Unless something drastic happens politically or economically, Ecuador is our permanent home. We plan to spend at least 6 months per year in Ecuador for the rest of our lives. It’s our Plan A and we hope to get our citizenship next year.
However, we also want to diversify our residency so we have a Plan B in case something really bad happens and we need to leave Ecuador (returning to the USA is Plan Z).
That’s why we’ve been researching other countries and sharing that research with you. There are A LOT of fantastic places to live that offer a higher quality of life for a lower cost of living than the USA!
In this video, we share 10 cheap countries where a couple can live a high quality lifestyle on less than $2,000 per month. You would need $6K to $10K to live like this in the United States!
If you want to learn more about Flag Theory, Andrew Henderson from @Nomad Capitalist has a good summary.
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https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Cheap-countries.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2022-09-29 21:00:252023-03-20 19:18:5010 Cheap Countries to Live or Retire (and be happier)
Amelia and JP VLOG 274: After hearing about the Mexico perpetual tourist visa changes from several people who live in Mexico, we wanted to share why we think Ecuador might be a better option.
If you’re on a tight budget and don’t qualify for a Mexico temporary residency visa, you may want to consider Ecuador, instead.
The monthly income requirement for an Ecuador temporary residency visa, as well as a permanent residency visa is only $400 (as of 2021) with no additional savings requirement. That means most expat retirees living on social security will qualify for a visa in Ecuador.
CORRECTION: The Mexico residency visas require monthly income OR savings. Not both. We’re not Mexico visa experts and we made a mistake. Lo siento mucho! However, this doesn’t change the fact that a lot of retired expats won’t qualify for a visa in Mexico, while Ecuador only requires $400/month in income for the pensioner visa.
Here’s our last Cost of Living video showing you what your quality of life will look like on the average social security check.
This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Mexico-vs-Ecuador.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2021-11-18 04:00:082023-03-19 18:16:05Why Ecuador Is Better than Mexico for Retirees & Expats!
We’ve made it easy to move to Ecuador! Just take the Ecuador Expat Fast Track! Learn How Here!
Amelia And JP VLOG 273: We get this question a lot: Can I live in Ecuador on my social security income?
So in this video we take a look at the most common expenses to estimate your cost of living in Ecuador. Then we compare those to the average social security income to paint a picture of your quality of life in Ecuador during your retirement years.
We’re happy to introduce you to our trusted service providers in Ecuador:
This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/ECUADOR-on-SOCIAL-SECURITY.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2021-11-11 15:00:482023-03-19 18:16:05Can I afford to live in Ecuador on Social Security? (Quality of Life & Cost of Living Under $1500)
One of the main reasons expats leave home is to save money while also being able to afford a higher quality of life. The low cost of living in Ecuador and other popular expat destinations makes that possible.
Back in the roaring twenties, American expats migrated to Paris and other parts of Europe for the same reason.
In this article, we’ll let you know how much you can expect to pay for necessities in Ecuador, like rent, utilities, healthcare, transportation, food, appliances, and more.
If you’re moving from the United States, Canada, or Europe–the cost of living in Ecuador for housing may prove to be your most significant savings. Short-term lodging, long-term rentals, and purchase prices are all much lower in Ecuador, even for premium locations like beachfront property and panoramic mountain views.
Short Term Cost of Living in Ecuador
When expats first move to Ecuador, some prefer to find somewhere to stay for only a few weeks or months while they find the best neighborhood and location for their long term investment.
When you arrive, you might find you’d like to stay in a larger city while finalizing your temporary resident visa process before moving outward to a smaller town or rural area. Whatever your circumstances, Ecuador has countless short-term lodging options for you.
AirBnB.com Ecuador Stays
You have a variety of options for short term lodging and rentals throughout Ecuador, and the best place to start is AirBnB.com. Less than ten years ago, booking a place to stay in another country was a hassle. But with Airbnb, whether you want a high rise condo in the city center, beachfront property with ocean views, or a remote mountain villa or cabin, you’ll find plenty of options to suit your needs.
The key to saving the most money on Airbnb is booking longer-term stays with a minimum of 7 nights, but ideally a month or more. Monthly rates for AirBnB offer steep discounts, sometimes as much as 40%!
You can also contact the host before booking to negotiate an even lower rate (politely, of course). If the booking is more than a month out and not during a busy travel season for the area, you can ask for an additional discount after establishing some rapport with the host.
Prices vary from $300 to $1,200/month depending on the city, the neighborhood, the location, the size of the property, and additional amenities. Some luxury beachfront condos in Salinas can be $2,500/month or more!
In general, real estate or rental agents won’t help you find short-term rentals for anything less than 6 months unless you’re looking at one of the high end luxury rentals.
This is because the rental agent’s fee is based on the lease amount and duration. For 6 month leases, they get 1/2 the first month’s rent as their finder’s fee. For 12 month leases, they get the first month’s rent. But for anything less than 6 months, they only get 10% of the rental amount so if you’re looking for a 1 month stay at a $500/month condo, their fee will only be $50 so it’s just not worth their time.
Apartment Hotels in Ecuador (aka Short Term Stay Residences)
You may be familiar with short-term stay hotels such as Residence Inn or TownePlace Suites, but the price for a month or more in the United States or Europe is very expensive. They’re geared more to business travelers with corporate credit cards than tourists on a budget.
However, you’ll find very affordable Apartment Hotels or ApartSuites in Ecuador with nicely equipped kitchenettes, comfortable beds, and security guards/concierges who can help you learn your way around town.
Apartamentos Otorongo in Cuenca is an example of a short-term stay hotel. These types of hotels range in price from $700 to $1,200 for monthly rates depending on the room size and location.
Most short-term hotel stays in Ecuador are listed on AirBnB.com, Expedia.com, and other online booking websites, but you’ll get the best deal by booking directly through their website. You’ll lose the travel protection offered by the big travel websites, but the cost savings may be worth it to you. And we’ve vetted our recommendations so you’re less likely to experience problems.
These types of short-term stay hotels focus on tourists from the US, Canada, and Europe. And they’re great places to meet other current and future Ecuador expats.
Long-Term Rental Costs in Ecuador
If you’re planning to stay in Ecuador for more than a year, a long-term rental lease will be your most cost-effective option. Depending on your desires and budget, you can rent anything from a single bedroom in someone’s house to a luxury hacienda in the country.
Types of Housing Rentals in Ecuador
There are three types of rental options that affect the price and availability of long-term rentals: fully furnished, semi-furnished, and unfurnished.
