Hello everyone,
As every year, we invite you to share your experience regarding the cost of living in Ecuador, and if possible, in the specific region or city where you live. This will help members who are planning to relocate in Ecuador.
Here are some points to guide you; the idea is to provide average prices for each category:
When it comes to housing, what is the cost of renting or buying an apartment or house in Ecuador?
How much do you pay for public transports such as buses, subways, trains, trams, or taxis?
Could you share the average monthly cost of your grocery shopping?
What is the cost of health insurance? How much does a medical consultation cost in Ecuador?
What are the tuition fees for children?
What are the average monthly costs for electricity, gas, water, internet, and phone plans?
For leisure activities, how much does it cost monthly?
If there are other expenses you find relevant, please feel free to share them!
Thank you for your contribution.
Expat.com Team
Cost of living in Ecuador in 2024
Housing costs and food baskets in Ecuador.
Wondering about the rents in Ecuador in early 2024?
The rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a city center
is $357 (US) per month. For a similiar-type apartment
outside the center, the rent is $266 per month.
For a three-bedroom apartment in the center,
the average rent is $608 .. whereas a 3BR outside
the center is $474.
As for buying a home, the 2024 price per square meter
is $1,196 in a city center, $1,126 per square meter
outside the center. You do the math based on size
of the unit.
Keep in mind that these are averages .. whereas the
actual prices and rents will vary based on the neighborhood,
the distance to reliable transportation and the choice of
city. Prices in Cuenca will typically be higher than the
nationwide averages .. and prices in Nalgas del Cerdo,
Sucumbíos, will be lower.
---
We'll also let you do the math for a basket of foods
in Ecuador. Visit www.numbeo.com .. enter the
city of your choosing .. and select the food items
for your basket. Add up the prices for the individual
items in the basket and you should have a good idea
of your food shopping budget.
---
The Numbeo site collects and averages out
costs and prices by city based on input from
site participants who live in -- or have familiarity with --
the cost of living in places in Ecuador and other
countries.
Source... numbeo.com, as updated in January 2024.
Prices listed in this post are rounded up or down
to the nearest dollar.
@cccmedia Unfortunately, unlike the U.S., pricing on rent houses/apartments is wildly disorganized. And, the variety in quality varies just as much. Throw in 'gringo pricing' a very real issue, it's almost impossible to say quantitively what the pricing is.
We also have to add in aliquota, which for those unfamiliar is similar to HOA fees, that many apartments charge in addition to monthly rent to cover maintenance expenses, and depending on apartment can vary wildly. (Some will also try to 'trick' people with a low monthly rent but high aliquota).
Your prices seem pretty good - I have a 3BR 2BA apt outside the city center, paying $450/mo which includes aliquota. The one next door, a 2BR 2BA without windows, small but modern is going for $280 including aliquota. That said, around the corner from me, in a gringo-poplular building, one of the owners is asking $1000/mo for a somewhat similar apt to mine. Insane!
Usually the super low rents...$250, etc...are for places that some would be content with...ie lightbulb from the ceiling without fixture, extremely outdated, etc. The more modern stuff, easily available, is gonna cost a bit more.
For those looking, apartment buildings are mostly individually owned units in the building, unlike the states where the complex is owned by a single company. That adds to the difficulty, as each owner sets his own price when renting.
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