Living in Ecuador

"1. Learn some basic spanish before coming here. 2. Have a source of income to sustain you, don't expect to work to survive. 3. Keep an open mind and expect things to be very different from home. 4. Come for 3 to 4 weeks to see if you will like the country and city before making permanent immigration plans. 5. Have great patience and don't expect the people to act in a manner to which you are accustomed. Things here take time. 6. Remember you are a guest in their country so be respective of their customs, If you don't know what is expected-- ASK. Don't demand anything. They wll be nice if you are. 7. Always check your passport for visas and date stamps. They have been known to make errors on dates--quite often! 8. Be flexible, things are not under your control. Have Fun," wrote one member in Bahia de Caracruz.

"I have a close friend who is going to move here. He loved his visit here a couple of months ago. I told him that the culture is very different form the US but that is true anywhere in the world. The only way to learn is through immersion into the life here. I took a job consulting for the municipio, another side task of teaching the local kids in our barrio English and I applied to teach at the local University. The more active I am, the faster I get what is going on here. Ibarra is no Quito; it is like most other towns in Ecuador, just a little larger at 150,000 people. My Spanish is constantly improving. Our farm is becoming more productive, our list of freinds is growing. But it all takes lots of time and personal investment of yourself," remarked one expat who made the move to Ibarra.

"There is an expat community in Vilcabamba. Its membership varies in variety and number. People arrive people depart. Some are in the town, visible every day, some come in only on market Sunday, some might go months without setting foot in the town. Come for a visit. Stay more than a couple of days to get the feel of the town. Have a taxi give you the tour. You'll have a better idea of the place and options for living there. Look at San Pedro and Malacatos as well, two towns near Vilcabamba. These are worthwhile places to look at," explained one expat living in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.

"Be prepared for pollution and robbery problems. Quito also has a large traffic issue and makes it hard to get around at busy hours of the day. The altitude is sometimes hard for people with asthma or the elderly. In general, it's still a small city and has a friendly welcoming attitude. It's easy to get away on weekends and go to the mountains for fresh air. The night life is fun and exciting in the mariscal area. I would research the city really well before renting or buying. Find the safer neighborhoods like Quito, Tenis or Gonzalez Suarez where there are many other expats," said one expat in Quito.

"Get on online forum and arrange to meet one of the local expats. Ask them about local group and activities. Go online and Google groups for your interests and Ecuador, example pesca deportiva grupos Ecuador (fishing group Ecuador)," wrote a member in Ecuador.

"Weekly expat Fridays at 5, currently held at Sakura Restaurant on 3 de Noviembre in front of the Tomebamba River at the bottom of the Escalinata," commented one expat who made the move to Cuenca.

"There are now two expat groups which meet in Cuenca each Friday night at 5 p.m. One is at Zoes and the other at the Ecualyptus. From here you can meet and greet other expats and then extend you network," remarked one expat living in Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Expats living in Ecuador often join local clubs, attend cultural events, and join social media networks centered around activities they love. Expatriates may also join online communities specific to the country where they live, such as Ecuador Expats Online, which is a popular forum. Furthermore, connecting with other local English-speaking expats through local churches, booksellers, and language classrooms can provide an excellent way to meet people from all over the world. Finally, expats may join outdoor activities such as hiking, diving, and mountaineering, which not only provide an opportunity meet each other, but also Experience the beauty of Ecuador," wrote one member in Ecuador.

"Use your skills to get some form of employment. Consult, teach, help with a multitude of civic type organizations. Immerse yourself into the life," remarked one expat who made the move to Ibarra.

"Ibarra is the capitol of Imbabura and as such has many lawyers in the area but it is primarily agricultural with a lot of commerce going on. It is the largest of the cities in this province and offers a lot of night life, greater restaurant selection and a pretty progressive city leadership," said one expat in Ibarra.

"Cuenca has a lot going for it as far as the arts. There are always free concerts that you can attend in the city. Art festivals, Choirs, Orchestras you name it. This is a very family oriented society and life revolves around the family. My local business colleagues are always spending time with their families on the weekends and we should learn from them. They have a wonderful network of family around them. Religious events are a time for parades, church and other activities," said one expat who made the move to Cuenca.

"This is a tourist town that only has tourists occasionally. Most people do menial jobs," explained one expat living in Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador.

"Yes, there is some crime in Ecuador. Though it is not as prevalent as in some other Latin American countries, crime does occur, including theft, pickpocketing, assault and mugging. Additionally, there is organized crime related to international drug trafficking. Violent crime tends to be concentrated in some of the larger cities and tourists should exercise caution when travelling in certain areas," remarked one expat living in Ecuador.