A fully furnished home includes all furniture, such as beds, dressers, tables, chairs, kitchen appliances, dishes, basic linens, etc. Most will even offer bedding and pillows, but some may not.
A semi-furnished home includes furniture such as tables, chairs and beds, but won’t include any kitchen appliances. There will be no stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer or dryer.
An unfurnished home does not include any furniture or appliances. Most will not include window coverings, and some may not include light fixtures or ceiling fans. You will need to supply everything yourselves, which is ideal if you’re shipping a container with your household items because these are the most affordable rental options.
Best Way to Find a Long Term Rental in Ecuador
For low budget rooms or apartments, your best option is to check websites such as GringoPost.com for locals or expats who are advertising a room or apartment with very few or no amenities.
If you have a higher budget, you may want to work with a real estate agent who can help you find properties as well as negotiate the lease terms. Most leases in Ecuador are very basic, but they are in Spanish, so if you’re not fluent you may want to have someone there to represent your interests and act as a translator.
Low Budget Rental Options and Costs in Ecuador
The lowest budget long-term rental option is to rent a room in an Ecuadorian home. You can often find places in the $100 to $200/month range, but they may not have a private bathroom, and you’ll need to share the kitchen and refrigerator. If your goal is to learn Spanish quickly, full immersion in a Spanish speaking household is a great way to do it!
House and Condo Rentals in Ecuador
Condo and house rental costs vary widely based on the size, location, amenities, and age of the building. At the low end, you’ll find an older studio or 1-bedroom/1-bathroom condo with minimal facilities in the $250 to $500 per month range.
For $500 to $1,500 per month, you’ll find better condos, townhomes, and free-standing houses with 2 to 4 bedrooms and bathrooms like the one pictured above. This 1,800 square foot fully furnished rental home in a popular Cuenca neighborhood was $800/month for 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms as of January 2020.
We now live in a condo about 3 blocks from the beautiful and popular beach in Olón Ecuador. It’s a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom ground floor condo with a nice covered patio and backyard for $700/month including Internet and tap water. We pay for electricity and bottled water. Since the tap water isn’t chlorinated, it’s not safe to drink. You can watch our condo tour in this video:
Depending on the location, some rental houses and condos may even have fantastic views of the city, ocean, or mountains.
Luxury Rentals in Ecuador
If your budget is over $1,500 per month, you’ll be able to live in a luxury home that would easily cost 3 or 4 times more in the United States or Europe. Condos will have all the bells and whistles, amazing views, and 24/7 security guards. Houses will be vast and luxurious. Comparable beachfront property that may have been a pipe dream in Miami or San Diego is affordable in Ecuador.
Buying a House or Condo in Ecuador
As it is with rentals, purchase prices for houses and condos are much lower in Ecuador. You can expect to pay one third or less for a comparable property compared to the United States, depending on the location.
For example, this newly built, modern condo in the heart of Cuenca’s El Centro district lists for $105,000.
While this 2,153 square feet beachfront house in Olón Ecuador with three bedrooms and three bathrooms recently sold for $425,000.
There is also a lot of land for sale in Ecuador, so if your dream is to own a farm or part of the Amazon jungle, that’s a real option here. You can buy pristine land in many areas with lakes, rivers, and waterfalls for less than $1,000 per acre.
However, as with many developing nations, purchasing a property in Ecuador can be risky due to their lack of clear title rules and regulations. Some people have lost their property due to outstanding liens or fraudulent titles. When it comes to land purchases, you may find that the government has issued mining rights to major international corporations who have the option to set up shop on your property whenever they choose.
It’s less risky to buy a condo or house in a gated community, especially if you are working directly with the developer. And you will minimize your risk by working with a real estate agent and a lawyer to help you navigate the nuances of buying a property in a foreign country.
Whatever your housing requirements are, you’re sure to find something you like in Ecuador.
Cost of Food in Ecuador
Overall, the cost of living in Ecuador with respect to food is much lower than the US, Canada, and Europe, especially for fruits and vegetables. However, some specialty foods, such as non-dairy milk and gluten-free products, as well as meat and dairy are the same price or even more expensive.
Your cost of food will vary depending on the diet you choose to eat and whether you choose to buy most of it at the traditional Ecuadorian mercados, or in modern grocery stores such as Supermaxi, Mi Comisariato or Tía. Mercados tend to be much less expensive than grocery stores.
Farming isn’t heavily subsidized in Ecuador like it is in the US and Europe so the cost of food is more inline with the cost of producing it. That means food like meat and dairy that are expensive to produce are more costly in Ecuador because tax dollars aren’t used to artificially deflate the market price.
Since most plant foods are grown by local farmers inside Ecuador, and since GMO (technically, Genetically Engineered) crops are banned by the Ecuadorian constitution, things like beans, lentils, rice, grains, fruits and vegetables are very fresh and affordable.
Because most plant foods are grown in Ecuador, they don’t need to be treated with chemicals or specially packaged for expensive long distance transportation. Farmers are also allowed to save their own seeds for next year’s crops so they aren’t forced to buy expensive seeds every year from GMO monopolies. Additionally, the cost of farm labor is far less in Ecuador compared to the US and Europe. All of these factors mean the cost of plant-based foods are far cheaper in Ecuador.
Ecuador Mercado Itemized Food Cost
The cost of fruits and vegetables in Ecuador varies by location and season. Most of the products you’ll find in mercados are grown in Ecuador and much of it comes from local farms.
However, if you live in the mountains, you’ll pay more for tropical fruits grown at lower altitudes and shipped into the mountain cities. Conversely, many of the root vegetables like potatoes and beets, are grown at high elevations, so you may pay more for those if you live on the coast. Because of the pandemic, this is slowly changing and more things are being grown locally when possible.
Regardless of where you live, you’ll find the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables to be far less than you’re probably used to paying, and the quality is much higher.
In September 2020, we spent $41 at mercados, which is where we buy the majority of our produce and enough to feed two people for the entire month.
Here is an itemized list from a Mercado in Cuenca, Ecuador as of June 2019. Prices have not changed substantially since then.
