Retire in Ecuador – Overview
In between Peru and Columbia on the Pacific coast sits Ecuador. In 2016, Ecuador was named the most popular affordable place to retire. Beer is $0.50 the bus will cost you $0.25. I like Beer! Ecuador was once the northernmost point of the Inca empire.
Ecuador has year-round great weather and is very affordable. The temperature in Ecuador will vary inland to the west coast, but on average is 21C/69F. The Pacific coast has a tropical climate with a rainy season while the climate in the highlands is quite dry.
Another neat fact is because Ecuador is located on the Equator, daylight hours don’t change, the sun rises at 6 am and sets at 6 pm every day.
Ecuador has beautiful beaches and even has volcanos, so the geography varies greatly. Driving in any foreign country can take some getting used to Roads are less than stellar, defensive driving is a must. The Galapagos islands are also considered part of Ecuador.
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Retire in Ecuador – Healthcare
Healthcare in Ecuador is excellent and very affordable. Their health care system ranks 20 of the most efficient healthcare countries. Doctors are educated in the U.S. and Europe. Insurance is available but because the cost is so low most residents don’t bother. Appointments are not necessary to be treated. Good news for the person looking to retire in Ecuador.
Is it safe?
The 2006 stats suggest again that it is quite safe with only 19 murders reported per 100,000 people. Ecuador is neighbours with Columbia so with that comes the drug-related crime associated with Cocaine trafficking. Yet
crimes like murder, assault and petty theft are half of what Columbia reports. Again, common sense reigns.
Ecuador has a democratically elected government. No dictators here, although some would argue the term democracy is relative to which country you live in.
Ecuador uses U.S. currency as its national currency. It has a strong economy based on its oil reserves, oil exports make up 40% of its overall GDP.
Retire in Ecuador – Overall Potential
When thinking to retire in Ecuador, it has to be in the top five. Ecuador is a little further away in terms of distance approx. A 4-hour flight from Miami with a stop in Bogota. Ecuador has progressed well in terms of catering to those looking to retire there.
As a retirement option, Ecuador offers modern shopping options, Healthcare and value for money Ecuador is hard to ignore. It is a little further away than say Central America so you should consider that as part of your decision.
Value for your dollar is the main reason to consider Ecuador. When looking at how far your dollar goes it’s difficult to cross it off your list.
Real Estate is exceptionally affordable and with a strong economy, poverty has been greatly reduced which usually equated to being safer as well.
We have to dive deeper into Ecuador, hopefully, they have a place for us on the beach.
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