Quito vs Portoviejo
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Quito 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 | Quito | Portoviejo |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 58 | 57 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 49 | 54 |
| Climate | 100 | 91 |
| Safety | 31 | 30 |
| Summer °C | 15.1 | 25.8 |
| Winter °C | 14.5 | 23.7 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | earthquake |
Quito vs Portoviejo: the short answer
Quito comes out ahead on overall livability (58/100), only marginally above Portoviejo (57/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Portoviejo is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Quito 49 vs Portoviejo 54, 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 15.1°C in Quito), while winter lows sit near 14.5°C in Quito and 23.7°C in Portoviejo. On natural-disaster exposure Quito is the safer choice (safety 31/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for Quito 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 → Quito — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Quito — 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 Quito or Portoviejo better to live in?
Quito scores higher overall — 58 vs 57 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Quito or Portoviejo?
Portoviejo has the lower cost of living (cost index 54 vs 49; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Quito or Portoviejo?
Portoviejo — summer highs reach about 25.8°C versus 15.1°C in Quito.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Quito or Portoviejo?
Quito (disaster-safety 31/100). Main hazard: earthquake in Quito, earthquake in Portoviejo.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Quito?
earthquake is the dominant modelled hazard for Quito on our risk index.
How is the Quito 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.