Item
Oz
Cost
Choclo
16
$ 1.00
Peas
48
$ 3.00
Beans
16
$ 1.00
Blueberries
4
$ 2.50
Strawberries
16
$ 1.50
Apples
40
$ 2.00
Peaches
12
$ 1.00
Dragon Fruit
32
$ 3.00
Chirimoya
16
$ 2.00
Limes
16
$ 1.00
Bananas
64
$ 1.00
Papayas
32
$ 1.00
Tomatoes
32
$ 1.00
Mellocos
16
$ 0.50
Carrots
48
$ 1.00
Sweet Potatoes
64
$ 2.00
Yellow Potatoes
32
$ 1.00
Beets
24
$ 1.00
Broccoli
24
$ 0.50
Cauliflower
32
$ 0.50
Total
584
$ 27.50
Pounds
36.5
$ 0.75/lb
Ecuador Grocery Store Cost
The mercados have some packaged items, but they mostly carry fresh, unpackaged foods. Most expats choose to purchase packaged or specialty items at one of Ecuador’s major grocery stores, such as Supermaxi, Tía, Akí, Mi Comisariato, Coral, etc.
We spent $254 in September 2020 at grocery stores on things like cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, chocolate, almond milk, oats, mushrooms, popcorn, raisins and condiments. We also went to Mi Comisariato in Ballenita and El Pueblo in Montañita and bought some specialty items like whole grain pasta, flax seeds, tofu and bulk spices so September was a bit more expensive than normal.
Here is an itemized list from Supermaxi El Vergel in Cuenca, Ecuador (June 2019):
The prices in Cuenca are nearly identical to the prices in the Salinas Supermaxi and the Guayaquil Megamaxi, so you can expect the costs to be similar throughout Ecuador.
Ecuador Restaurant Costs
Dining at restaurants in Ecuador is so affordable that many expats choose to eat out more than cooking at home. In major cities like Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, you’ll have a variety of international cuisines to choose from in addition to more traditional Ecuadorian fare.
Breakfast Restaurants in Ecuador
If you’re moving from the United States, you may be surprised to learn that breakfast isn’t a popular meal in Ecuador. Most Ecuadorians eat a VERY late dinner, typically after 8 PM. That may explain the low importance they put on breakfast, which is often a fresh piece of bread or fruit that they eat on their way to work or school.
Most Ecuadorian restaurants are not open for breakfast. Still, you’ll find some restaurants open for breakfast in areas that are more popular with expats such as Sunrise Café in Cuenca. You can expect to pay between $5 and $10 per person for a typical American-style breakfast at these types of restaurants.
El Almuerzo in Ecuador
Most restaurants in Ecuador have a traditional lunch special that ranges from $1.50 to $3.50. It’s called El Almuerzo (the lunch) and usually comes with 3 to 5 courses. The amount of food at El Almuerzo is smaller than a typical dinner, but it’s still very filling, especially for the price.
Dinner Restaurants in Ecuador
Dinner is the biggest meal of the day for Ecuadorians, so that’s when most of the restaurants are open. There are lots of Ecuadorian restaurants in every neighborhood. In the larger cities, you’ll also find a variety of international cuisines, such as American, Indian, Thai, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.
You can expect to pay around $10 per person for dinner without alcoholic drinks at expat-oriented restaurants. A glass of wine costs around $5 with a bottle running $20. A bottle of domestic beer such as Club or Pilsener costs around $3 while craft or imported beers cost around $5.
Pizza is also trendy in Ecuador. In addition to the American pizza places like Pizza Hut and Dominoes, you’ll also find a large variety of smaller mom-and-pop pizza restaurants. You can expect to pay around $15 for a large pizza at places like Fabiano’s in Cuenca.
Restaurants in Olón Ecuador
Here in Olón, we have several delicious restaurants to choose from, such as South Indian Restaurant, MOMO Restaurant & Deli, Nettuno Pizza, and many more. Dinner at South Indian typically costs $19, including a $2 tip, for rice, two entrees and 2 pieces of naan bread. A bottle of wine costs $15 and a glass costs $5.
MOMO is the most expensive place in Olón, but it’s also the most gourmet restaurant with food that would have people lined up around the corner in an major US city. We typically spend about $50 for dinner there which includes an appetizer, two entrees, dessert and a $5 tip.
A large square thin-crust pizza at Nettuno runs $12 and is one of the best pizzas we’ve had. The owners have family connections in Italy so it’s very authentic Italian pizza.
In September 2020, we spent $193 at restaurants and ate out 9 times for dinner. That’s an average of $21 per visit for 2 people.
Restaurants in Manta Ecuador
In addition to the malecón and other traditional Ecuadorian restaurants found throughout Manta, you’ll also find a variety of international cuisines along restaurant row on the western side of town near the beachfront condo buildings.
Our favorite restaurants are South India Restaurant, which is owned by our friend Ravi from Tamil Nadu in Southern India. He also owns the original restaurant in Olón that we’ve featured in our videos. You can expect to pay roughly $20 for dinner for two.
Martinica is a delicious Italian restaurant and arguably Manta’s best (non-Indian) restaurant. We also enjoy Mamma Rosa, which has great pizza and other Italian dishes.
Mall del Pacifíco has a food court with a Kobe Sushi, the express version of Noe, and several other restaurants. And Hotel Oro Verde has a really nice restaurant with outdoor seating and views of Playa Murciélago.
You can expect to pay $5 to $10 per person for lunch, and $10 to $15 per person for dinner at most places in Manta.
Health Insurance Costs in Ecuador
You’ll need private health insurance before you apply for your Temporary Residency Visa. Once you have your visa and cedula (government-issued ID card), you can get the cheaper IESS public health insurance.
Private Health Insurance in Ecuador
Just like in the United States, there are several different health insurance companies. You may want to use a health insurance broker to help you pick the best plan for your circumstances. A private health insurance plan allows you to go to the doctors and hospitals that you choose.
Depending on your age and smoking habits, you can expect to pay $50 to $150/month per person with a private health insurance company such as Confiamed.
Private insurance companies are required to cover pre-existing conditions after two years of paying into the plan. However, the maximum coverage is typically meager, so if you have an expensive pre-existing condition that requires medication or frequent trips to the doctor, you may prefer Ecuador’s public (universal) healthcare option.
Ecuador IESS Public Health Insurance
IESS is Ecuador’s single-payer social security and (universal) healthcare system. Once you have your temporary or permanent residency visa and your cedula, you can sign up for this health insurance.
IESS health insurance is cheaper than private insurance, but you have to go to the IESS hospital and doctors. Since it’s their version of social security, it also means you’ll get some of it back when you retire if you’re still living in Ecuador. The IESS plan is around $70 to $80 per month per person and covers pre-existing conditions after a three month waiting period.
Other Common Costs of Living in Ecuador
Startup Costs Following Your Move to Ecuador
After we moved into our rental house, we spent about $700 on startup costs. Even though it came fully furnished, it lacked a few essential things such as sheets, blankets, a quality set of pots & pans, a pressure cooker, coat rack, knives, heaters, etc.
