Photo: Maurizio Costanzo · CC BY 2.0
Cost of Living in Cuenca, Ecuador
Cuenca is a city in Ecuador, where a single person can expect to spend about $649 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $469 per month, or $357 outside the centre. Internet is solid at around 94 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Cuenca scores 55/100 — moderately safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 70°F and winter highs around 68°F, with roughly 205 sunny days a year.
Cuenca Cost of Living Breakdown
🍽️ Dining
🛒 Groceries
🚌 Transportation
⚡ Utilities & Tech
🎬 Lifestyle
👔 Clothing
🏠 Housing
📊 Summary
Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Cuenca
How Cuenca Ranks Among 340 Cities
Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Cuenca is cheaper than 95% of them, but sits in the bottom 30% for food scene.
| Metric | Cuenca | World rank | Rank in Latin America & Caribbean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $649 | #15 of 340 | #2 of 63 |
| Safety | 55/100 | #213 of 340 | #14 of 63 |
| Healthcare | 72/100 | #138 of 340 | #5 of 63 |
| Internet speed | 94 Mbps | #238 of 340 | #32 of 63 |
| Walkability | 68/100 | #110 of 340 | #8 of 63 |
| Public transit | 28/100 | #214 of 340 | #36 of 63 |
| Food scene | 68/100 | #241 of 340 | #38 of 63 |
| Air quality | 82/100 | #161 of 340 | #23 of 63 |
Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.
Cuenca FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Cuenca?
A single person should budget around $649 per month in Cuenca, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs.
How much is rent in Cuenca?
A one-bedroom apartment in central Cuenca averages $469 per month, dropping to about $357 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $716.
Is Cuenca safe?
Cuenca scores 55/100 on safety, which is moderately safe. Tourist safety is rated 58/100.
How fast is the internet in Cuenca?
Median download speeds in Cuenca are around 94 Mbps — solid for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 15 coworking spaces in the city.
Does Ecuador offer a digital nomad visa?
Ecuador does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 90 days visa-free.
What is the weather like in Cuenca?
Cuenca sees summer highs around 70°F and winter highs near 68°F, with about 205 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 127 days.
Cuenca in our travel guides
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- The Cheapest Places to Live in the World in 2026, Ranked by Real Monthly Costs
- Best Cities to Retire Abroad on a Budget in 2026
- The Cheapest Cities for Digital Nomads in 2026 (With Internet Fast Enough to Work)
Visa Requirements for Ecuador
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