Category: Ecuador Q&A

Ecuador is cheap, no doubt about it.

Those who think life in Ecuador costs about the same as other Latin American destinations like Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, or the Dominican Republic are mistaken.

Of course, how much you spend greatly depends on your personal spending habits, and a little on the area of the city in which you live.

But Ecuador is a land where a dollar still goes a long way, and people still cherish their pennies.

Food, transport, medical and housing costs are all considerably lower than in most of the western hemisphere.

Food:

A 3-course plate lunch in a local restaurant in the street costs around $2. Many small, local families do all their grocery shopping for the month for under $150-200. (Of course, knowing how to shop, finding the deals, and shopping a lot in local markets.)

Even the international fast food chains have adapted to Ecuadorian prices. For example, in Pizza Hut, you can buy a personal pan pizza for $1.50, and in KFC you can get a plate lunch with rice, beans and chicken for $1.75.

Transport:

Thankfully, with plentiful taxis and public transport, Ecuador is one of those countries where you truly don’t need a car. I have never waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus in the street, nor has it took me longer than 6 minutes to flag down a taxi.

This automatically eliminates the costs you incur for car insurance, repairs and parking.

A city bus costs a whopping $.25 cents and inter-city buses cost around $1 per hour traveled. Vehicles here are normally buses for sale provided by the national supplier. So, in other words, you can go from one end (Colombian border) of Ecuador to the other (Peruvian border) for around $17.

Taxis within one of the major cities usually costs around $2-3 for a short 10-15 minute ride.

Medical:

The level of care is surprisingly very high in Ecuador, and particularly within the private clinics, hygiene is placed at an even higher premium than in some clinics I have visited in the US.

A standard doctor consultation costs around $25. A teeth cleaning starts around $40, and to fill a cavity starts around $20. For those interested in these prices for dental work, visit the website recommended by folks over there. It will be filled with info.

Full coverage medical plans for seniors start around $87-180 dollars a month (depending on personal circumstances).

Housing:

Both costs to purchase and rent are relatively low in Ecuador. To rent a small, 1 bedroom apartment in one of the major cities starts around $150-200 a month. To rent a luxury, furnished one bedroom suite-apartment in a nice area of Quito (for instance) is starting around $400 (and up).

Purchase prices greatly depend on the area and property type, but you could find a small apartment, already-built starting around $30,000 almost everywhere in Ecuador.

Oh yea, and did I mention that in Ecuador you also never have to worry about exchange fees, because Ecuador uses the US dollar as its official currency.

So hop that 4 hour flight from Miami… Ecuador awaits you.

Hasta pronto, Domenick…hey, if you liked this, you’ll love my weekly Foreign Investor’s newsletter for insider tips and opportunities in Ecuador…subscribe below(unsubscribe at any time):

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Want to know a little secret about Ecuador?

Like you’ve read everywhere, yes, some things are VERY cheap in Ecuador… like food, gas, beer, housing, public transport.

But MANY things in Ecuador are hideously expensive.

Far MORE expensive than you’re used to in the States, often double the price or more.

So what should you buy in the US, and bring to Ecuador?

– Technology. iPhones, cell phones, lap tops, desk top computers, Play Station, GPS, digital cameras, iPads. All far cheaper in the US, often half the Ecuador price.

glass drinkware has a long tradition. Wine as well as water has been served in these beautiful handmade glasses for centuries. Some of them are rather common so you might barely notice them while others are so outstanding that your will hardly resist the temptation to buy them.

If you are looking for quality and uniqueness you should seriously consider investing in glass drinkware. Each single item is crafted by expert master glassmakers according to a century old tradition therefore they are not only unique but also retain value over time. Click here if you want to find out more about Shield Republic.

Choosing the best drinkware isn’t difficult. The process can be further simplified by working with a promotional products company. Experts can help companies quickly narrow down choices and come up with unique, exciting designs that will make their drinking vessels stand apart from the crowd.

Some of the more popular choices include water bottles, personalized coffee mugs with custom handles, stainless steel cups, and eco-friendly travel mugs.

Portable drinkware is very popular right now. People are on the move and want to take their favorite beverage along with them. Giving away customized tumblers is a good way to broaden exposure because mugs are taken into the office, meetings, and all around town.

Environmentally-friendly travel mugs are also at the top of the popularity list. People really appreciate receiving drinkware that is good for the environment and free of toxic chemicals.

Eco-friendly drinkware is a good choice for trade show giveaways, business gifts, employee gifts, and promotional events. They could also be used for sponsoring charity events, local marathons, sporting events, and other events where a lot of people gather.

A few of the more well-liked eco-friendly items include coffee mugs, acrylic tumblers, stainless steel sports bottles and travel mugs, and ceramic coffee cups. Each offers numerous options for printing company logos, slogans, mascots, or marketing messages.

People love unique and functional portable coffee mugs. A lot of people prefer handles, but those who spend a lot of time in their car like tumblers without handles. Tumblers are easier to fit into cup holders.

– Brand-name clothes and shoes. Nikes are about double the price in Ecuador and you’re never quite sure that what you’re buying is really ‘original’. Levis, forgetaboutit, expensive! Yes, you can find cheapy knock-off clothing from Chinese owned street stores in Ecuador, but the originals will cost you.

– Outdoor sport accessories. Like to fish? Mountain climb? Kayak? Golf? Camp? Hike? Yes, you can find all those sports and more in Ecuador, but their accessories cost double, sometimes triple of what you’d pay in the States (if you can even find them).

– Cars. Cars are grossly more expensive in Ecuador. For example, a new Honda Civic with automatic transmission costs over $30,000 USD. And importing cars into the country can be tricky and costly due to the high import tariffs and restrictions… luckily, next week I’ll share on this newsletter one loophole I recently discovered that will allow you to bring down any car you want, legally! For instance, this Honda hybrid car has great fuel consumption and interior space.

– Cosmetics, Perfumes. Women pay attention here cause brand-name cosmetics and perfumes are far more expensive in Ecuador than Stateside, bring what you can! For men, colognes are more pricey in Ecuador.

Now, this does create an enormous business opportunity.

Just last week I sold a new Blackberry I brought down from Panama for $100 more than paid.

I just posted it for sale online down here, one week, gone.

Heck, it can at least pay for a trip back home.

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