"Not a lot of crime in Cuenca but people need to us common since living here as they would in any city," wrote one member in Cuenca.

"Vilcambamba is a small village, now overrun with Americans, a ghetto that is a mugging and break-in mecca. It seems only yesterday that Vilcabamba was a somnolent little town with great weather..not worth more than a drive-through just before Xmas when the trees turn golden, with local nutty stories the locals used to tell wildly gullible tourists. Now known as such as an expat enclave it has attracted sorts like bees to honey. But expats bring their culture and guns with them and now it is a focus of much crime. It is no longer "Ecuadorian", per se. It is a colony. Lots of break-ins and muggings are the current reports. These events soon become armed on both sides," remarked one expat who made the move to Vilcabamba.

"Come on over to Malacatos and stay! I have had ZERO crime issues in my neighborhood as we all take good care of each other and watch out for one another! I feel completely safe and live in a beautiful home up on the mountain with wonderful neighbors," explained one expat living in Malacatos, Ecuador.

"¡Cuidado! That's the watchword. For many expats, unfamiliar with the language and customs of a foreign country, the experience of living in a "foreign" city or town can be disquieting and possibly downright scary. Learning the language, getting to know the people and customs ( and not locking oneself away in an English-speaking compound ), and practicing common sense regarding personal security can go a long way in ensuring a peaceful and pleasant life in that country. Yes, Ecuador has changed in the past few years, due to the major influx of Venezuelan refugees, a stagnant economy, and the proliferation of Mexican and Colombian drug mafias. There are areas in my city where I no longer feel comfortable walking at night. I find myself much more cautious than when I first began to live here full-time ... but of course, I'm 11 years older now, and aware of my physical limitations. Still, I wouldn't trade my life or lifestyle for all the money in the world or all the tea in China. For those of you living here, planning to move here, or just wanting to visit our beautiful and diverse country ... Come enjoy the life and lifestyle. Have fun! Love and laugh! But ... take the rose-colored glasses off and ... ¡CUIDADO," said one expat in Machala.

"I believe that the people here are warm and accepting. I certainly have not come across any hostilities to expats. They are very eager to be of helping nature," wrote a member in Cuenca.

"Highly recommend this wonderful school. They tailor their program to meet the needs of the individual child," commented one expat when asked about Colegio Menor San Francisco de Quito (CMSFQ) in Cumbaya.

"I have meet folks who live on $1200/mo including rent. Our lifestyle is more like $1200-1500 and we own our place. That includes eating out, 2 grocery runs/month, beer deliveries and biweekly massages for two," remarked one expat living in Manglaralto, Ecuador.

"The cost of living in Ecuador varies and depends on what city or region you are located in. Generally speaking, daily expenses can be kept low if you are living outside of the major cities. Groceries, transportation, and rent are generally much cheaper than in other countries. However, prices for imported goods, luxury items, and eating out in restaurants can be more expensive," wrote one member in Ecuador.

