $13.60

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$2.53 $2.53

$10.78 $10.78

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.63 $6.63

$3.44 $3.44

$11.81 $11.81

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.03 $1.03

$3.64 $3.64

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 $1.12

$0.51 $0.51

$3.03 $3.03

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.49 $0.49

$2.95 $2.95

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 $1.21

$0.49 $0.49

$2.35 $2.35

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.51 $0.51

$2.57 $2.57

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 $1.07

$0.61 $0.61

$2.05 $2.05

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 $0.66

$0.39 $0.39

$0.98 $0.98

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.77 $0.77

$1.53 $1.53

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.89 $5.89

$4.42 $4.42

$7.86 $7.86

Wine (Bottle)

$10.19 $10.19

$5.10 $5.10

$13.25 $13.25

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.62 $1.62

$0.98 $0.98

$2.46 $2.46

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.48 $1.48

$3.94 $3.94

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 $0.36

$0.31 $0.31

$0.52 $0.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.20 $25.20

$15.12 $15.12

$43.83 $43.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.29 $1.29

$2.06 $2.06

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.92 $0.92

$1.97 $1.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.02 $10.02

$7.56 $7.56

$15.03 $15.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 $0.68

$0.65 $0.65

$0.81 $0.81

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

$21.3K $21.3K

$19.8K $19.8K

$25.3K $25.3K

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$23.9K $23.9K

$30.9K $30.9K

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

$44.09 $44.09

$24.54 $24.54

$98.2 $98.2

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

$13.28 $13.28

$10.03 $10.03

$20.06 $20.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.74 $31.74

$25.40 $25.40

$47.76 $47.76

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.72 $33.72

$25.28 $25.28

$60.7 $60.7

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.89 $16.89

$5.08 $5.08

$25.38 $25.38

Cinema Ticket

$7.20 $7.20

$6.01 $6.01

$10.28 $10.28

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

$246 $246

$120 $120

$400 $400

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,328 $6,328

$2,955 $2,955

$9,851 $9,851

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.1 $56.1

$20.93 $20.93

$89.7 $89.7

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.21 $46.21

$24.77 $24.77

$74.3 $74.3

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$60.9 $60.9

$147 $147

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 $82.1

$50.6 $50.6

$132 $132

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$339 $339

$198 $198

$595 $595

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 $269

$147 $147

$442 $442

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$573 $573

$344 $344

$983 $983

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$457 $457

$301 $301

$803 $803

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,520 $1,520

$1,177 $1,177

$2,417 $2,417

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$863 $863

$631 $631

$1,526 $1,526

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 $512

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.56

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

Last update: January 12, 2026

By City in Ecuador

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Ambato	165185	34	$504	$683	$955	$1,341	28	244.78
2	Babahoyo	84164	44	$522	$869	$1,221	$1,783	47.03	150.64
3	Bahia de Caraquez	24963	46	$655	$928	$1,490	$1,939	77.08	253.29
4	Banos	-	44	$554	$878	$1,423	$1,788	132.85	243.14
5	Chone	-	44	$476	$884	$1,336	$1,746	84.67	76.78
6	Cotacachi	-	36	$560	$730	$1,025	$1,557	84.68	90.04
7	Cuenca	495776	45	$531	$892	$1,248	$1,799	70.94	244.65
8	Cumbaya	-	47	$642	$935	$1,299	$1,893	203.82	268.54
9	Daule	-	45	$520	$893	$1,346	$1,746	127.71	116.92
10	Esmeraldas	95216	46	$494	$919	$1,505	$1,897	187.55	223.51
11	Galapagos Islands	32000	45	$537	$891	$1,267	$1,781	135.7	64.8
12	Guayaquil	3500000	53	$589	$1,080	$1,498	$2,278	40.8	232.23
13	Ibarra	108666	31	$479	$613	$1,106	$1,292	124.88	228.75
14	Intag Valley	15000	45	$538	$900	$1,234	$1,814	44.31	12.32
15	La Libertad	-	46	$469	$911	$1,298	$1,800	61.24	225.98
16	Latacunga	57127	36	$574	$714	$1,206	$1,560	146.56	176.29
17	Loja	180617	37	$484	$743	$1,041	$1,472	39.44	316.08
18	Machala	231260	32	$514	$654	$1,087	$1,395	32.12	185.71
19	Manglaralto	-	40	$420	$799	$1,185	$1,567	38.02	155.05
20	Manta	217553	46	$485	$937	$1,245	$2,189	93.23	259.52
21	Montanita	5000	45	$527	$875	$1,242	$1,808	287.71	155.05
22	Pasaje	-	46	$603	$910	$1,350	$1,976	144.17	165.85
23	Portoviejo	180641	46	$613	$911	$1,529	$1,950	62.87	243.4
24	Puerto Ayora	-	46	$528	$913	$1,544	$1,927	132.84	40.33
25	Quevedo	300000	47	$575	$933	$1,417	$1,963	95.97	216.72
26	Quito	2671191	48	$588	$963	$1,451	$1,929	134.67	250.75
27	Riobamba	170000	28	$482	$561	$997	$1,235	110.64	236.23
28	Salinas	29294	41	$426	$812	$1,172	$1,598	146.85	249.01
29	Santo Domingo	270875	39	$399	$797	$1,026	$1,680	64.47	217.44
30	Tena	16669	40	$445	$814	$1,205	$1,610	46.28	231.48
31	Tulcán	82734	44	$489	$873	$1,099	$1,718	86.87	181.89
32	Ventanas	-	46	$526	$935	$1,328	$1,968	30.27	164.65
33	Vilcabamba	-	47	$558	$921	$1,461	$1,976	200.77	266.77

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Ecuador - Frequently Asked Questions

Across cities from Quito to the coast, the overall affordability often feels generous for a balanced lifestyle. You can enjoy diverse settings, including highland mornings, colonial towns, and beach weekends, without chasing prices far from your comfort zone. Cost of Living in Ecuador tends to be favorable for those who mix longer stays with mindful choices about housing, groceries, and transport. Local markets, casual eateries, and open-air cafes help stretch a budget while keeping quality up. Regional differences matter, but slower travel and opting for public transport can trim costs further. Tip: Map a rough monthly plan around housing, groceries, utilities, and transportation to spot where your budget fits best.

Daily life blends affordability with variety. In cities, you will find neighborhoods ranging from quiet residential blocks to lively mercados, so you can pick a vibe that fits your work and social pace. Housing options span modern apartamentos to traditional casas, and negotiating terms is common near university districts. Food options cover farmers markets, casual eateries, and international spots, letting you tailor meals to your budget. For getting around, buses, metered taxis, and rideshares offer flexibility for commutes and errands. Ecuador living cost shifts with location and season, so plan ahead. Tip: Build a simple weekly routine to minimize back-and-forth between shops, cafes, and transit.

Quality of life in Ecuador comes from balance: reliable internet, safety in your chosen area, and access to nature, cafes, and cultural events that keep you motivated. Use a simple budgeting framework - categorize housing, groceries, and essentials, then leave room for exploration and occasional splurges. Neighborhood fit depends on pace, proximity to markets, and transit options for your routine. Seasonality shapes outdoor activities, harvest availability, and crowd levels in popular spots, so plan activities and work hours accordingly. Tip: Try a short stay in a few areas to compare vibe, prices, and access before settling into one neighborhood.