Ecuador is known for its natural beauty friendly people great medical facilities
Ecuador is known for its natural beauty friendly people great medical facilities

and reasonable cost of living.
and reasonable cost of living.

Nestled in the Andes Mountains, Cuenca with its
Nestled in the Andes Mountains, Cuenca with its

charming colonial architecture and 70-degree year-round temperatures is
charming colonial architecture and 70-degree year-round temperatures is

attracting people from all over the world to make their home here. An average
attracting people from all over the world to make their home here. An average

budget for a short term resident, staying less than three months, renting a private
budget for a short term resident, staying less than three months, renting a private

room in the city center, and eating out most meals is less than $1,200 per month.
room in the city center, and eating out most meals is less than $1,200 per month.

Expats living long-term in Cuenca report living an upper-middle class lifestyle
Expats living long-term in Cuenca report living an upper-middle class lifestyle

for around nine hundred and forty dollars a month per person.
for around nine hundred and forty dollars a month per person.

Coming up, we'll hear from local residents about their cost of living in Cuenca Ecuador.
Coming up, we'll hear from local residents about their cost of living in Cuenca Ecuador.

it's a lot less than it is in the States I'd say most people's budgets are
it's a lot less than it is in the States I'd say most people's budgets are

anywhere from 15 to maybe $2,000 a month per couple, but there are a lot of people
anywhere from 15 to maybe $2,000 a month per couple, but there are a lot of people

that live live on a lot less. You can find apartments for three, four hundred
that live live on a lot less. You can find apartments for three, four hundred

dollars a month and you can pay as much as you know $1,200 a month.
dollars a month and you can pay as much as you know $1,200 a month.

Same thing with houses.
Same thing with houses.

buying a home in Ecuador is a fairly simple process.
buying a home in Ecuador is a fairly simple process.

for as little as sixty-five thousand dollars you can find a two-bedroom condo near
for as little as sixty-five thousand dollars you can find a two-bedroom condo near

shopping areas and a short cab ride from El Centro. One hundred and twenty
shopping areas and a short cab ride from El Centro. One hundred and twenty

thousand dollars can buy a modern three-bedroom three-bath home with
thousand dollars can buy a modern three-bedroom three-bath home with

high-end finishes. Our apartment is the central courtyard with a glass roof over
high-end finishes. Our apartment is the central courtyard with a glass roof over

it which we're using as our living room and dining room, and then we have rooms
it which we're using as our living room and dining room, and then we have rooms

off the sides. We have a really big kitchen and a salon that is my husband's
off the sides. We have a really big kitchen and a salon that is my husband's

study in our TV room. We have a bedroom that has walk-in closet and a bathroom,
study in our TV room. We have a bedroom that has walk-in closet and a bathroom,

and then another bedroom which is my craft room that also has a walk-in
and then another bedroom which is my craft room that also has a walk-in

closet and a bathroom. And we have a third, they call them social bathrooms
closet and a bathroom. And we have a third, they call them social bathrooms

here, it's just like a half bath in the United States. And then off that is a
here, it's just like a half bath in the United States. And then off that is a

storage closet, a bodega for us. So that's our house and it's it's a pretty
storage closet, a bodega for us. So that's our house and it's it's a pretty

cool house and and they did hand-painted finish work on the corbels. They reused
cool house and and they did hand-painted finish work on the corbels. They reused

the original wood in the doors. They saved as much of the original structure
the original wood in the doors. They saved as much of the original structure

as they could. They handmade wrought iron inserts for the transoms above the doors.
as they could. They handmade wrought iron inserts for the transoms above the doors.

And for this we pay $450 a month, rent. This is our third year here, and it may
And for this we pay $450 a month, rent. This is our third year here, and it may

go up another $50 or whatever, but when we first moved in it was $450, they said they
go up another $50 or whatever, but when we first moved in it was $450, they said they

would raise it but they liked us so they just kept it the same rate. Our utilities
would raise it but they liked us so they just kept it the same rate. Our utilities

here I pay $33 a month for Internet. Water is about five to eight dollars.
here I pay $33 a month for Internet. Water is about five to eight dollars.

Electricity is about twenty five dollars, and then our internet, we have to have a
Electricity is about twenty five dollars, and then our internet, we have to have a

phone line to connect and that's $3.
phone line to connect and that's $3.

Our monthly budget here is about $1500 to $2,000 a month.
Our monthly budget here is about $1500 to $2,000 a month.

