Hola all.
I spent the month of April keeping track of every cent we spent and here are the results with a bit of details and explanation to help those of you trying to figure out what the cost of living might be for you here in Cuenca.
$400.00 Rent/800' 2 bdrm furnished apartment w yard & study/ten min. to downtown/2blocks to bus & river
45.00 Claro service/phone and Internet at home and on the road
2.50 Propane for water heating and stove
4.50 water including baths and laundry for two
5.30 Electric
7.50 Bus fare for two going out and about 3-5 times a week on average
24.50 Cab fare home after our days in town/town centre to our apt. Is $2.00
15.00 Clothing
368.50 Food/see below for diet and shopping details
103.50 Supplements
60.50 Meals out/mostly lunches while out and about in town
94.50 Misc./sewing & craft supplies/fresh flowers weekly/odds and ends for the apartment etc.
145.00 Spa day for two inc. massage, meal, cab there and back
$1276.30 TOTAL
Our apartment is absolutely lovely. The same space in Ontario or BC would cost about 1400.00 plus bills that would be far more than the bills here.
We run a laptop, iPhone and iPad on the Claro service. We take the phone with us when out and about and use it to map and translate. We pay to have Internet where ever we go so we have these apps to help us.
The propane heats our water for showers, bathing, dishes, laundry as well as cooking. We use one tank a month so far.
A total of $32.00 for transportation just can't be beat. Bus is 25 cents and cab fares average 2-3 dollars.
Clearly I am not much of a clothing hog and neither is my partner. I did purchase a sweater at the open market in town. The price started at $22.00 and while I was trying to decide if the colour was what I needed the price continued to go down until it reached $15.00. However if one is into brand names and higher end clothing be preparred to pay far more.
Our food expenses really surprised me. I was certain we were spending more. We eat really well here. Meats to include fish, chicken and beef are eaten about five times a week. We purchase plenty of fruits and vegetables from the open markets here. We do a bit of dairy, a wee bit of of junk food and no pop or juices. Back inCanada we were spending about 30-40 a week more and not eating nearly as well or as much. Fresh coconuts, gorgeous pinapples, oranges, apples, avocados, tomatoes, spinach, onions and so on.
Due to a chronic illness I require a lot of vitamin support. The prices here are just a wee bit more than back home. Also it was challenging to find everything but there is one shop in town who has realized that special orders for gringos pays and is willing to order what you want or need.
Our eating out amount is the result of grabbing lunch while running errands or exploring. I would imagine that evening dining would be more.
The spa day is not something I have ever been able to do but the prices here are quite reasonable and this was a top notch facility. They also have two for one specials almost daily during slower times. We did the whole circuit for that price including Turkish bath, massage, two different mud baths, hot and cold thermal pools, steam boxes and finishing with hot spring pool. We also had a kick butt dinner there.
I did not see any doctors this month but the specialists here seem to average $70.00 a visit and that price often includes follow up visits.
A dentist has given me an unbelievable quote of just over 1K to repair eight cavities and veneer four front teeth that were damaged in an accident several years ago. Back home I was quoted about five times that amount.
Anyways with regards to the monthly expenditures I know people who spend more than 1300.00 a month for their car insurance or three times that amount to rent a one bedroom apartment in a big city.
Hope this has helped and please do not hesitate to write if you have any questions.
Cost of living for two in Cuenca 2013
Misty,
Thanks for taking the time to list your expenses. Would you mind talking about your apartment a little more? You mentioned it was $400 a month and that a similar place in Ontario or BC would go for $1400. What does that mean, exactly? On a scale of one to ten, with a college student's dumpy crash pad being a one, and ZenSpike's posh luxury penthouse being a ten, how would your place rate?
John
Thanks, this is very helpful. I'm single and I'm planning to live in Quito, but it's a good guide.
I started keeping track of all expenses last September (I'm averaging about 52,000 pesos, roughly $1300). I find it a very worthwhile exercise, and I notice that writing things down caused a decrease in impulse purchases.
Bob
Thanks, Misty!
This puts a good perspective on daily life expenses! Thank you for taking the time to do this! xoxo
Posh?????? Penthouse?????
C'mon Dude. It's a far stretch to call anything I have in that category!!!!
The place she and her partner rent is very cool. Beautiful landscaping, really nice wood doors and windows with cathedral arches, and a great green space in the back. I think the place is just full of character, right down to a little fireplace in the den! It amazes me that the rent is at that rate. You always hear it's possible, but they are living it!