We bought most of these items at Coral and Sukasa. Coral is like a Super Walmart and Home Depot combined while Sukasa is like a Crate & Barrel or Bed Bath & Beyond.
Most prescription and OTC drugs are available in Ecuador, but they may be sold under different brand names than back home. The prices may also be different (usually much lower than the US).
Transportation Costs
In Cuenca Ecuador
In Cuenca, a bus ride costs 31 cents and the Tranvia costs 35 cents per trip.
Taxies have a minimum fare of $1.50. It usually costs $2 to $3 to go most places in Cuenca.
You can also book private drivers with nicer cars or trucks that can help you move things for $10 per trip.
In Olón Ecuador
You can catch a bus every few minutes on the main highway, la Ruta del Sol, for 50 cents. If you’re going a longer distance to La Libertad or to Puerto Lopez, expect to pay $1.50.
Most taxies are based in Montañita, Olón or Manglaralto. Fares between these towns cost $1.50, but if you live further away from these towns, you can expect to pay $5 and you’ll need to call one to come get you.
In Manta Ecuador
We haven’t taken a bus in Manta due to the pandemic so we can’t speak to that. The minimum cab fare is $2.00, which covers most 10 minute cab rides in Manta.
Clothing and Shoes
These new boots made with synthetic materials at Emily Shoes in El Centro cost $29.
The price of clothes in stores is about the same as the US. However, you can have clothes made for you by local tailors for about 1/3 the cost of off-the-rack clothing.
Fitness Costs in Ecuador
It seems like there’s a gym on every corner in Ecuador. They’re very popular with Ecuadorians, who seem to be very active. We’ve seen both traditional indoor, as well as outdoor Crossfit-type gyms. You can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $40/month for memberships without long-term commitments.
Yoga at RumiSol in Cuenca Ecuador
You can find yoga classes on a variety of different websites, like Gaia.com if you prefer to do your yoga at home, but you can also go to yoga studios like RumiSol Yoga. The monthly rates range from $30 to $50, and a drop-in class is $6.
Appliances and Electronics
You can find most appliances in Ecuador, even 4K TV’s, but you’ll likely spend more on them here. The cost of living is tremendously affordable in Ecuador, but the price of “things” is very high. Anything with a plug will cost more than it would in the United States, sometimes double.
TV Cost in Cuenca Ecuador
This 65″ 4K LG costs $1,200 when you pay with cash. Similar TV’s are available on Amazon for $800, so this one is about 50% more here.
This 75″ 4K LG TV costs $1,900 when you pay with cash. A similar TV on Amazon was listed for $1,300, so again, it’s about 50% more in Ecuador.
Cost of a Dishwasher in Cuenca, Ecuador
This portable stainless-insert dishwasher costs $590 if you pay in cash. You can also use it as a built-in dishwasher. The main difference between an integrated dishwasher, and this one is that an integrated unit is fully encased in the home’s interior design.
Monthly Cost of Living Comparison: Cuenca June 2019 vs. Olón Sept 2020
Here is our June 2019 cost of living in Cuenca Ecuador. This list does not include medical fees or travel costs. These fees can vary a lot, so we opted to leave them out.
Ecuador Inflation: What it Means for the Cost of Living in Ecuador
Often, people ask if we’ve noticed a price increase since we moved here over 3 years ago. Several other bloggers and YouTubers complain about how the cost of things has gone up in recent years, but we haven’t noticed much of a change. Most necessities have stayed at the same price, but some things are more expensive, and some are less expensive.
Unchanged prices
The previous renters of our house in Cuenca lived there almost a year and a half, and we lived there over 2 years. Combined, we lived in that house for over three years, and the rent didn’t change.
Our Mercado and Supermaxi food costs didn’t change while we lived in Cuenca. We consistently spent $30/week at the Mercado on produce, coffee, nuts, and seeds. That’s when we didn’t buy specialty or out-of-season items like cherimoyas or pitahayas. And we consistently spent $50/week at Supermaxi.
We spend much less at the mercados in Olón than we did in Cuenca mainly because we buy coffee, nuts, seeds and beans at the grocery story rather than the mercado. We consistently spend about $10/week in Olón for our fresh fruits and vegetables, and about $60/week at the Tía or El Pueblo in Montañita for packaged items.
The cost of water and electricity in Cuenca decreased while we lived there. Our utilities averaged $80/month for the first year in Cuenca, but dropped to $60/month for the year before we left. We still aren’t sure why they decreased.
Taxi rates and doctors visits have also remained unchanged.
Price Decreases
In 2018, Ecuador started rolling back its massive import tariff of 100% that applied to cars and electronics. Subsequently, the price of those items fell dramatically.
Ecuador also repealed the “goodwill law” that taxed real estate development almost out of existence. That meant developers weren’t building things because they couldn’t sell them for enough to cover the cost of the taxes. The lack of supply drove up the value of existing properties as the demand grew from both gringos and more affluent Ecuadorians.
Since then, lawmakers repealed the statute and as a result, developers were once again building at a faster rate (pre-pandemic), which has increased the housing supply. In the coming years, we expect this will drive down the overall cost of housing.
The cost of internet access is lower on the coast with Netlife than it was in Cuenca with Puntonet. This doesn’t have anything to do with the economy; it’s just a different service provider charging different rates.
Amelia is letting her hair grow out and she’s not coloring it anymore so we no longer have hair expenses.
Price Increases
Our private health insurance increased from $117/month when we arrived in Cuenca to $174/month now. The original company that provided our insurance went out of business (without notifying us). Our new plan is through a more reputable insurance company and offers better coverage.
A propane tank increased from $2.50 to $3.00. In Cuenca, we had to replace the tank attached to our hot water heater about once every two weeks. The tank connected to our stove/oven lasted about six months.
In Olón, we had a tank connected to our gas stove that we replaced twice in 15 months. We replaced the tank connected to the hot water heater about every 2 months. We’re not sure why a tank lasts so much longer in Olón, except that water boils at a lower temperature due to being at sea level, and the outside air is warmer so the pipes aren’t as cold for the hot water transit.
In Cuenca, the cost of a bus ride increased from 25 cents to 31 cents in 2018 to cover the cost of replacing the blue puffer buses with low-emission diesel buses.
Our mobile phone plan with Claro has increased from $17/month when we signed up in October 2017 to $20/month in September 2020.
Amelia’s yoga was more expensive in Olón because she took private lessons on the beach twice per week rather than the group classes she took in Cuenca.
