With the rise of remote work, the allure of living abroad has become even more attractive. Many people are venturing out of their home countries, seeking unique experiences and looking for places that offer a high quality of life at an affordable cost.
One of the locales that expats have been flocking to for years is Salinas, Ecuador. Known for its tropical charm, welcoming community, and affordability, Salinas offers an enchanting blend of lifestyle benefits that have been winning the hearts of expats from around the globe.
However, like every place, it comes with its own set of pros and cons.
The Alluring Pros of Salinas, Ecuador
As you consider your expat options, it’s essential to delve into the details of what makes each potential location unique. Here are several factors that have drawn expats from around the world to Salinas, Ecuador.
Affordable Housing: One of the first things that make Salinas appealing is the affordability of its housing market. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy, the prices are significantly lower than many popular expat locations. This makes Salinas an attractive place to call home.
Beaches: When you think of Ecuador, it’s hard not to imagine sun-drenched beaches and turquoise waters. Salinas is home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches, providing a stunning backdrop for expat living.
Local Shopping: For those who love to shop, Salinas offers a variety of options. From Mi Comisariato to SuperMaxi to numerous mom-and-pop shops, you’ll find everything you need. The nearby commercial area, La Libertad, provides even more shopping and healthcare options.
Variety of Restaurants and Coffee Shops: Foodies and coffee lovers will delight in the variety of eateries available. From local fare to international cuisine, there’s something for every palate.
Walkability and Weather: Salinas is a great place for those who love to get around on foot. The weather is generally fantastic, which makes walking both a convenient and pleasant way to navigate the town.
Cleanliness and Natural Beauty: One of the attractions of Salinas is La Chocolatera, a local natural gem where you can take in the views, surf with the sea lions, and lose yourself in the majesty of nature.
Accessibility to Guayaquil: Being somewhat close to the major city of Guayaquil provides convenient access to an international airport and more healthcare options. You can reach Guayaquil by private driver, buseta, or CLP bus in less than 2 hours.
Expat Community: Salinas has a vibrant and active expat community. From meetups and activities to volunteer opportunities, there are many ways to get involved and meet like-minded individuals. The recent influx of younger families has further diversified the community.
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The Drawbacks of Salinas Living
Despite all these compelling reasons to love Salinas, it’s worth noting a few drawbacks that some expats experience.
Vacation Town Dynamics: Salinas is a popular vacation spot, which means it can get quite busy during weekends and holidays. For those seeking tranquillity all year round, this could pose a challenge.
On the flip side, once all the tourists leave and go back home, it can feel like a ghost town. A lot of restaurants and shops close during the off-season or during the week when no tourists are in town.
Limited Activities: Some expats feel that Salinas lacks a wide variety of things to do. This could be a drawback for those who prefer a bustling city environment or an array of structured or cultural activities.
Airport Access: While Salinas is close to Guayaquil, its local airport is currently closed for commercial traffic. There are ongoing discussions about reopening it, which would provide more convenient flight options to Quito.
Safety: Since the end of the pandemic, crime in Salinas has increased, although it’s mostly theft and moto robberies.
Desert Microclimate: Salinas is characterized by a desert microclimate. This results in a somewhat dusty environment and less green space than you might find in other coastal towns.
Final Thoughts
Despite these drawbacks, it’s clear to see why many expats have fallen in love with Salinas. As with any destination, the key is to visit, explore, and decide if the lifestyle aligns with your own preferences.
Ultimately, it’s about finding the place that feels like home to you, where the pros outweigh the cons.
Watch Our Video About The Pros and Cons of Salinas, Ecuador
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
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Imagine waking up each morning to the sound of waves crashing against the shore, just steps away from your doorstep.
The Ecuadorian beach city of Salinas, located just 90 minutes from the Guayaquil airport, is a popular destination for tourists and expats alike.
Salinas is a great place to call home, offering a range of properties with excellent amenities to suit any lifestyle.
Whether you’re looking for a single-family home with a spacious yard, or a modern apartment in the heart of the city, Salinas has something for everyone. The area is also attracting growing interest from real estate investors.
Thanks to Amy Prisco we were able to take a tour of 4 spacious and affordable condos in Salinas, and we were blown away.
All 4 condos are within walking distance of the popular Salinas Malecón, Salinas Beach, and Chipipe Beach and are listed for less than $175K, with one even priced under $100K!
