10 Best Places to Retire in Ecuador

If the charm and affordable cost of living compared to the United States attracts you to South America, then you will find our list of best places to retire in Ecuador very helpful.

There are lots of reasons to consider Ecuador as a retirement destination besides the low cost of living. You will be surrounded by beautiful nature whether you opt for a life on the coast or in the inner part of the country. It will be easy for you to get to the United States when you get home sick since there are 8 flights per day from the capital Quito to the United States. There is a big expat community, so you’ll have no problems in finding a friend. Finally, you could say the people are happy here, since the World Happiness Report from 2017 ranks Ecuador as the 44th happiest country in the world, being in front of more developed countries like Poland and Japan.

When it comes to healthcare in Ecuador, the things have drastically improved in the last decade.  According to WHO Ecuador spends 9.2% of GDP on health, while the life expectancy is 76.5 years on average. There were 1.67 physicians and 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 people in 2011. Until a few years back, the foreign residents of Ecuador had to turn to private insurance, but thanks to legislation changes from 2014, expats can now join the public healthcare system for a monthly fee. The medical costs are considered to be very cheap and the quality of healthcare is satisfying.

In terms of safety and security, according to World Economic Forum report, Ecuador ranks in 85th place compared to the rest of the world, being one place behind the United States. Still, the United States Overseas Security Advisory Council Crime and Safety report for Ecuador tells us that the crime rate in the country is critical. U.S. citizens were often targeted by petty thefts and violent crimes, while the rates of conviction and apprehension were very low. Pickpocketing, bag snatching, and credit card frauds have been on the rise in the last few years. The criminals mostly operate around tourist attractions, restaurants, airports and on public transportation. The report singles out northern border region of Ecuador for being dangerous, due to organized crime. In case you want to see more of retirement destinations in South America, check out our list of the Best Places to Retire in Colombia.

In order for us to make the list of best places to retire in Ecuador, we searched for recommendations about good retirement destinations and places to live in the country from numerous sources including the Wall Street Journal, Expat, and Nomad List. Then we checked the most recommended places for the meal cost, the price of renting a one bedroom apartment (prices are taken from Numbeo and Expatistan) and hospital to population ratio (Google Maps). We assigned points to each place based on these criteria while awarding extra points for weather averages close to optimal (World Weather Online). You should note that hospital to population ratio should give you a picture of how many people are assigned to one private or public hospital in the destination. Also, the weather data is there to tell you the highest and the lowest monthly temperature, rainy day and sunny day averages in one year. Now, let’s begin our trip all over Ecuador and check out the list of best places to retire in Ecuador.

10. Quito

IM Score: 13
Rent Cost: $355
Meal Cost: $3.5
Hospital to Population Ratio: 46,055
Temperature: 60/64°F
Rainy Days: 25/31
Sunny Days:  –

If you love big cities where there is always something happening, then Ecuador’s capital is a good place to consider. Alongside Poland’s Krakow, Quito was the UNESCO’s first World Cultural Heritage Site thanks to one of the best-preserved historic city centers. What else is there to do, you ask? A city with an excellent mix of modern and traditional values, filled with amazing architecture and plenty of parks to run or walk your dog.

9. Guayaquil

IM Score: 16
Rent Cost: $305
Meal Cost: $5.00
Hospital to Population Ratio: 34,987
Temperature: 88/91°F
Rainy Days: 5/31
Sunny Days: 0/26

If you don’t mind living in the most populous city in the country, this entry on our list of best places to retire in Ecuador may tempt you with the vibrant lifestyle and the efforts the city officials are making in order to establish Guayaquil as a modern city with outstanding architecture and plenty to offer. The city is turned to culture and art scene, which has been on the rise in the recent time with cultural events taking place all year round. The thing that might not sit well with some is the heavy rainfalls that take place for the most of the year.

8. Manta

IM Score: 19
Rent Cost: $310
Meal Cost: $5.00
Hospital to Population Ratio: 9,166
Temperature: 81/86°F
Rainy Days: 1/28
Sunny Days: 1/27

Let’s head to the beach now. The city’s lovely beaches and the potential for water sports have made Manta an attractive tourist destination. Manta’s officials are trying to build up that image by constantly increasing the tourist offer and supporting the cultural events. You’ll just have to get used to the smell of tuna.

