Quito vs Reykjavík Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Quito vs Reykjavík: everyday costs favor Quito (~213% CPI gap), housing index favors Quito, wage stretch favors Reykjavík. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Quito
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Utilities (42473% gap, Quito ahead); Salary (40396% gap, Reykjavík ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $1,202 lower in Quito than in Reykjavík (~205% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $1,202 (favoring Quito).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Quito | CPI 25.6 vs 80 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Quito | Rent index 15.3 vs 47.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Quito | Groceries index 35.6 vs 91.8 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Quito | One-way ticket 0.38 vs 302.55 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Quito | Utilities (85m²) 30.6 vs 13027.2 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Quito | Internet 19.67 vs 5738.04 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Quito | Restaurant index 25 vs 90 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Reykjavík | Avg net salary 843621.6 vs 2083.2 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Reykjavík | PP index 98.6 vs 33.6 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Utilities: Quito leads with a 42473% gap.
Utilities (85m²) 30.6 vs 13027.2 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Quito — Lower housing / rent index (208% gap).
- Families: Quito — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Quito; purchasing power favors Reykjavík.
- Remote Workers: Quito — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Quito (~213% gap).
- Budget Living: Quito — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Quito is the overall cost winner on CPI (~213% lower everyday-cost index than Reykjavík).
- Housing: Quito leads on rent index (208% gap).
- Food / groceries: Quito is lower (158% gap).
- Purchasing power: Reykjavík scores higher (193% gap).
- Largest category gap: Utilities (42473%), favoring Quito.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$1,202 cheaper in Quito.
Analysis
Quito versus Reykjavík is not a single number. With a 213% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Quito, while housing follows Quito's rent index. Purchasing power (33.6 vs 98.6) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.