The city is well known for its parks and recreation areas, offering a variety of outdoor activities for residents to enjoy.
Additionally, the local schools are highly rated, making it a great place for families. The local shopping and dining options are abundant, and the city is also home to many cultural events and festivals throughout the year.
With so much to offer, it’s no surprise that Salinas is a popular destination for those looking for a new place to call home.
Watch Our Real Estate Tour Video from Salinas Ecuador
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Get the Free Move Abroad Checklist
Enter your email address here to get our Unconventional Newsletter with all sorts of timely information about living abroad, online income and achieving financial independence.
You'll also get immediate access to our Move Abroad Checklist that will walk you through the process of wrapping up your life at home and moving to a new country.
PLUS, there are several other free perks in our Live Abroad Toolkit we think you'll enjoy!
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Salinas-Ecuador-Real-Estate-Tour.png7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-Header-v2.pngJP Stonestreet2022-02-10 21:00:142023-06-11 15:14:22Salinas Ecuador Real Estate Tour (Condos Under $175K)
This Salinas Ecuador Cost of Living video covers rental costs, living expenses, real prices for a variety of things, as well as some other common costs of living in Salinas.
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.
Watch Our Video About The Cost of Living in Salinas, Ecuador
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Get the Free Move Abroad Checklist
Enter your email address here to get our Unconventional Newsletter with all sorts of timely information about living abroad, online income and achieving financial independence.
You'll also get immediate access to our Move Abroad Checklist that will walk you through the process of wrapping up your life at home and moving to a new country.
PLUS, there are several other free perks in our Live Abroad Toolkit we think you'll enjoy!
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Salinas-Ecuador-Chipipe-Beach.jpg600800JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-Header-v2.pngJP Stonestreet2019-11-12 13:58:312023-06-11 15:44:44Salinas Ecuador Cost of Living (w/ REAL Prices)
One of our awesome viewers, Alex from Toronto, offered us his AirBnB condo in Edificio Bahía Chipipe. It’s located just south of the Salinas Malecón on La Playa de Chipipe. In exchange for Alex’s generocity, we offered to create this video so he can use it to promote his condo.
Watch Our Video About Our Luxury AirBnB Condo Tour in Salinas, Ecuador
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Get the Free Move Abroad Checklist
Enter your email address here to get our Unconventional Newsletter with all sorts of timely information about living abroad, online income and achieving financial independence.
You'll also get immediate access to our Move Abroad Checklist that will walk you through the process of wrapping up your life at home and moving to a new country.
PLUS, there are several other free perks in our Live Abroad Toolkit we think you'll enjoy!
We enjoy showing what condos, houses and rental places look like in Ecuador to help bust the myth that Ecuador is a 3rd World Country. While there are some low income areas (just like those in the States), Ecuador has a thriving middle class and a well established upper class.
That means there are lots of places to stay that cater to a higher end clientele like this beautiful AirBnB located just a short walk from the Salinas Malecon. It’s a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom with an amazing view of the ocean through the wall of sliding glass doors. We thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the sofa with the doors fully open listening to the waves crash against the shore!
If you would like a discountoff your first AirBnB stay, click this link and we’ll also get a credit.
Mario’s Pizza is located a block from the AirBnB featured in this video.
And here’s the link to the AirBnB condo from our tour. We paid $48/night, but that will vary depending on when and how long you stay: Oceanfront Condo Salinas Ecuador.
Watch Our AirBnB Tour in Salinas, Ecuador
DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING WE GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH OUR LINKS. THERE IS NO COST TO YOU AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL EVEN GET A DISCOUNT BY USING OUR LINK. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Get the Free Move Abroad Checklist
Enter your email address here to get our Unconventional Newsletter with all sorts of timely information about living abroad, online income and achieving financial independence.
You'll also get immediate access to our Move Abroad Checklist that will walk you through the process of wrapping up your life at home and moving to a new country.
PLUS, there are several other free perks in our Live Abroad Toolkit we think you'll enjoy!
https://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Salinas-Ecuador-AirBnB-Tour.jpg7201280JP Stonestreethttps://ameliaandjp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Amelia-And-JP-Logo-Header-v2.pngJP Stonestreet2019-10-27 14:00:292023-06-11 15:44:46Salinas Ecuador AirBnB Tour + A Walk on Salinas Beach
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