Cost of Living in Ecuador

If you've ever considered moving to Ecuador, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Ecuador?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Ecuador and whether the reported $1244 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $492.53.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Ecuador
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

3.0 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

30.0 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

6.5 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

2.0 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

3.5 $

Cappuccino (regular)

2.34 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.8 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.62 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.0 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.57 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.32 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.74 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

4.93 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

5.31 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

6.04 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.9 $

Banana (1 lb)

0.96 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.2 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.11 $

Potato (1 lb)

1.01 $

Onion (1 lb)

1.04 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.7 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.99 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

8.0 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.46 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.44 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

5.5 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.35 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

20.0 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

1.5 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

1.5 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

10.0 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

0.7 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

24000.0 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

27483.87 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

47.54 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.12 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

40.5 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

36.05 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

16.05 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

6.25 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

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

239.1 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

7181.79 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

55.58 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

45.88 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

97.39 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

75.12 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

361.29 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

243.21 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

612.54 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

426.17 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

1226.79 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

997.21 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

492.53 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

9.85 %

Ecuador

How Safe Is Ecuador for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Ecuador

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Ecuador is somewhat safe to visit, though it has many dangers. You should be aware that tourist hotspots, restaurants, shops and public transportation are places where most thefts and pickpocketing occur, and that violent crime exists on the streets, too.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transportation is not very safe or reliable. There have been robberies in public transport operating in Quito, Riobamba, and Baños. Most of these robberies take place at night and on interstate buses. Be wary of unlicensed taxis since you might get kidnapped and robbed. You'll know the official cab by the orange license plates or white plates with an orange strip on the top and video cameras inside.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

As for pickpocketing and bag snatching, it is a recurring concern on the streets of Ecuador, so be careful and hold your bags tightly by your side. There are pickpockets on motorcycles passing by and snatching everything they can from your car, so keep your car windows up.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

During the rainy season lasting from December to May, you can expect common flooding and tsunamis. Apart from that volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are to be expected.

MUGGING RISK: HIGH

Though other South American countries are known for getting stabbed, mugged or kidnapped on the streets, the most common form of crime is petty theft and the weapons criminals use are mostly only there to scare you. However, there are kidnappings in taxis where the robbers keep you hostage until they take everything from you and make you withdraw all your money from the nearest ATM, so be very careful.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

The risks of terrorist attacks in Ecuador are low, but since they shouldn't be ruled out, it is important that you remain vigilant at all times and aware of your surroundings.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

As in almost any countries, there is a great risk of getting scammed. Always check everything twice and negotiate everything in advance. Taxi drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you wrongful information about the price of the ride.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Many women have traveled to Ecuador and haven't had any problems at all. However, this country isn't the safest in terms of females traveling solo, especially at night and you should exercise precaution measures at all times and avoid dark and empty streets and locations

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Most countries do not need a visa to enter Ecuador, for any stays shorter than 90 days. Make sure your passport is valid for six months beyond your arrival date. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

United States dollar is the official currency in Ecuador, though Ecuadorian centavo coins are also regularly used. Even though all bigger towns have ATMs, don’t rely on them and always carry some cash with you, especially if you plan on traveling to rural areas.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

The climate in is made up of a number of distinct micro climates. The weather on the coastlines is affected by ocean currents and between January and April, it is hot and rainy. The weather in Quito, the capital, has a fairly constant cool climate, due to its elevation and proximity to the equator.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Mariscal Sucre International Airport is the busiest airport in Ecuador and, at the same time, one of the busiest airports in entire South America. It is located in the Tababela parish, about 18 km east of Quito.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Ecuador, because it would cover not only medical problems, but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Ecuador with other countries

Cost of living in countries