Ecuador
Ecuador's charming colonial gem, a UNESCO-listed city known for its cathedral domes, flower markets, and one of the most popular expat retirement destinations in the world.
#167 of 250
42% below average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 855
Based on NYC = 100 index
Cuenca is the 167. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 855 for one adult.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is healthcare, 94% below the median: cold medicine (6 days) $ 3. You also get off lightly on entertainment, basic grocery basket.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
21 prices on this page come from live scrapers (5 sources, observed October 13, 2026 to October 13, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Cuenca, Ecuador. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/cuenca. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (city-wide) | 550.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Properati |
| 3BR Apartment (city-wide) | 565.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Properati |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 2.99 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Beef (1kg) | 6.11 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 10.20 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Milk (1 liter) | 0.99 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Cheese (1kg) | 5.42 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Bread (500g) | 1.12 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Rice (1kg) | 0.95 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 0.69 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Onions (1kg) | 1.06 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Banana (1kg) | 0.27 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Oranges (1kg) | 0.58 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Lentils (1kg) | 1.92 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 2.38 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Sugar (1kg) | 1.05 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | WFP food prices |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 21.90 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Entertainment Chains, Gym Chains |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 75.99 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 75.99 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 89.99 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 99.99 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
Cities where the money splits the same way
Vietnam
Similar share of Housing & Utilities · compared on 7 of 8 categories
Ecuador
Similar share of Utilities & Basic Grocery Basket
China
Similar share of Housing & Restaurants · compared on 6 of 8 categories
India
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Monthly average costs by category
$ 550
per month
$ 41
per month
$ 85
per month
$ 20
per month
$ 95
per month
$ 22
per month
$ 1
per month
$ 41
per month