Are you thinking about living in Ecuador? Does it have what you need? And what part of Ecuador will you live in?
We’ve lived in Ecuador as a family since July 2009. There is no question – a number of things were challenging when we first arrived. But in spite of that, we all love it here. To help you make sense of the hundreds of posts on our site, we’ve built this page to get you started as you plan your new life in Ecuador.
On this page, we cover: getting started, where to live in Ecuador, daily life, living in Ecuador as a family and getting settled.
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Okay, ready to learn about living in Ecuador? Lets get started!
Ecuador Expats
In this huge post, we share the stories of 14 different families (some large, with children - others are single) who have moved to Ecuador and are living in the Andes or on the coast. They talk about everything from why they moved, what they love about it and the cost of living in Ecuador.
Living in Ecuador: Getting Started
If you are thinking about a move to Ecuador, there are lots of factors to consider. For every expat that chooses Ecuador as their new home – there are more who decide against it. What factors do you need to consider?
Here are three posts about living in Ecuador:
- Top 13 Books About Traveling and Living Abroad in Ecuador
- Why Some Expats Decide Not to Live in Ecuador
- Should I Learn Spanish Before Moving to Ecuador?
Where to Live in Ecuador
Choosing the area you’ll live in is just as big of a decision as the country itself. Cuenca gets lots of press as an ideal retirement city but there are lots of other options. Small town Ecuador has a strong draw for many expats.
Here are some posts to help you decide on where to live in Ecuador:
Living in Ecuador: Daily Life
Choosing an ideal country is one thing – settling into daily life and being happy there is something else. We’ve been covering great things to do in Ecuador over the past few years. Everything from the Galapagos Islands to great Ecuador beaches.
Here are some posts to get you started in your planning:
- My 16 Favorite Places in Ecuador: Stuff for Kids To Do
- So You Want To Drive in Ecuador?
- Cost of Living in Ecuador: Haines Family in Cuenca
- What Should You Bring When Moving to Ecuador?
Living in Ecuador: As a Family
Family life in Ecuador is amazing. We have been here for years and love it. There is so much to enjoy – but there is also lots that we still miss from Canada.
Moving abroad presented some unique challenges, which ultimately helped us be much closer as a family.
- Living In Ecuador Yet Homesick For Canada – Things We Miss
- Moving Abroad or Traveling With Kids? A Few Things To Look Out For
- Two Years In Ecuador: Why We Moved, Why We Stay
- My Move To Ecuador: From the Eyes of an 8-Year-Old Canadian Girl
Living in Ecuador: Getting Settled
Setting up your new life in Ecuador means learning a whole new set of customs – not to mention a new language.
Although Ecuador is a relatively safe country, there are a number of different precautions that you should take – to avoid being a victim of crime. There are also concerns about water and food.
- 11 Books & Courses We Used to Learn Spanish
- Living Abroad: The Bad Days
- Reality Check: Housing in Cuenca, Ecuador
- 7 Ways Not to Get Robbed
Hungry for more? Why not subscribe to get free blog updates and you’ll never miss a post. {You can subscribe in the box to the right} Takes just a second, you’ll get regular updates on Ecuador living, and it’s free. Subscribe now!
Ready to plan your relocation? You might want to check these 17 Best Expat Books to Plan a Successful Relocation or the more specific post How To Plan Your Ecuador Relocation
Ah, so sorry Bryan. I wanted to follow up to an initial posting you had kindly responded to and now I can’t find it. Forgive me!
My initial question was whether expat musicians can work in Ecuador. My follow up question was to ask if you knew whether there are gigs available? How hard is it to find music gigs as an expat DJ or live performer?
Thanks for any feedback!
Nancy
I’m not really into the music scene here, but I know there are many events that play live music. When you come to visit, you can check it out.
Hi Brian
We (a couple) are currently in Cuenca and have decided to apply for residency. How can we find all the info on what exactly is needed to start this process? Are there different requirements for different nationalities? We have double citizenship and have the choice to apply under either one.
Daniel
That’s a good question. We used an immigration lawyer here in Cuenca – they are up to date with all the current requirements. I understand that there is a site for the immigration department but I don’t know what it is. There are some different requirements between Canadians and Americans – primarily with apostilled or legalized documents. Also, some birth certificates have different requirements.
Thanks Brian
Any recommendations regarding a lawyer?
Daniel
We used Grace and Nelson – Ecuador immigration lawyers here in Cuenca.
Hi Bryan I have my tourist visa cost 240.00 each for my husband and I we can stay 6 months and I also have a Proof of Income with an apostile …we will be looking for permanent residency how difficult is it to have the residency and what is the cost. Thank you. I plan to do everything myself I think I can do as I am fluent in Spanish and I might be able to save some money that way. thanks Maria
Getting residency isn’t hard. Some expats use lawyers and others are doing the process themselves. I don’t know the current costs, sorry.
K THANK YOU
Bryan at this we are offered a home in Malacatos. Do you know any expats that live there I can connect with? I am not sure if we are going to take it but my husband like the photos and where the house sits etc…he feels comfortable with the owner as he speaks Portuguese and so does my husband. Okay thank you again, Maria Aurelia
I know that there are a lot of expats in that part of the country, but I don’t know them personally. A trip there will help you know the area.
thank you
I’m hoping someone here knows the answer…I saw on someone’s Ecuador blog how to disguise the local IP address to make it look like a U.S. IP. This would allow Netflix streaming video for instance. The posting had a link to a website that I failed to save!
help!
There are a number of ways. You can use a browser plugin called hola.org and it opens Netflix USA along with Hulu and other streaming sites. You don’t need a US IP address to get Netflix, we use it here and just get the Latin American version.
I AM SO SORRY FOR ASKING SO MANY QUESTIONS….my husband does not want to wait so many hours from the time we get to Quito to the time the plane leaves to Cuenca the following day…do you wait that long when you come back from holiday from the states or do you go a different route once you fly into Quito. Have a great day….Maria Aurelia
We often fly through Guayaquil, but there isn’t really a good way to avoid a long wait. Sometimes, but generally it is 5-12 hours.
yup just confirmed that information with another expat thank you for all your help we have decided to fly into Guayaquil and take a van to Cuenca.
Hello there we are so excited we are in the process of completing our visa 12-9 for the 6 months we were told since we are looking to live there they told us told to also apply for a “Pensioners Visa”.
coming in a bit more than a month…for 3 months…..doing a tour, and then planning to go to Cuenca….need housing, etc….any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. I heard that currency is king in Ecuador.
Hi,
Just a quick question about currency in Ecuador. I have heard that cash is the only way to go and also that only small bills (one’s and fives) are really accepted. How should I plan for that during my three month stay?
Thanks
Leo
Cash up to $20 bills are commonly accepted. But don’t try to pay for a $4 purchase with a $20. You should confirm with your bank that you can withdraw funds from your account at the atms here. Thats what most travelers/expats do. Travelers checks are not common.
Once you withdraw from a bank machine, you can go into the bank and get some of the $20′s changed to $5′s and $10′s. It makes things much easier.