Our housekeeper in Cuenca came once every 2 weeks for 4 hours and we paid her $5/hour. In Olón, we had a housekeeper come 3 days per week for a total of 5 hours per week. She came on Monday and Wednesday for an hour to clean the kitchen, and on Friday’s for 3 hours to clean the whole condo. We paid her $5/hour or $25/week.
Cost of Living in Ecuador: A Comfortable Life for MUCH Less
We live a very comfortable middle class life here in Ecuador. As you can see, it’s easy for a couple to live on less than $2,000 per month. For a single person, the cost of living in Ecuador is often $1,200 per month or less.
The major deciding factor is how much you want to pay for rent. You can rent rooms for less than $200/month, smaller condos for less than $400/month, nice condos and houses off the beach for less than $800/month, and true luxury resort-style condos and homes for less than $1,500/month.
This is a great place expats given the affordable cost of living in Ecuador. Visiting the city sights in Cuenca and Quito gives a unique perspective on this rich culture, while the diverse wildlife makes long hikes a great way to enjoy the beauty of Ecuador.
For more information about what it’s really like to be an expat in Ecuador, check out our YouTube channel here. Beyond just the cost of living in Ecuador, we give a unique glimpse into the amazing life adventure many expats have chosen for themselves.
Watch Our Video About Our Real Cost of Living in Manta Ecuador
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https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Ecuador-Cost-of-Living-2021.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2021-07-29 09:22:392023-03-19 18:16:22Cost of Living in Ecuador: A Guide for Expat Budgeting
Is it possible to live in Ecuador for less than $500 per month? The short answer is yes! Expats and retirees flock to Ecuador for its tropical weather and beautiful, biodiverse landscapes, as well as for the low cost of living! Depending on where you choose to live, it’s entirely possible to live well in Ecuador on a very small budget.
People worldwide—including US, Canadian, and European expats—have discovered that Ecuador offers many affordable options to choose from. Besides the prospect of pleasant weather and stunning scenery, you can also look forward to minimizing your expenses and stretching your income!
In this article, we’ll take a look at the typical monthly expenses you can expect to incur living in Ecuador. This is a guide to everything you need to know to make a $500 budget work well for you.
You’ll find information on housing options, health insurance costs, food, and transportation that will allow a single person to live quite well on a low budget.
Low Budget Housing in Ecuador
Housing is often the largest budget consideration. It’s also what makes moving to Ecuador so attractive for people who leave Canada, Europe, or the US. Although coastal options and larger properties will cost more money, it is entirely possible to find safe, comfortable housing for less than $300/month.
Here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind when you look for housing on a tight budget.
Hostel or Private Room
Although you’ll have to share amenities like a kitchen and bathroom in these setups, you can find a safe, spacious place to live in Ecuador for between $100-$200/month in a hostel or private room in someone’s home.
For example, a friend secured a well-appointed room in a house living with an Ecuadorian family in Cuenca for $110/month. Though she only had a small corner of the fridge to herself and shared a bathroom with her host family, she enjoyed the experience and lived on a very low budget. As a bonus, living with an Ecuadorian family allowed her to quickly learn the local culture and become fluent in Spanish.
Private Housing in Ecuador
If you elect to rent a private house, condo or apartment, there are plenty to find below or around the $300/month mark in smaller cities and towns throughout Ecuador.
Here are some things that you’ll want to factor into your housing search:
Furnished, Semi-furnished and Unfurnished
There are some pretty dramatic differences between the types of listings for rental properties in Ecuador.
Furnished homes are move-in ready and have everything you need, including kitchen items, like pots and pans, and linens, like sheets and towels. Consequently, they’re more expensive.
Semi-furnished homes have appliances, like a stove and refrigerator, but you’ll have to provide everything else, such as pots, pans, plates, bedding, etc.
Unfurnished units will not have anything included—sometimes you’ll even need to provide your own blinds and light fixtures!
If you decide to go with an unfurnished or semi-furnished place, you can find reasonably priced second hand furniture at moving sales or local consignments shops.
Desirable properties on or near the beach, or centrally located housing in popular cities such as Cuenca, usually charge higher rents, but there are plenty of places with great views and surroundings that you can rent on a budget.
Paute (which has a thriving expat community) and Azogues are about 45 minutes from Cuenca, but offer a host of cheaper housing alternatives. Inland cities like Cotacachi, Ibarra, or Otavalo also have very affordable housing options. You might find that you need a car to get around those areas rather than rely on public transportation, so that could be costly.
For more ideas on affordable coastal living options, check out our Affordable Beach Town Rentals in Olón Ecuador video to see opportunities like the Casita in Las Nuñez, which rents for $350/month.
Health Insurance in Ecuador
Health insurance is required to apply for the Pensioner visa and for your cédula. It is no longer required to enter the country on a tourist visa.
You will probably choose to purchase either private or public health insurance although some choose to have both. Public heath insurance costs about $83/month/person. Private health insurance costs vary depending on the type of coverage, your age, pre-existing conditions, and whether or not you smoke. You can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $150 per person.
Private Insurance in Ecuador
For private insurance, in addition to the monthly premium, you can expect a nominal $100 annual deductible and a $10 copay per visit for low deductible plans. You can also purchase a high deductible plan with gap insurance, which has the benefit of lower monthly premiums.
These plans cover you at 90% in-network and 80% out-of-network. Pre-existing conditions are covered after a two-year waiting period with private insurance plans.
Public IESS Insurance in Ecuador
After you obtain your temporary residency visa AND your cédula, you can enroll in the Public IESS health insurance plan for a similar monthly premium.
Under the IESS coverage, you’ll have no copay or deductible and everything is covered at 100%, including doctors visits, surgeries, hospital stays and medication.
However, you must go to doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies in the public IESS network. Pre-existing conditions are covered after a 3 month waiting period.
Budgeting $50/month/person for groceries is a reasonable amount in Ecuador, especially if you buy most of your fruits, vegetables and beans from the local mercados rather than the grocery stores.
Meat, dairy, eggs and processed foods are more expensive in Ecuador, so if you eat a plant-based diet or limit your consumption of those products, you’ll save a lot of money.
Transportation
Ecuador is well-connected with a reliable public transportation system. Each ride costs about 35 cents in Cuenca and 50 cents along the coast.
Cab rides in Cuenca typically cost between $2 and $3, while on the coast they cost $1.50 to $5 depending on how far you travel between towns.
Interprovincial buses will take you from city to city throughout the country for just a few dollars per trip.
Realistically, you can get by on about $20 per month for transportation if you stay local and limit your cab rides.