Hope you and the bride are doing well.
Neil
Folks might find this cost of living comparision useful. Here, I compare Fort Worth, Texas (probably average U.S. city) with Cuenca, Ecuador, although you can compare other cities as well, including Quito, Guayaquil and Salinas that I checked.
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/co … ty2=Cuenca
In essence:
Rent Prices in Cuenca are 52.94% lower than in Fort Worth
Restaurant Prices in Cuenca are 67.07% lower
Groceries Prices in Cuenca are 29.16% lower
Hey John
I tried to private message you with a utube link to a video of the apartment. Hopefully you received it.
Rating the apartment is a wee bit hard as it does come down to taste. We are not modern condo people. Personally I prefer a space with some character, wood and private green space. Also we do not have a full fridge or oven and the tub is small. Some people may not care to go without a large fridge, an oven and a larger tub.
Anyways I would rate the apartment an eight or nine. I've lived in apartments for the best part of my life and I have never been able to afford an apartment as nice as this one.
Let me know that you received the link ok.
Carmen 😊
Hey Bob. 😊
I agree that tracking expenses helps one to be more aware of them.
Another thing that helps me curb the spending is to figure out how many hours I would have to work to be able to purchase a particular item. That very often causes me to put the item back. That and being aware that it is yet another thing that will require cleaning, care, insurance and so on.
Want less, need less, work less is what I try to live by.....Ecuador is a good fit for that philosophy!!!
Have a good one.
You are quite welcome Laura. ☺
When I was doing research before coming here I saw figures that started at 600.00 a month and went up from there. It was so hard to try to get a feel for what we might spend here.
Have a good day!
Thanks Zen.
While I know your condo will be very nice when you get it furnished it really does come down to personal taste and desires.
We wanted certain things and this space met every requirement on our list.
Also we are very lucky to have wonderful landlords. They are VERY respectful of our space. We share one common wall and they are quiet as well. They invite us out on weekend outings about twice a month showing us beautiful scenery etc. and we practice our Spanish while they practice their English.
It's not for everyone but I felt it important to show the non condo side of living in Cuenca.
Anyways you have a good one Zen! 😄
Hey Sawman
That is a great link you posted.
Recently a taxi driver here was kind enough to advise me regarding rental and taxi rates. It's so nice when a local helps us to ultimately help them.
Anyways two bedroom apartments of 800 sq. ft. Furnished should NOT cost more than $400.00 a month. That is based on a long term rental.
He said that an unfurnished apartment of the same size should be NO more than $200.00 a month.
He also told me what a taxi should cost from downtown to our apartment which has been very helpful. Just yesterday we had a driver try to overcharge us. This happens often.
They do not realize that they perpetuate the problem and as long as we remain uneducated about pricing we help to drive up costs here. In the end we are disliked because of ignorance.
Another Ecuadorian informed us that local pricing on many fruits and veggies at the open market is 75 cents. Expat prices for the same items is $1.00. I did the math and realized I was being overcharged to the tune of 2-300.00 a year. I tried and tried to find a vendor who would charge me local prices but quickly discovered they all stick together!!!!
In the end I think we will always pay a bit more than a local would. However we need to still try to bargain and be willing to walk away when we know or feel the price is too high.
Sorry went a bit off there.
Have a good one!
One thing that is never mentioned is the startup costs associated with moving here.
I can see where most people can live here fairly comfortably on $1500 a month. But, you are going to spend quite a bit more getting started.
All of your paperwork has to be apostiled, notarized, and translated. Lots of paperwork sent all aroung the US using overnight mail and such. And as always, the residency thing here is a moving target.
Make sure you budget over a thousand dollars for all the paperwork if you are still in the US. And almost double that if you are trying to get it done from Ecuador. A letter from Texas to Ecuador cost us $90 from DHL. Better to overbudget than the other, and less frustrating.
Also it will take you at least 3 weeks to get all of the paperwork ready and accepted in the US.
We are going through that now. It is a slow process, and the government offices in the US are making mistakes on our paperwork, adding to the time getting things done.
It is hard to not get too frustrated. But you have to look at it like building a house. One group of things at a time. If not, you will implode. I know, I have finally realized all the cussing and stomping does no good. Just celebrate every step forward.
And don't forget the price of learning Spanish.
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