If you are one of those who have decided to emigrate and have selected Ecuador as your second home, you should know some details about the quality of life in this country and what it costs to live in it.
In Ecuador you will find a wide variety of options to know, study, travel or live. The prices of food and housing are relatively low compared to those of other countries in the same continent.
This country has become in recent years the favorite destination of many and is that many choose it because it is ideal to live. The country offers public and private services for social insurance, health and basic needs, both for its citizens and for visitors.
To live legally in this country, you must necessarily apply for a Visa, which you will obtain from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility.
Living in Ecuador is an ideal option for the immigrant, since the laws offer the same protection and rights to Ecuadorian citizens.
Even when Guayaquil and Quito are the cities most desired by foreigners, Ecuador has many others that are worth knowing and placing among your options.
Before making the decision to move to this country, you should know and study aspects such as how much does it cost to live in a country like Ecuador?
And in this sense, you should consider that Ecuador has a dollarized economic structure. At first, this can become a point of impact if the country you are migrating has a currency of little value, since you must have enough money to cover your basic needs, at least the first months of your stay in this country, until you get a job.
And you will ask then, how much money will I need to live in Ecuador?
The costs of living, do not have dramatic variants throughout the national territory. But it is true that the most expensive cities to live in will be Quito and Guayaquil. In general, living in the province will be less expensive.
The national unified basic salary for 2018 is $ 386, and a professional can earn up to $ 900.
Guide to approximate costs to live in Ecuador
Food: In the supermarkets and markets of Ecuador, you can get a wide variety of options. But if it's about saving, the best way to do it will be buying at the most traditional fairs or markets, where you'll find that, 1/2 kilo of meat is in 2 $, one kilo of potato $ 0.85 , a bag of milk $ 0.85, a kilo of rice $ 1.5. You can spend in a market for a month, around 60 to 80 $. Another option is to eat at the places called "Lunch" where you get a three-course menu plus juice for an approximate value of $ 3.
Housing: The values in this aspect will vary according to factors such as: location of the house and the services that it offers. But you can get options from $ 100 for rooms (with minimum conditions), or from $ 250 to $ 400 or more, if it is an apartment.
As alternatives, you can then choose to rent a room or a complete apartment. Or if the tenant allows you, rent an apartment and share the expenses with other people.
There are rental proposals that will cover basic services: water, electricity, internet, etc. While in others these services, they will not be included.
To give you an idea of how much these services cost, we leave you here some approximations:
Internet: $ 20 to $ 50.
Water: $ 10 to $ 25.
Phone: $ 10 to $ 20.
Cell phone: from $ 15.
Light: $ 20 to $ 40.
Cable or TV paid: $ 25 to $ 70.
Health: Even when Ecuador has a public health system, you can contract if you wish, a health insurance, with which you can cover all expenses related to situations such as: operations, accidents, medical consultations, maternity, dentistry, etc.
These health plans will have variable costs, from $ 50 per month, to others much cheaper. Everything will depend on what you are looking for.
If you can get a job, your employer will be obliged to join you as a worker dependent on the Ecuadorian Social Security System (IESS).
Education: In relation to this aspect, Ecuador has good public schools. Education will be free at all levels, up to the third level of higher education inclusive. There will be no fees related to: fees, pensions and other items.
In private schools for your part, you will find monthly payments from $ 70 per month to the most expensive international schools that offer International Baccalaureate training. Although there are already a few public schools that have this type of International Baccalaureate.
In the case of universities, the expenses can range from $ 800 to $ 4000 per semester (everything depends on the university). While in the public institution, the State covers the educational costs and the students pay a minimum amount for their education.
Private institutions, on the other hand, offer scholarship and financing options for students, based on their economic situation or on their academic or sporting merits.
Transportation: Transportation in Ecuador, could be considered economic and good, since public transport has a value of $ 0.25 (at this time are in negotiations to raise the tickets). There are integrated services, such as those offered by the Trolleybus in Quito, with which you can take all the buses of the line without paying additional values, for only $ 0.25. That is, you can go from north to south, paying only this value.
With respect to taxis, the minimum race will have a value of $ 1.45 in a schedule between 6 in the morning until 7 at night. After this time, the value will increase to $ 1.75, as well as on holidays.
Depending on how often you use the means of transport, the type of transport and distances, you can spend between $ 30 to $ 60 per month.
Averaging and assuming you will not study you could live with about $ 400- $ 550 per month.
You should plan and spend with conscience, if you depend on a minimum wage. The more things are planned, the less chance you have of something going wrong.
I remind you that these are approximate values, there will be those who spend less and those who spend more, everything will depend on your purchasing power and your ability to save. Additionally, remember that everything is dynamic and changing.