Mobile Phone Service in Ecuador
WhatsApp is included in most mobile phone plans in Ecuador, and it’s used by most people to stay in touch using the free public Wi-Fi that’s available throughout the country.
Many expats choose to get a monthly phone plan that includes data for about $20/month. You can also go the prepaid route and spend a few dollars a month on minutes that you use until you run out. Depending on how heavily you rely on your mobile phone, this option can save you a lot of money over the course of a year.
Potential Extras
Many rentals include utilities like water, internet or electricity.
In warmer areas in the coastal or Amazon regions, electricity isn’t typically included because air conditioning preferences lead to varying costs that are hard to predict. Depending on how cold you like it, and how efficient your place is, you’ll probably pay between $20-$100 per month in electricity charges.
Basic, residential internet service costs about $30/month with Netlife on the coast or PuntoNet in Cuenca, and faster speeds will cost more.
Some extra costs that you might incur are bottled water delivery, for about $20/month. However, plenty of people in Cuenca enjoy the tap water.
Propane costs vary widely, from $2-$3/month to $15 or more.
Incidental Expenses
Dining Out
Though the best way to save money on food is by shopping at the mercados and cooking at home, there are affordable dining options that you can enjoy on a low budget.
Local-run restaurants that serve typical Ecuadorian fares like chicken, fish, soup, rice, plantains, and juice are very affordable. Almuerzos, which are sizeable lunch portions, normally run between $1.50 to $3 for a hearty, authentic meal.
Depending on where you go and what you eat, you can dine out a few times a week on a $30 monthly dining budget.
Entertainment
Ecuador offers plenty of free entertainment options, such as local walking tours, free museums and free concerts. Local parks are outfitted with free outdoor workout equipment, and the beautiful beaches and most national parks are free, too.
These are plenty of fun ways to entertain yourself on the cheap in Ecuador.
Clothing & Shoes
Local brands of clothing and shoes are more affordable than imported brands, like Nike or Skechers. You can find plenty of options in malls, small stores or pop up shops that are in line with what you’d expect to spend on clothes or shoes back at home.
Conclusion
Yes! It’s more than possible to live well in Ecuador on less than $500 per month!
Frugal couples can easily manage on $700-$800 per month since the cost of housing won’t increase with more people.
Health insurance is reasonably priced, but will be a significant budget consideration. Beyond that, fresh, healthy food is very affordable in Ecuador. Almuerzos at local restaurants and fresh fruits and veggies from the mercados will allow you to eat well on a low monthly budget.
Transportation, utilities, and incidentals are also inexpensive compared to high cost of living places like the United States, Canada and Europe. The low cost of living in Ecuador continues to attract expats from around the world.
With a little creativity and little frugality, there are plenty of ways to make a $500 monthly budget work well for you in Ecuador, while providing lots of enjoyment and a higher overall quality of life.
Watch Our Video About Cost Of Living on a Budget in Ecuador
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https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Ecuador-Cost-of-Living-Mercado.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2021-01-16 10:22:012023-03-20 17:56:19Expat Life in Ecuador on Less Than $500/month
Amelia and JP VLOG 189: The monthly rent for a 12 month lease for our condo in Olón Ecuador is $700. That includes tap water and Internet access. We’re saving about $200/month compared to our house in Cuenca, which was $800/month but didn’t include water ($20/mo) or Internet ($56/mo).
This is also our first video featuring Mini, my new drone. We’re very happy with her so far, despite the attention she garnered from a friendly beach dog who wanted to use her as a chew toy!
Hopefully you enjoyed our video, and if you did, please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE it, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel. ¡Muchas Gracias y Hasta Luego!
FREE Weekly Newsletter
Sign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:
This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Ep-189-Olon-Condo-Tour.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2020-02-11 14:00:542023-03-19 18:17:32Olón Ecuador Condo Tour & Cost + Drama on the Beach w/ Mini (our new drone)
Amelia and JP VLOG 174: We just got back to Cuenca after spending another 2 weeks on the coast, this time in the Montañita/Olón/La Entrada area. A month ago, we spent a couple weeks in Salinas and we’ve been living in Cuenca for over 2 years so we have a pretty good feel for the differences between these 3 popular expat destinations in Ecuador.
In this video, we compare the cost of living, conveniences, climate, critters and culture between Cuenca, Salinas and the Montañita area.
Hopefully you enjoyed our video, and if you did, please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE it, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel. ¡Muchas Gracias y Hasta Luego!
FREE Weekly Newsletter
Sign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:
This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Ep-174-Cuenca-or-the-Coast.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2019-12-18 14:00:362023-03-19 18:17:53Cuenca vs the Ecuador Coast Comparison: Cost of Living, Conveniences, Climate, Culture & Critters
Amelia and JP VLOG 163: This Salinas Ecuador Cost of Living 2019 video covers rental costs, living expenses, real prices for a variety of things, as well as some other common costs of living in Salinas. If you’re thinking about moving to Ecuador, check out our Ecuador Expat Info page for more videos and detailed blog posts.
House and condo rental costs vary widely based on:
High Season, Low Season or Holiday
Beachfront, Ocean View, Off-Beach
Chipipe, Malecón, Northeast Salinas Beach
Length of Lease
Square Feet
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Furnished, Semi-Furnished or Unfurnished
Year Built
Salinas Seasons
The low season in Salinas is from May through mid-December. The weather is cooler (60’s F) and it’s much cloudier. You may only see the sun for a few days per month.
The high season is from late-December through April. This is the warmest time of year (70’s – 90’s F) with a lot of sunny days. This is when all the Ecuadorians like to visit Salinas because the kids in the coastal towns have their summer break during these months. Rents are much more expensive during the high season. You can expect to pay about 50% more than the low season, on average.
The big holidays in Salinas are:
Christmas & New Years
Carnival
Cuenca Independence (the week of November 3rd)
During the holidays, the nightly and weekly rates can be double or even more from the low season rates.
Reasonable Housing Costs
Salinas is not for the overly budget conscious. If you’re looking to live as cheaply as possible, you might want to consider another beach town like Playas or Manta, or a popular mountain town like Cuenca, Loja, Vilcabamba, Cotacachi, etc. Salinas is one of the most expensive places to live in Ecuador.
In Salinas, you can find small fully furnished apartments and houses for rent starting in the $500 range depending on the factors listed above. However, a nice 2 bedroom 2 bath ocean view condo will likely cost $1,000 or more. Some of the really high-end places will cost over $2,000/month.
