Ambato vs Portoviejo
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Ambato leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Portoviejo where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Portoviejo's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Ambato | Portoviejo |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 68 | 65 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 47 | 47 |
| Climate | 99 | 91 |
| Safety | 62 | 61 |
| Summer °C | 14.3 | 25.8 |
| Winter °C | 12.4 | 23.7 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | earthquake |
Ambato vs Portoviejo: the short answer
Ambato comes out ahead on overall livability (68/100), modestly above Portoviejo (65/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Portoviejo is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Ambato 47 vs Portoviejo 47, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Portoviejo runs warmer in summer (about 25.8°C peak vs 14.3°C in Ambato), while winter lows sit near 12.4°C in Ambato and 23.7°C in Portoviejo. On natural-disaster exposure Ambato is the safer choice (safety 62/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for Ambato and earthquake for Portoviejo.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Portoviejo — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Portoviejo — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Ambato — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Ambato — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Ambato or Portoviejo better to live in?
Ambato scores higher overall — 68 vs 65 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Ambato or Portoviejo?
Portoviejo has the lower cost of living (cost index 47 vs 47; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Ambato or Portoviejo?
Portoviejo — summer highs reach about 25.8°C versus 14.3°C in Ambato.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Ambato or Portoviejo?
Ambato (disaster-safety 62/100). Main hazard: earthquake in Ambato, earthquake in Portoviejo.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Ambato?
earthquake is the dominant modelled hazard for Ambato on our risk index.
How is the Ambato vs Portoviejo comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.