"I've lived here for five-plus years now, on the flanks of Volcan in Cotacachi where my Ecuadorian wife and I have built a home on 1000 sq. meters of property. The cost of living, which I estimate at about 10 – 15% of costs in Canada makes it possible for us to live well on my meager pension and maintain my investment portfolio for travel and splurges. I am a numbers guy by nature and keep a running spreadsheet of daily expenses, which since we are not even close to rich is necessary to try to control rampant spending. I'll make a list of the basics (more or less Fixed expenses): Phone: $30 for one unlimited cell phone with data. Internet: $22/month for good service of 30MBS fiberoptic. Electricity: Average of $25/month. Water, good clean potable water: amazing but true, $1 (one dollar/month.) Full medical coverage including most prescription drugs, through IESS, Ecuadorian medicare: $90/month for the two of us. Property tax: For whatever reason it has never exceeded $3/year. When we paid rent, before we built, it was $125/month for a two-bedroom apartment.. Our two-bedroom 2.5 bath home with big patio and carport cost around $35k to build, with me working along a team of five 'albaniles" masons who I paid $100/week for five long days of hard work, no coffee breaks, usually no lunch break as they eat while they worked and worked like demons with no pushing. The work ethic here is astounding. Food is divided into two catagories. Groceries (supermarket and local markets): Around $250/month for what we prepare at home and we eat extremely well. Dining out, a couple of times a week we have a (usually shared) meal out. About $80/month or less. The two of us can almost always eat very well for under $6 for both. No added tax, no tips. What you see on the menu is what you pay. Period. We spend hardly anything on alcohol so that's not relevant since we might have a drink once or twice a month and never out. We have a car, which are extremely expensive to buy but not too bad to maintain. Mechanics are good, lots of competition, and often work for an hour or more for $10. Or they say forget it if the job is easy, or they ask for a couple of bucks (for a cola). Nobody that I know who drives has automobile insurance. Or homeowners insurance for that matter. I've never figured out what the 'bomberos' firemen do all day. Reminds me of the old ads for the Maytag repairmen. Everything is built of concrete, cement blocks or bricks. Tile surfaces and concrete floors and ceilings. Food in the markets, fresh, wonderful fruit and vegetables are 10% to 20% of what they cost in the north, for me British Columbia, Canada. I find myself getting pissy if avocados cost more than 3/$. Mangos 2 or 3/$. Lettuce is $0.50 head, as are broccoli and fresh greenbeans. Vine-ripe tomatoes are usually$0.10/each. bananas $0.02/each, Onions and bell peppers are often 6-10/$. Eggs are high now, at $3.50-$4/for a flat (cubeta) of 30. usually in the fresh produce world prices are given in a how many for a dollar. Fresh meat is sold by the pound. Beef is about $1.50-2.00/lb. Pork is $2-2.50/lb for any cut. whole chicken costs about $1.25/lb, and pieces (legs and thighs, or breasts are around $150/lb. I could go on, but you get the idea. Come find out for yourself," commented one expat who moved to Cotacachi.

"If you live like the Ecuadorians live, it is very cheap as the basic salary per month is $425. Costs go up the more you live like an expat and the closer you get to approximating your same lifestyle in the USA or Canada. General rule of thumb is if the locals use it, there will be an inexpensive option. If not, it is expensive. If you can find it, Campbells Chicken soup in red and white label is about $3. Apple pie filling (can of fruit) is $11. Note that basic salary here is $425 per month. Utilities like electric (appox $20-25 per month, water $10 per month, gas is propane tanks, they bring a replacement tank into your house for $3.25 and take away the empty. Cell service about $25, internet about $35-40. Total utilities about $100 per month. Diesel is $1.70 per gallon. Gym memberships are often pricier than US, same with dry cleaning and laundry service," said one expat.

"We have found the cost of living to be reasonable, especially foods at the market, on the streetsides. Tia Food stores are a little more. Supermaxi in Loja is a good place to shop occasionally to stock up on basic items and for some variety. Clothing is higher in comparison it seems, but when they have there "holidays" with people filling the streets to market their goods, then is the time to get good deals," commented one expat living in Catamayo and Loja, Ecuador.

"There is a wide variety of housing available on the Coast. In my little stretch of beach, expats can purchase a home in a gated community starting at just $125K and going up to $285K for an amazing 3 bedroom home with a pool. Rentals are anywhere from $600 and up depending upon amenities. Taxis and food are inexpensive and good," remarked one expat living in Rio Chico.

"The cost of living down here is a fifth to a quarter of what it is up north if you are at all frugal. This from twelve years of experience in the south, Cuenca and Vilcabamba. Frugal, doesn't mean not spending money, it means spending it with maximum effect. Finding cheaper ways to accomplish the same end. Nothing wrong with being frugal, or cheap.....unless it causes pain. The current minimum level of income for a retiree here in Ecuador is $1200. It was less but went up. That should be plenty down here. The folks who come down BECAUSE it is cheaper don't last. I don't know that many people do come for the cost of living. The cultural hurdles filter the candidates. More than half leave before five years in spite of the cost of living. For emotional reasons. The only real way to answer this question is for you to come down, for at least the 3 months, more is better, and see. You can sample a hundred expats and come up with an idea. The quality of our lives is emotional, not financial," said one expat living in Ecuador.

"We have a hiking group on Facebook called Vilca Hikers. Every week we explore a trail in our area and other villages around. People also enjoy horseback riding, bicycle riding, tennis, yoga, games like bridge and Texas 42 and dining outside in local restaurant gardens," said one expat.

"The beaches are the main attraction in this area. You can participate in a friendly game of soccer, beach comb for shells, go fishing, paragliding or relax in a hammock on the beach," commented one expat living in San Jacinto, Ecuador.