Unfurnished apartments and houses for rent are very difficult to find in Salinas because it’s such a popular short-term tourist destination. Lots of Ecuadorians own several properties in Salinas as investments that they rent out only during the high season to short-term stay tourists.
If you sign a 6 month lease for the low season, you’ll pay less per month than you will for a 12 month lease because that would include the highly lucrative holidays and high season months.
Finding Properties in Salinas Ecuador
We met with Amy Prisco, a gringo real estate agent, on our visit to Salinas to ask her lots of questions about living there. We plan to use her services when we search for a rental property if we decide to move there. You can search properties and contact her through her website: Ecuador-Realty.com.
Agents like Amy Prisco provide valuable boots-on-the-ground support for people looking for a rental house. They work on commission paid by the owner so there’s no cost to you for their services. In order for them to get paid, you need to work through them so if you find a property you like, send them the link and let them get the details, set the showing and work with the owner or listing agent.
Salinas Ecuador Cost of Food
We didn’t do a lot of cooking during our 10 day trip to Salinas, but we tried to get a good feel for the cost of food.
Salinas Ecuador Cost of Mercado Produce
The Salinas Mercado is MUCH smaller than the mercados in Cuenca and we’re told most people go to the mercado in La Libertad that’s about a 15 minute cab ride away when they need more than the basics.
On our first day in Salinas, we went to the mercado for some dinner ingredients: giant head of broccoli, 2 onions, a caveman carrot and a whole bulb of garlic. The total cost was $1.50, which we think is about the same as Cuenca.
On our second visit to the mercado, we bought: 7 bananas, 2 mangos, 1 pitahaya, 1 small cauliflower and 2 lbs of tomatoes. The total cost was $4.50, which is also about the same as Cuenca.
We eat a Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Diet, so we buy LOTS of produce at the mercado on Thursdays. Then we fill in the gaps with our local neighborhood fruit lady. We also chop up veggies and freeze them for quick oil-free stir fries on busy nights.
Here are some price comparisons to the Supermaxi El Vergel in Cuenca Ecuador. Each store was missing a few of the items so we couldn’t do a perfect comparison, but this will give you an idea for prices and how little they vary between Salinas and Cuenca.
Item
Qty
Cuenca Supermaxi
Salinas Supermaxi
Salinas Comisariato
Bananas
1 kg
$ 1.07
$ 1.07
$ 0.95
Broccoli
1 kg
$ 0.70
Cauliflower
Large
$ 0.64
Papaya
1 kg
$ 1.39
$ 1.05
Mango
1 kg
$ 1.43
$ 1.96
Almond Milk
946 ml
$ 3.51
$ 3.51
$ 3.38
Sweet & Coffee
400 g
$ 6.57
$ 5.87
Oats
850 g
$ 3.42
$ 3.42
Raisins
450 g
$ 2.76
$ 2.46
Natures Heart Cranberries
200 g
$ 3.39
$ 3.03
Pita Bread
1 pkg
$ 2.34
$ 1.76
Schullos Brown Rice
2 kg
$ 5.40
$ 5.40
Super Extra Brown Rice
2 kg
$ 2.85
$ 2.78
Lentils
500 g
$ 0.91
$ 0.90
Tofu
1 pkg
$ 2.50
$ 2.50
Pasta Sauce
490 g
$ 2.52
$ 2.59
Schullo Peanut Butter
200 g
$ 3.46
Don Intriago Peanut Butter
400 g
$ 2.89
Jif Peanut Butter
793 g
$ 9.13
$ 14.63
Tabasco Sauce
150 ml
$ 9.80
Los Andes Ketchup
550 g
$ 1.61
$ 1.96
The cost of meat and dairy are higher in Ecuador than in the States because it’s not heavily subsidized by government handouts and taxpayer dollars. Animal ag competes on a level playing field with other food industries so the costs reflect that.
We ate out quite a bit during our stay in Salinas. More than we intended to. And the cost of eating out in Salinas is a lot more than eating out in Cuenca.
You’ll also notice a big price difference between restaurants on the Malecón/beach vs off-Malecón. The Malecón prices were much closer to Denver prices while the off-Malecón prices were closer to typical Ecuadorian prices.
El Almuerzo at Bhakti Lunch Salinas
Most restaurants in Ecuador have a lunch special that ranges from $1.50 to $3.50. It’s called El Almuerzo (the lunch) and usually comes with 3 to 5 courses: juice/tea, salad, entree, rice, dessert & coffee.
Most almuerzos have chicken, fish or cow so we don’t eat those. However, the vegan almuerzo at Bhakti Lunch in Salinas was $3. Plus, the owners are amazing people who speak fluent English!
Oahu Açai Bar
We ate at Oahu Açai Bar for breakfast on the day of our Salinas Supermaxi Tour. It was AMAZING! I had the mango açai bowl and Amelia had the Spinach açai bowl. The cost of their bowls vary from $6.50 to $8.50 compared to the smoothie bowls at Zatua Miski in Cuenca that cost $4.50 and are just as good.
Luccy’s Mexican Grill
We have never eaten Mexican food in Cuenca so we don’t have a comparison, but Luccy’s Mexican Grill in Salinas was so delicious that we ate there for dinner 3 times! They have several vegetarian options that can be veganized and their chips & salsa are muy delicioso!
For dinner each night, we ordered roughly the same things: chips & salsa, 2 entrees, 2 wines and 2 Club Verdes. The cost was about $35 with a $2 tip. That’s about the same amount we spend at Paradise Indian Restaurant here in Cuenca for 2 entrees, rice, naan, 2 wines and 2 beers.
Mario’s Pizza
We had some delicious wood fired oven pizza at Mario’s on the Northeast end of Salinas. They have a vegetarian pizza piled high with veggies that we veganize by skipping the cheese. Their daily special is 2 medium pizzas for $20. That’s a little more than we pay for pizza in Cuenca.
Health Insurance Costs in Ecuador
You’ll need private health insurance before you apply for your Temporary Residency Visa. Once you have your visa and cedula (government issued ID card), you can get the cheaper IESS public health insurance.
Private Health Insurance Cuenca Ecuador
Just like in the States, there are several different health insurance companies to choose from. We used an insurance broker to help us pick the best plan for us.
We selected a health insurance plan through Confiamed that costs $156/month for both of us. A private health insurance plan allows us to go to the doctors and hospitals that we choose. Quality and convenience cost more, but that’s important to us.
If you would like us to connect you with our insurance agent, please drop us a note and we’ll send an email introduction.
Ecuador IESS Public Health Insurance
IESS is Ecuador’s single-payer social security and healthcare system. Once you have your temporary or permanent residency visa and your cedula, you can sign up for this health insurance.
