Introductory note
Prices have largely remained the same with some notable increases. The average (median) person is still living on ~$200-250/month and 29% live on less than $3/day. Me and my 24 year old daughter each live on ~$200-225/month.
The following pertains to the town/parroquia of Malacatos and/or city/municipio of Loja
Note: Prices are no longer as high as right after the pandemic but they are still generally higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Taxes
Rural property tax - ~0.1% of assessed value (assessed at $50k = tax of ~$50) (no change)
Vehicle registration/tax - ~250/yr (complicated - depends on engine size, vehicle age, etc.) - Same
VAT - 15% - Up from 12-15%
Transport
Bus (Malacatos to Loja) - 1.50 (~1 hour / 33km) - Same (pre-pandemic was 1.25)
Bus (Loja to Guayaquil) - 14 (~8 hours / 400km) - Same (pre-pandemic was 8-10)
Gasoline - 2.71/gallon - Up from 2.40 (pre-pandemic was 1.85)
Utilities
Electricity: 56/month - Same (pre-pandemic was 20-40)
Potable Water - 3/month - Same
Internet - 470 / year - Same
Phone (prepaid and IP) - 30/year - Same
Food
In Malacatos Sunday market or local minimercado or from the Loja Supermaxi (usually whichever is cheaper). Comparisons are with 2024 unless optherwise noted.
Restaurant Lunch (Almuerzo) - 2.50-3.00 - Same (pre-pandemic was 2.25-2.50)
- Milk - 0.75/L - Same
- Vegetable oil - 1.80/L - Same
- Vinegar - 1.85/gal - Same
- Chicken(whole) - 1.45/lb - Up from 1.25/lb
- Ground beef - ~$4/kg - Same (pre-pandemic was ~3)
- Sugar - 0.90/kg - Same
- Flour - 0.89/kg - Same (pre-pandemic was 0.60-0.70/kg)
- Rice - 1.19/kg - Up from 1.16 (pre-pandemic was 1-1.06/kg)
- Eggs - 0.10/ea - Down from 0.12-0.14
- Unsalted butter - 7.41-7.59/kg - Same
- Broccoli - 0.78/kg - Up from 0.55
- Carrots - 0.25/lb - Same (pre-pandemic was 0.20/lb)
- Peppers - 8-12/$ - Same (pre-pandemic was 16-20/$)
- White onions - 0.33/lb - Same
- Red onions 0.20-0.25/lb - Same
- Potatos - 0.25-0.33/lb - Up from .20-.25/lb
- Bok choy - 0.59/head - Same
- Celery - 1.30/kg - Can't remember
Final thoughts
Prices seem to have risen while most people seem worse off (largely as a result of the months of blackouts). However, there was a noticable increase in new home construction in my area last year which may indicate increasing demand for housing and which may drive up real estate prices at least in expat-heavy areas. The increases in gasoline prices are likely somewhat to blame for the increasing costs of food and bus service and further increases in the cost of gas in 2025 are likely to cause food and transport prices to rise or - and I hope not - may give rise to another round of "protests" and road blockades if the government doesn't approve a requested increase from the transportation unions/cooperativos.
