🇪🇨 Ecuador · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Quito? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed flat, González Suárez, La Carolina or Quito TenisUSD 500–900 / month
One-bed flat, La Floresta, La Mariscal or Centro HistóricoUSD 320–600 / month
Utilities and internet, one personUSD 60–110 / month — no heating or cooling needed, which keeps this low
Groceries, one personUSD 220–380 / month, considerably less if you shop at the markets
IESS voluntary affiliation on the minimum baseUSD 84.83 / month at the 2026 SBU of USD 482, plus 3.41% of the base to extend cover to a spouse
Good to know
Population
≈2 million in the Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, spread along a plateau roughly 40 km long and only a few kilometres wide
Languages
Spanish, with Kichwa co-official in intercultural contexts. English is common in the diplomatic and tourism sectors and limited elsewhere
Currency
US dollar — Ecuador has been dollarised since 2000. US notes and coins circulate alongside Ecuadorian centavo coins
Time zone
ECT (GMT−5) — no daylight saving, and on the equator the day is twelve hours long all year
Power plug
Types A and B, 120 V at 60 Hz — identical to the United States, so North American appliances work directly
Altitude
≈2,850 m — the second-highest capital city in the world. Expect a week of adjustment, fierce UV, and water that boils below 100 °C
Climate
Equatorial highland — 10 to 20 °C most days, a drier stretch June to September, and a 15 °C swing between dawn and midday
Driving side
Right, with a weekday plate-based restriction (pico y placa) in the metropolitan district
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Quito checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Quito
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.