How expensive is Cuenca compared to the rest of Ecuador?

Cuenca ranks #500 out of 577 cities globally. It is 12.3% cheaper than the Ecuador average, based on 3 cities. The rent index is 10.1 and local purchasing power is 50.7.

What is the average rent in Cuenca?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Cuenca city centre costs approximately USD 536 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 387 (saving 28%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 690.

Is Cuenca affordable to live in?

Cuenca is affordable by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are very affordable, and local purchasing power is average.

🇪🇨 Ecuador · 2026

Coste de Vida en Cuenca

12.3% por debajo del promedio de Ecuador

Posición #500 de 577 ciudades · Más cara que el 13.3% de las ciudades del mundo

-12.3%

Coste de Vida

-4.7%

Alquiler

+0.9%

Supermercado

+2.6%

Poder Adquisitivo

Comparado con el promedio de Ecuador · Ver ranking de Ecuador →

Precios de Alquiler en Cuenca

Apartamento	Centro	Fuera del Centro	Ahorras
1 Dormitorio	USD 536/mo	USD 387/mo	28%
3 Dormitorios	USD 690/mo	USD 594/mo	14%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

Cuenca has a cost of living index of 19.9 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 2 of 3 data sources. Expatistan is left out because it sits more than 15% away from the others.

19.9

Index

Sources

2.6

Gap between sources