@russelleaton
English expat in Ecuador
Forum
78 posts
Contacts
10
About me
English
Lives in Quito
Speaks English, Spanish
Registration: 29 November 2010
Activity
Cost of living in Ecuador in 2025 by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Every year, we invite you to share your experiences with the cost of living in in Ecuador, especially in the region or city you live in. Your insights will greatly help members planning their move to Ecuador or already living ...
In very general terms, the cost of living in Ecuador is about three times cheaper than the UK, and about 2.5 times cheaper than the USA. Read More
Moving to Ecuador, air freighting a small crate by Hanabe101
I live in Warrnambool (3280), Victoria, Australia, about 4 to 4 1/2 hours from Melbourne and Melbourne airport respectively. I have visited Ecuador before, and am looking to move there now to Vilcabamba in about a year. What is the best way to send ...
Anyone moving to Ecuador should consider living in Cumbaya rather than Cuenca or Quito. Nicer, safer, modern, cheaper, many other expats, and Cumbaya is lower in altitude than Cuenca. All the amenities of the capital city is just a 15 minute drive ... Read More
Moving to Ecuador solo by Cheryl
Hello everybody, Moving to Ecuador is a challenge in itself, but even more when you decide to go alone. If this was your case when you arrived, we would like you to share your experience. It might help other people who are also preparing for this ...
If you are somebody planning to move to Ecuador, you don't want to live in a small village or in isolation (in the countryside), at least to begin with. Therefore, I suggest you do a comparison between Quito, Cumbayá and Cuenca before ... Read More
Coming to Quito & Cuenca by MGLuke
Hi every one! I am a dinosaur of computing so this is my first time on a blog. First Thanks to all of you for your coments and advice, it almost make it like we know some one there, cool. I am also traveling from the US to Quito to Cuenca ...
Hi Martha, did you eventually make it to Ecuador? If you're still considering where to live in Ecuador, consider Cumbayá (an outer suburb of Quito). Cumbayá is a little warmer and a little lower than Cuenca and is popular with expats. Read More
Hard to find things in Ecuador by russelleaton
Some things I cannot find in Ecuador: English marmite. English Colman’s mustard. Greaseproof (parchment) paper for oven cooking. Shoe horn. Non-aluminium bakeware. Vitamin MK7. Bed sheets that are long enough. Ovaltine.
I recently saw that monkfruit sweetener is now available in supermaxi (definitely in megamaxi). Re shoe horns, I have been able to buy a couple, but they are hard to find in Ecuador. If you're coming from the US, bring your own. Read More
Sunlight in Cuenca by kmok1956
I heard there was no sunlight in Cuenca for 18 mos. as of approx. May 2021. Is this so? Most photos I see of Cuenca have no sunlight. This is important to me. Please, speak to it. Thank you!
Cuenca is a bit lower than Quito and a bit higher than Cumbayá. I prefer less sun, not more. Cuenca has about 10% less harmful UV sun radiation than Quito. Whereas Cumbayá has about 20% less harmful UV sun radiation than Quito (very rough ... Read More
Dryers electric or gas by pfarrell279
We have an electric washer/dryer unit from the states that needs 220v is this readily available in Ecuador?
i recently bought an electric dryer because in my opinion there is more hassle. with a gas dryer. No doubt the cost of gas will be cheaper than electricity for drying. But remember the gas boiler will be overworked (perhaps more service charges for ... Read More
Hard to find things in Ecuador by russelleaton
Some things I cannot find in Ecuador: English marmite. English Colman’s mustard. Greaseproof (parchment) paper for oven cooking. Shoe horn. Non-aluminium bakeware. Vitamin MK7. Bed sheets that are long enough. Ovaltine.
You can buy monkfruit sugar (endulzante monkfruit or endulzante de fruta de monje), but it tends to be available in health food stores in Ecuador. Here's an example: https://www.agrodely.com/producto/edulcorante-monkfruit-sin-calorias/ Read More
Hard to find things in Ecuador
Some things I cannot find in Ecuador: English marmite. English Colman’s mustard. Greaseproof (parchment) paper for oven cooking. Shoe horn. Non-aluminium bakeware. Vitamin MK7. Bed sheets that are long enough. Ovaltine. Read More
Cost of Living in Ecuador in 2020 by Loïc
Hi everyone, Every year, we invite expats who are living in Ecuador to share their experience and tell us more about the average price of products and services in their town, city or area, so that we can help future expats planning to settle in ...
The average cost of living in Ecuador is about three times cheaper compared to the cost of living in the United Kingdom. Therefore anybody on a fixed income, such as a pension, benefits greatly by moving from the UK to Ecuador. No doubt it is ... Read More
Football world cup by russelleaton
Can anybody please tell me where to go in Quito to see England play Colombia live in the football World Cup. The match is on Tuesday, 3rd July at 1pm. Thanks Russell
Thanks, I prefer to not watch it surrounded by colombians, because they'll kill me when I cheer for England! You info much appreciated. Russell Read More
Football world cup
Can anybody please tell me where to go in Quito to see England play Colombia live in the football World Cup. The match is on Tuesday, 3rd July at 1pm. Thanks Russell Read More
For 2018 - Crime in General, Crime around Cuence ... Experiences ??? by Guest3265987
Second post of the day, hello to everyone again. My wife and I plan on moving to Ecuador in 2020. First we plan on living around Cuence for around 3 months, and if things feel right to us we'll be making arrangements for selling our home where ...
I've lived in Quito for the last 7 years and go out most days and often use public transport. I have never personally experienced crime, although of course it happens. Although my mobile phone was stolen once by a pickpocket without me even ... Read More
Adapting to the climate in Ecuador by Priscilla
Hello everyone, Adjusting to new climatic conditions is key in any expatriation process. Moving to Ecuador is no exception. What are the climate characteristics of Ecuador? How does the local weather impact your daily life, mood or ...
Blackout curtains are ideal for good sleeping. For good light (and privacy) the solution is to have lace curtains behind the blackout curtains. Lace curtains (called 'visillo' in Spanish) are cheap to buy in Quito. Read More
mosquitoes by russelleaton
Can anybody tell me where in Quito I can buy a portable mosquito net for bed and head, and a good choice of repellents? I want to stay off the mosquito menu when travelling to low altitude. Fybeca is not good for this. Thanks, Russell
Thanks, will do. Russell Read More