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4. Ecuador
For me, the number one thing about Ecuador is that it offers so many different types of places to live; you can have warm weather year-round on the coast, a more temperate climate in the Andes, small village life, big-city conveniences, and everything in between.
Quite simply, some of the best weather on the planet can be found in Ecuador. The unique combination of its posi- tion on the equator, the cooling sea breezes from the Humboldt Current, the Andes mountain range, and the Amazon basin have conspired to create a variety of climates. There are beaches that are warm year-round but rarely muggy (and are too close to the equator to ever have hurricanes or tropical storms), and places in the hills where you do not need a heating or cooling system. Lush, green hills and fertile valleys are the norm in Ecuador.
While I appreciate the natural beauty and the mix of indigenous, Incan, and Spanish culture, one of my favori- te benefits is the affordable lifestyle. There are few places where living is as affordable in Ecuador. There is something for everyone, regardless of your budget. Consider that you can own a home on a Pacific Coast beach for less than $150,000. Not enough is said about property taxes either—my 2,000 square foot oceanfront condo has a tax bill of less than $300 per year—not per month, per year. Rentals and opportunities to buy in the interior are plentiful and affordable.
Since the land produces excellent food, mostly with year-round growing seasons, prices at local mercados are so low, it is difficult to carry more than $15 worth of
fruits and vegetables. Household help is available for $10 to $20 per day, and services like pedicures and haircuts are just a few dollars. No need for heating and cooling bills in most of the country, and you can live most places without a car, paying 30 cents or less for buses, and $2 to $5 for cab rides.
Ecuador is a little unique, in that there are not just a couple of expat communities. There are over a dozen places spread all across the country where you can find North Americans enjoying the laidback lifestyle. Even in areas with few expats, like Loja for example, the Ecuadorians make it very easy to feel welcome and at home.
Mike Herron and his wife arrived in Cuenca in 2015. While excited, they were apprehensive, as well. This was uncharted territory for both of them. Not only were they embarking on a different life, they were doing it in a different country where neither of them spoke the language.
Now, three years later and with the advantage of hindsight, they say that, other than getting married, it was the best decision they ever made. They say the most important part of their new lives is the meaningful relationships they’ve developed with expats and Ecuadorians alike.
“People take the time to connect and get to know one another. It’s common to sit and talk with someone, even someone we are meeting for the first time, over a breakfast or lunch that can last two hours or more. When we walk down the street, it’s not unusual to stop and spend 15 to 20 minutes chatting with someone we know, or even with someone we’ve just met while walking,” says Mike.