Does a trendy location overlooking the river appeal to you?
Does a trendy location overlooking the river appeal to you?

Well I have a studio and it's perfect for my needs I mean I don't really it's fully
Well I have a studio and it's perfect for my needs I mean I don't really it's fully

furnished and I don't really need more than that so why, you know why would you
furnished and I don't really need more than that so why, you know why would you

take something bigger than what you need. And I paid I'm paying
take something bigger than what you need. And I paid I'm paying

$410 a month. That's probably more than, you could get
$410 a month. That's probably more than, you could get

cheaper places actually this is just a really nice, just a really nice spot and
cheaper places actually this is just a really nice, just a really nice spot and

I have a really great landlord so sort of it that's why I'm sticking with it.
I have a really great landlord so sort of it that's why I'm sticking with it.

And of course the location.
And of course the location.

and what's the cost of living in a trendy location if you're not watching your budget?
and what's the cost of living in a trendy location if you're not watching your budget?

It's under $1,500 and that's that's me not trying to
It's under $1,500 and that's that's me not trying to

save money it's because I'm a tech guy and I don't want to waste my time
save money it's because I'm a tech guy and I don't want to waste my time

shopping for groceries. I just go to the supermarket instead of going to the
shopping for groceries. I just go to the supermarket instead of going to the

local market. So I know I'm overpaying. Like if I paid attention I could probably get
local market. So I know I'm overpaying. Like if I paid attention I could probably get

that down to $1,200 and that includes the $410 rent.
that down to $1,200 and that includes the $410 rent.

And like I said I'm not really I'm not splurging but I'm not I'm not counting
And like I said I'm not really I'm not splurging but I'm not I'm not counting

my pennies either. It's it's a lazy, it's a lazy budget let's put it that way.
my pennies either. It's it's a lazy, it's a lazy budget let's put it that way.

for convenience I think a couple could probably stay for almost the same thing
for convenience I think a couple could probably stay for almost the same thing

really, because the only thing that increases be maybe your food a little
really, because the only thing that increases be maybe your food a little

bit and maybe you'd go obviously a little slightly larger apartment so
bit and maybe you'd go obviously a little slightly larger apartment so

maybe pay a hundred dollars more.
maybe pay a hundred dollars more.

Maybe a single-family home with a yard and a garden in a suburban neighborhood
Maybe a single-family home with a yard and a garden in a suburban neighborhood

is more your style. Our house, is it's an older house but it's very Ecuadorian.
is more your style. Our house, is it's an older house but it's very Ecuadorian.

It has three bedrooms and an office, and most houses or two-story. And it's just it's
It has three bedrooms and an office, and most houses or two-story. And it's just it's

charming. The rent for our home is seven hundred. And we have a guard across the
charming. The rent for our home is seven hundred. And we have a guard across the

street, Luis who is just absolutely precious. We pay him $50 a month to look
street, Luis who is just absolutely precious. We pay him $50 a month to look

out for us. Our gas is propane and we buy our big tanks, you know
out for us. Our gas is propane and we buy our big tanks, you know

in the states you get the little ones like this. Well here they they get this
in the states you get the little ones like this. Well here they they get this

big and we go down to the mercado and they're a dollar and seventy four cents a tank.
big and we go down to the mercado and they're a dollar and seventy four cents a tank.

And we go through maybe three three and a half tanks a month. Our electricity
And we go through maybe three three and a half tanks a month. Our electricity

is maybe $60. Water is $8. Our utilities are just nothing. Our budget here runs, I
is maybe $60. Water is $8. Our utilities are just nothing. Our budget here runs, I

would, I'm gonna throw out a guess here which is about I say about $2,000 a month,
would, I'm gonna throw out a guess here which is about I say about $2,000 a month,

for both of us. And that's car, you know that's the house,
for both of us. And that's car, you know that's the house,

you know utilities, insurance the whole, you know everything. You can find a
you know utilities, insurance the whole, you know everything. You can find a

place for $200 a month if you want to and you can spend $2,000 a month on an
place for $200 a month if you want to and you can spend $2,000 a month on an

apartment. It depends on what you want to do.
apartment. It depends on what you want to do.

more information about living in Cuenca is available in the full length video,
more information about living in Cuenca is available in the full length video,

LIVING AND RETIRING IN CUENCA ECUADOR,
LIVING AND RETIRING IN CUENCA ECUADOR,

from LivingOverseas. TV
from LivingOverseas. TV

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