IESS health insurance is cheaper than private insurance (for now), but you have to go to the IESS hospital and doctors. Since it’s their version of social security, it also means you’ll get some of it back when you retire if you’re still living here. The IESS plan is currently $77/month for each of our married friends who are in their 60’s.
After we moved into our rental house in Cuenca, we spent about $700 on startup costs for it. Even though it was fully furnished, it lacked a few essential things such as sheets, blankets, a nicer set of pots, a pressure cooker, coat rack, knives, heaters, etc. You may not need these things in a Salinas rental because they tend to be more fully stocked for the tourist crowd.
Transportation Costs in Salinas Ecuador
A bus ride costs 31 cents throughout Ecuador
Taxis in Salinas have a minimum fair of $1.00 compared to $1.50 in Cuenca. However, not a single cab driver turned the meter on when we got into their taxi so we negotiated the rate ahead of time. They all charged us $2 except for the first driver who gringoed us because we didn’t know what the minimum was. He charged us $2.50 for a $1 trip from the Salinas Supermaxi to the Paseo Mall.
For transportation options and costs between Cuenca and Salinas Ecuador, visit:
We pay for our own electricity for our rental in Cuenca, but it’s very common for that to be included in the cost of rent here. However, in Salinas, electricity is usually not included in long-term leases because it’s expensive (and optional) to run the air conditioners. Electricity is included in short-term nightly and weekly rentals.
There is no need for AC in Cuenca so this will be an additional cost of living in Salinas or any coastal, low altitude city.
Propane
In Cuenca, we spend less than $10/month for propane that we use for our hot water, gas stove/oven, and the clothes dryer. From our observations, propane isn’t used very much in Salinas. Instead, they use electricity for most of their energy needs. That means you’ll likely save money on propane but spend more on electricity.
Bottled Water
We drink the tap water in Cuenca (even though some people say not to), but the tap water in Salinas isn’t safe to drink for us gringos (or probably anyone). During our 10 days in Salinas, we used three 5 gallon bottles of water for drinking and cooking at $2 per bottle. That means you can expect to pay about $20/month for bottled water plus another $10-$20 for the tap water used for showers, laundry, etc.
Internet Access
We have Puntonet in Cuenca and that costs us $56/month for 50Mb up and down. The main provider in Salinas is Netlife and they charge $45/month for 50Mb so that’s a little cheaper.
Salinas Ecuador Quality of Life
We live a very comfortable middle class, low-stress life in Cuenca Ecuador for less than $2,000 per month. However, we expect it will cost about 25% more in Salinas, or $2,500/month, due to the higher rent, restaurant and electricity costs. The house we live in now in Cuenca would easily cost $1,200 or more to rent in Salinas so keep that in mind if you’re on a tight budget.
We’re going to feature other cities on the coast and throughout Ecuador in future videos so stay tuned for those. You might want to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you don’t miss them. And also, please consider joining our growing community of unconventional expats over on Patreon so we can afford to continue making these informational videos and blog posts.
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https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ep-163-Affordable-Beach-Life.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2019-11-12 13:58:312023-03-19 18:18:15Salinas Ecuador Cost of Living 2019 (w/ REAL Prices)
When we lived back in Denver, Colorado, food was one of our largest monthly expenses. Here in Cuenca Ecuador, we spend far less on food, for far higher quality. The fruits and veggies may be ugly, but they taste like they’re supposed to; like when I was a kid growing up in a small Kansas farmtown. They’re sweet, juicy and flavorful. And cheap!
This organic produce haul from Mercado 27 de Febrero cost us $15. Here’s what we bought: bananas, payapas, red cabbage, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, yukka, yellow sweet potatoes, onions, green beans, limes, apples, peaches and beets.
This haul would have easily cost us over $100 in the states. The papayas alone probably cost more than $15 back in Denver. We never bought them because they were so expensive.
We eat a Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Diet, so we buy LOTS of produce at the mercado on Thursdays. Then we fill in the gaps with our local neighborhood fruit lady. We also chop up veggies and freeze them for quick oil-free stir fries on busy nights.
Cuenca Ecuador Cost of Living – Monthly Living Expenses
Here are our Cuenca Ecuador cost of living expenses. This does not include medical expenses, travel costs or recreational activities. Those vary a lot so we opted to leave them out. We’ll do a video about our medical/dental experiences and costs in the future.
In addition to these monthly expenses, we spent about $700 on startup costs for the house. Even though it was fully furnished, it lacked a few essential things such as sheets, blankets, a nicer set of pots, a pressure cooker, coat rack, knives, heaters, etc.
Reasonable Housing Costs
Olesya rents a room in an Ecuadorian family’s house for $110/month. You can find fully furnished apartments and houses for rent in the $350+ range depending on the size. Unfurnished apartments and houses start as low as $250/month. We looked at a really nice, fully furnished 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment that was $450/mo and included all utilities.
IESS Public Health Insurance
IESS is Ecuador’s single-payer social security and healthcare system. Once you have your temporary or permanent residency visa and your cedula, you can sign up for this health insurance. It’s much cheaper than private insurance (for now), but you have to go to the IESS hospital and doctors. Since it’s their version of social security, it also means you’ll get some of it back when you retire if you’re still living here.
The IESS health insurance is currently $77/month for our married friends who are in their 60’s. We opted for a more expensive private insurance plan through Confiamed because of my health issues and because we wanted to be able to go to the doctors and hospitals we choose. Quality and convenience cost more, but that’s important to us.
If you would like us to connect you with our insurance agent, please drop us a note and we’ll send an email introduction.
Cuenca Ecuador Quality of Life
We live a very comfortable middle class, low-stress life here in Cuenca Ecuador. As you can see, it’s very easy for a couple to live on less than $2,000 per month here. A single person could easily live here on less than $1,200 per month. It really depends on the type of home you want and the discretionary expenses that are important to you.
Hopefully you enjoyed our video, and if you did, please LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE it, and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel. ¡Muchas Gracias y Hasta Luego!
FREE Weekly Newsletter
Sign-up for our FREE weekly newsletter and get immediate access to:
This newsletter covers topics we don’t share ANYWHERE ELSE! You’ll get all sorts of timely information about living abroad and expat-relevant news that might affect your plans to travel or move abroad.
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Ep-63-Cuenca-Ecuador-Rental-House-Tour.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-v4.pngJP Stonestreet2019-02-04 15:06:022023-03-18 10:37:28Cuenca Ecuador Rental House + Monthly Living Expenses
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If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Other cookies
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.