Cost of living comparison

compared to

Quito vs. Santa Maria Cost of Living Summary

Quito is 26.9% more expensive than Santa Maria.

Restaurants
pay 17.0% more in Quito
Groceries
pay 5.4% less in Quito
Transportation
pay 18.9% less in Quito
Housing
pay 46.3% more in Quito
Childcare
pay 3.7 times more in Quito
Entertainment and Sports
pay 75.9% more in Quito
Clothing
pay 34.7% more in Quito

The cost of childcare, entertainment and sports, housing, clothing, and restaurants in Quito are more expensive than in Santa Maria. Expenses including transportation and groceries are lower in Quito. Notably, childcare and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Quito.

Quito vs. Santa Maria Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Quito instead of Santa Maria, you would:

pay 17.0% more for restaurants

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $5.47
R$27.26
$6.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$6.97
R$34.70
$7.67
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.07
R$5.33
$1.40
 

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pay 5.4% less for groceries

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Bread
1 loaf
$1.66
R$8.26
$1.57
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.60
R$22.92
$3.21
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.83
R$19.08
$4.29
 

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pay 18.9% less for transportation

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.72
R$23.49
$3.17
 
Monthly public transit pass $29.86
R$148.69
$21.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $23,669.59
R$118K
$21,000.00
 

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pay 46.3% more for housing

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$16.59
R$82.61
$28.45
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $292.00
R$1,453.91
$482.78
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $169.22
R$842.60
$313.44
 

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pay 3.7 times more for childcare

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $159.27
R$793.04
$743.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $2,986.32
R$14,869.49
$8,951.43
 

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pay 75.9% more for entertainment and sports

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.59
R$7.93
$3.50
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.81
R$9.02
$3.38
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.39
R$11.90
$6.00
 

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pay 34.7% more for clothing

 
Santa Maria
Quito
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$50.34
R$250.63
$70.10
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$43.14
R$214.78
$49.62
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$96.23
R$479.13
$115.66
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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