" Do not come to Cuenca looking for beach weather; mostly it is cooler here. We are now in the Spring-Summer season now. It goes to 70's during the day, but down to 50 at night. Now it is 58. No snow, and you're not scraping ice off your window, but the weather is mild spring," said one expat living in Ecuador.

"Just about perfect most of the year; May through November the average day time temperature is 78 degrees, low 60s. at night. The Pacific Ocean supplies a delightful breeze on most days and sunshine. January through April, hottest time of the year; temperature can reach upper 80s during the day and low 70s at night, rain normally occurs overnight and occasionally throughout the day," mentioned one expat inSan Jacinto.

"The climate is hot and dry. It is the rainy season right now so it rains off and on every day," commented one expat who moved to San Clemente, Ecuador.

"Weather: This is a question with lots of wildly different answers! For example, on the flip side, we adore not needing weather aids, like air conditioning or heating almost all year round. We needed both in Canada. We had a Caribbean villa for 11 years and it could get too hot during many months with the Leeward breeze was absent...just before the hurricane season. (ugh). In Cuenca, we sleep in our birthday suits (BLUSH!) with a snuggly Duvet and mostly wear short sleeve t-shirts during the day..all year long in Cuenca. A sweater, a shawl or a light leather jacket when dining out at night. However, the locals will wear ski-jackets during the day at 70F! I guess it depends on where you grew up," remarked one expat living in Cuenca.

"Rather warm, sometimes hot, but we have enjoyed warm after so many decades of cold in Minnesota. The rainy season has seemed long a few of the nine years we have been here, and it lasts nearly six months, (Nov. to April)," commented one expat.

"Good prices for eating out! Variety in both Catamayo and Loja. We can eat a very healthy, good meal for $5.00 in Catamayo. We have not participated in nightlife much just to go out to eat at different restaurants where sometimes you might have someone serenade you at your table," remarked one expat in Catamayo and Loja.

"There are about 30 restaurant in a town of 5.500 people. Many choices and types of food, from local Ecuadorian to Turkish and American/European foods," wrote one expat living in Vilcabamba.

"One of the most popular restaurants in Ecuador is La Choza de Laurel, located in Quito. This restaurant is known for its traditional Ecuadorian cuisine, such as ceviche, empanadas, and llapingachos. The restaurant also offers a variety of seafood dishes, as well as a selection of international dishes. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive. Another popular restaurant in Ecuador is El Pobre Diablo, located in Cuenca. This restaurant is known for its traditional Ecuadorian dishes, such as ceviche, tamales, and seco de chivo. The restaurant also offers a variety of international dishes, such as Italian and Mexican cuisine. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive. Finally, La Casa de la Abuela is a popular restaurant in Quito. This restaurant is known for its traditional Ecuadorian dishes, such as ceviche, tamales, and seco de chivo. The restaurant also offers a variety of international dishes, such as Italian and Mexican cuisine. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive," commented one expat who moved to Ecuador.

"No nightlife and as I stated previously, anything from local mom and pop restaurants to more foreign type. All very affordable though either way you choose," said one expat.

"We have organic market on Saturday and general market on Sunday. You can get fresh produce, meat and dairy. During the week many local shops offer fresh fruit, veggies, meat and other products, very plentiful. In Loja there is a supermarket called Supermaxi for more commercial and international products," mentioned one expat inVilcabamba.

"Local people shop at the local mom and pop stores. Expats travel to Bahia de Caraquez 45 minutes away or to Portoviejo 45 minutes away. There are big modern grocery stores there that have just about everything one would be used to back home. The prices are not bad either. There is also a large weekly vegetable market in Charapoto 10 minutes away every Sunday. In addition, there are trucks loaded with fruits and veggies that drive around town just about every day," commented one expat who moved to San Clemente, Ecuador.

"Local Tiendas sell almost everything that you need for your pantry. Additionally, there are markets and vegetable/fruit trucks soliciting door to door. The local fishermen sell their fresh catch daily and deliver upon request. There is a large market on Sunday in Charapoto, 10 minutes away via bus or taxi," remarked one expat living in San Jacinto.

"Local shops are terrific for produce, meats and most every day needs. It's like shopping in the US years ago with one shop just for meat and another for fish, etc. Many expats make the trek into Salinas to shop at the big box grocery stores or the mall at least once a month for those hard to get items," commented one expat.

"It appears that most of the people like to shop on the special marketing days where people come from miles around to show their wares. As I mentioned, Tia has some good buys (specials) and SuperMaxi is great up in Loja," said one expat living in Catamayo and Loja.