7. Salinas

IM Score: 19
Rent Cost: $350
Meal Cost: $3.25
Hospital to Population Ratio: 14,243
Temperature: 78/87°F
Rainy Days: 0/27
Sunny Days: 1/28

If you are all about the beaches and sea, then there is no doubt that Salinas should be at the very top of your priorities. Once a small village, Salinas has grown into being the largest resort and tourist destination on the coast of Ecuador. You’ll get plenty of sunny days and the waters are great for surfing but also for all the other water sports like diving. One more advantage of Salinas is that you will be just a couple of hours away from Guayaquil that has an international airport.

6. Cuenca

IM Score: 21
Rent Cost: $290
Meal Cost: $3.25
Hospital to Population Ratio: 16,000
Temperature: 43/49°F
Rainy Days: 28/31
Sunny Days: 0/4

Cuenca, next on the list of best places to retire in Ecuador is considered to be the city with a European feel, thanks to its architecture and colonial remaining. This attributed to the city being proclaimed World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The climate is considered to be mild, with warm days and cooler nights. You won’t be near the beach, but there are lots of other natural attractions to experience. The city is surrounded by mountains, rivers, and forests so you will have your daily dose of nature anytime you like.

5. San Clemente

IM Score: 23
Rent Cost: $200
Meal Cost: $4.0
Hospital to Population Ratio: –
Temperature: 76/82°F
Rainy Days: 0/28
Sunny Days: 1/28

Are you looking for a smaller city on our list of best places to retire in Ecuador? Well, how does a village with around 2,000 residents sound? You’ll be able to have your peace and quiet while enjoying some of the most beautiful beaches Ecuador has to offer. Still, you will have to act fast. Some are already labeling San Clemente as a “new Gold Coast”, so there is no doubt that the village will soon become very attractive for people all over the world. We didn’t manage to find any hospitals listed in San Clemente but there is probably a small ambulance there for the basic health issues.

4. Cotacachi

IM Score: 26
Rent Cost: $290
Meal Cost: $3.5
Hospital to Population Ratio: 4,000
Temperature: 47/50°F
Rainy Days: 28/31
Sunny Days: 0/4

Cotacachi has gained some serious reputation as being the ideal place for expats and retirees. This is mostly due to its proximity to Quito (less than 2 hours) and plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. The prices are affordable and people say that the locals are extremely friendly.

3. Bahia de Caraquez

IM Score: 28
Rent Cost: $265
Meal Cost: $3.5
Hospital to Population Ratio: 7,500
Temperature: 77/82°F
Rainy Days: 8/31
Sunny Days: 0/22

Bahia, next on the list of best places to retire in Ecuador is located on the coast of Pacific ocean and is considered the top vacation spot for Ecuadorians coming from the inner parts of the country. It isn’t hard to see why. The climate is pleasant and comfortable with short wet seasons. Bahia is the city with some of the lowest crime rates in whole Ecuador and has the feel of a small town while giving the offerings of a true holiday resort. When you get tired of swimming or get enough tan, you can embark on exploring the city’s surroundings and the interesting wildlife.

2. Montanita

IM Score: 29
Rent Cost: $300
Meal Cost: $3.00
Hospital to Population Ratio: 1,000
Temperature: 77/82°F
Rainy Days: 0/31
Sunny Days: 0/31

This village/town became famous a while ago for being a surfer’s paradise. Since then, it hasn’t developed into a huge tourist destination as many would think (which is maybe a good thing for retirees) but it has become an attractive location for many travelers.  You’ll get all the perks of modern life here, but without all the crowdedness of the bigger cities.

1. Loja

IM Score: 30
Rent Cost: $235
Meal Cost: $3.00
Hospital to Population Ratio: 7,541
Temperature: 53/60°F
Rainy Days: 2/27
Sunny Days: 0/29

According to our sources, this entry on our list of best places to retire in Ecuador will be very friendly to your budget.  Loja is considered to be Ecuador’s “music and arts capital”, and the city keeps up with the reputation by organizing cultural events all year round. If you are not so much into culture, then natural attractions will keep you entertained. One minor problem may be that Loja doesn’t have a big expat community. There you have it. From big mountain cities to small beach resorts, the list has everything. It is just up to you to choose which of these lifestyles suit you the best.