this is an outstanding group and i am very happy seeing people post a more realistic picture of the costs in ecuador.
i first went to ecuador in the early 1980s when in terms of costs it may have been a paradise. however, those days are gone as many of you have posted in terms of realistic costs.
i am currently in ecuador although it is not my home base. but each time i am here which is about three a year - i have not been dissapointed with the promoters who have pushed it as a paradise where one can live on 600 or 800 a month. there are a few who make the adjustment but the person who stated they would have to live like ecuadorians was right. i find the food costs as high as the us and quality is sometimes lacking.
i think there will be a downturn at some point and that the infrastructure is not here to support large numbers of expatriates without sacfricing the things that may have attracted them in the first place.
despite the negatives it will be an outstanding place for some to move to and they will enjoy there life here. it also has not diminished my love of the country and continous study one of the unique cultures in the world.
nicholas crowder
author culture shock ecuador
ecuadortraveladvisory.com
