Pros and Cons of Living in Ecuador

Last updated on Jul 27, 2022

Summary: Pros and Cons of Living in Ecuador. Expats, Retirees and Digital Nomads talk about the pros and cons of living in Ecuador

What are the pros and cons of living in Ecuador?

Expats, digital nomads and retirees living in Ecuador responded:

"My wife loves Catamayo and would move there in a nano-second if we did not have family, property, and obligations here. Catamayo is warmer and dryer than Loja, Vilcabamba, or Malacatos ( although the latter two are a bit sunnier than Loja ) and all of the above are less damp and rainy than Cuenca. Catamayo is only about a 35-minute bus ride into Loja, so you can get your big city amenity fix or simply go shopping - Prices in Loja are much better than in Quito, Cuenca, or Guayaquil ! Also, because there aren't a ton of gringos living in Catamayo - unlike Vilca - the real estate prices are considerably lower. Go and explore for yourself then decide. There are several nice hotels with very reasonable prices that you can stay in and use for a "home base" as you explore the entire Loja area," explained one expat living in Catamayo.

"it is a nice walking city because there are NO hills and lots to see. Ocean and beaches near by, weather is very consistent, very few insects and the people are great. There is no airport nearby, closest is in Guayaquill, therefore i met very few expats in my daily life. The city, pop of 250k+-, is very clean," said another in Machala.

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What do expats in Ecuador appreciate most about the local culture?

"Lots of wonderful historical stuff, tons of holidays here, religious and historical, all celebrated to the max in different ways. Indigenous activities and celebrations. We have not even started on expat stuff because my hubby is Ecuadorian and has youngish cousins here in 30s. They always have plans to go and do things," said another expat in Ecuador.

"Can you deposit the $42,500 in a cooperative and do the people like $2.00 bills. As an aside—I heard that it rains most afternoons in Cuenca which has the most English speaking Ecuadoreans and the most expats from North America," remarked another in Ecuador.

What do expats find most challenging?

"The language. There was a Tsunami alert the second week I was here. I did not have computer access, and air raid sirens were going off. Trucks with loudspeakers were in the streets, with bullhorns making announcements in Spanish, but my skills were not strong enough to make them out. I did not know what was happening and that was scary. That has eased as I"ve made friends and established a safety net," remarked another expat in Manta.

"How normal it is to expect or to offer a bribe. The level of corruption is so widespread that is just hard to digest at times. Also, some people don't perceive new methods as improvements but rather as challenges to their authority. some don't accept constructive criticism," explained one expat living in Guayaquil.

About the Author

Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.