"The latest residency visas are a two year temporary deal that can then be exchanged for a permanent one. Rules for qualifying stayed the same as when I came 3 years ago, but the temporary visa was a new idea instituted in 2017. The requirements of background checks and proof of ability to support yourself are pretty straightforward. Canadians have had good luck at getting visas before they arrive but most expats I know have used an expediting service or lawyer since the actual rules can change," mentioned an expat living in Rio Chico.

"As can be expected, this is a whole new experience in itself. My wife is Ecuadorian so the process should have been easy. It was not. I visited numerous offices in several cities and finally got my visa after four months. All I can say is bring your patience and be prepared to deal with zero logic," said an expat in San Clemente.

"Also, they may tell you to submit documents electronically but you WILL need them in paper versions. Visas are now electronic but Immigration requested a paper copy of my visa (and their ministry issued it!) which was NOT listed as one of the documents needed. You actually rarely use your visa once you obtain a cedula (ID card) based on the visa, not even for reentry to Ecuador once you have a resident visa. USA passport and cedula are all needed, except for at times, covid vaccine card. I took a photo of my cedula side by side with covid vaccine card and use the photo when needed. Bring extra original documents like birth certificates and marriage licenses and background checks, at least 3 originals of each and apostilled. Your background checks will be good until you return to USA, obviously you are not committing crimes there while you are living here. Expensive and difficult to get more documents while you are here sent from USA," remarked one expat in Ecuador.

" We got private insurance during pandemic because the hospitals were full and one family member (Ecuadorian citizen) had to go to the hospital but there was no room. Ended up in a private clinic for 10 days at $1000 per day. You need to assess your risks. We got $30k private insurance each for $100 per month. Family member was young and healthy 30s but imagine if he had to be there for a month. Normal hospital bills are not bad, but with covid. I think the private clinics can charge what they want. Your visa requires medical insurance," said one expat.

"Do get IESS insurance. It will cover your coasts in the event of an accident or illness. As of July 2017, IESS will require payment on verified income, closing a loophole that allowed payment on claimed income. The obligated amount is 17.6% of the monthly verified income and 2.4% for each additional dependent. As an example, an expat on a limited pension of $800 a month would pay $140.80 A retired married couple living on their $1200 a month pay. $240. ," commented one expat living in Montanita, Ecuador.

" I am convinced that health insurance is a scam and that the cost of medical care is a scam in the USA. It has been proven to me by my experiences and the experiences of others in Ecuador and throughout Mexico, Central and South America. The Allopathic medical system has the worst record in losing patients to life threatening diseases, but the best records in trama cases where you have to air lift a patient to a hospital. I will only opt for Natural healing methods, which really work. I have also seen in the rural areas, a free health clinic with Allopathic medical doctors offering 24 hour service 7 days a week, being ignored by the local population, except in trauma cases. These rural folks go to their local healers and pay a very low fee for herbal and other healing preparations. Why? Because their experience is that the herbal preparations work and also have no side effects. They therefore do not opt for health insurance. ," remarked one expat living in Cuenca.

"Healthcare and health insurance in Ecuador can be expensive, depending on the type of coverage and services needed. Generally, public healthcare is available at a lower cost than private healthcare, but the quality of care may not be as high. Private health insurance can be expensive, but it can provide access to higher quality care and more specialized services. Additionally, many employers offer health insurance plans to their employees, which can help to reduce the cost of healthcare," said one expat living in Ecuador.

"I relocated to Ecuador April 2022. On May 2nd 2022 I woke up with slight left hand arm pain. As the day progresses I became nauseated and dizzy. On the 3rd of May I had a buddy take me to a local clinic. They were impressive and within an hour diagnosed me with onset of heart issue and suggested I see cardiologist. Being as I was here only 3 weeks in Ecuador I personally decided to return to Houston Texas immediately and flew back. On the 4th of May I was admitted to Memorial Herman Hospital Woodlands Texas. I received a Quintuple Bypass (CABG) Graft the following day. I recuperated 7 weeks and returned to Ecuador. I fly back to Houston every 6 months and see my Cardiologist for exams and stress test. I've talked to expats who've had good results from Cardiologist in Ecuador and one even had a double bypass surgery in private hospital and is quite happy. I personally carry no private insurance. I'm okay with their health personal they diagnosed my health issues very impressively. Would I go through major health surgery in Ecuador. No. Not unless it was life threatening. But that's just me. ," mentioned one expat inEcuador.