10 Beautiful Cities around the World You Can Rent for Less than $400

Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  Renting at local prices and living your best life today?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz     Today we're going to show you 10 Beautiful Cities around the world NOT being pumped and touted by the Retire Abroad Media and ( very few YT vloggers) where you can Rent for Less than $400! It wasn't easy finding these because we look for VALUE according to size, location, price, etc, etc...Let us show you these locally priced houses and apartments from South America to Asia to Europe you'll love these places!      

The Smartest Thing We Did When We Moved Abroad

The smartest thing we did when we moved abroad nine years ago.. These 2 smart things that we did led up to the smartest thing we did and are now doing and where we are living abroad. 

           

$350 Apartment Tour Furnished 3-BR in Great Neighborhood of Cuenca Ecuador!

We've hacked our way into this lovely apartment in Cuenca Ecuador for rent. It's a 3 Bedroom Plus Study and it's completely furnished for just $350 dollars a month! Located near new shopping mall and Supermaxi on Las Americas!

          

$500 Cuenca Ecuador Condo, Located in Popular Neighborhood

Today we're going to take you on a tour of a $500 Cuenca Ecuador Condo, located in Popular, centrally located Neighborhood. Let us know if you would like to see more Cuenca Ecuador home tours. The gringos love Remigio Crespo area where this 24/7 secure condo is located.

     

What Are Gringos Doing to Rental Prices in Cuenca Ecuador, Mexico, D.R, etc... 2018-2019?

What Are Gringos Doing to Rental Prices in Cuenca Ecuador, Mexico, D.R, etc...2018-2019? We update our viewers with the latest rental prices in Cuenca Ecuador for both markets, the gringo market and the local market. We don't leave out the other touted countries like Mexico and the D.R, both heavily traveled by permanent resident gringos.  
         

House Rental vs. Condo Rental in Cuenca Ecuador - Which is BETTER for You!

House Rental vs. Condo Rental: Each person and or family has different needs and preferences when it comes to renting abroad and this video shows you some of those differences that some people might like to know, such as advantages and disadvantages of renting either a detached house or a condo with 24/7 security. Only you can decide which is BETTER for you and your situation and preferences. 
        

Which is BETTER? House Rental vs. Condo Rental in Cuenca Ecuador

Which is BETTER? House Rental vs. Condo Rental in Cuenca Ecuador? This video details the differences between a house rental vs. condo rental in Cuenca Ecuador; and we list the main advantages and disadvantages that most expats and travelers would want to know when they come to Cuenca Ecuador to visit or to stay. To see the complete and more detailed article about this subject, go here.



        

The Gringos Biggest Challenge - [5 Parts 1 Video] Cuenca Ecuador VLOG

What do you think the gringos biggest challenge is? One big challenge for the gringo often creates several challenges for the gringo in the long run and here's why...Enjoy this Cuenca Ecuador VLOG with 5 parts in 1 video.

 

Adorable $300 Studio Apartment in El Centro Downtown Cuenca Ecuador VLOG

This $300 apartment includes internet and utilities. Frank and Angie have stayed here many times. The adorable space is perfect for a couple or single has everything you need and close to all the downtown Cuenca Ecuador tourist attractions, restaurants, shopping, etc! Tell Marta Frank y Angie sent you! No, we do not receive anything for this...we're just helping out our friend!
      
Click here for more information on how to get rentals like this one anywhere in the world! 

BEST Apartment Rentals on Ecuador Coast! Best Prices Guarenteed for the VALUE!

NEW LISTINGS for ECUADOR!

We're scouring all the new listing this week to see just what kind of rental deals we can find and here's what we found! We're going to show you three of the best Ecuador listings on the coast as far as value is concerned. 

 

LISTING 1

 

Punta Blanca Entrance 1  

 

$500 negotiable! Completely furnished 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment with AC, just 50 meters to the ocean. One of the bedrooms boasts a king sized bed. Kitchen has oven, stove, microwave and fridge! There's a barbecue area and parking garage. 

 

 LISTING 2

 Ballenita Ocean Front 

$500 for 1 year lease only: Wow, this 3 bedroom 3 bath furnished apartment is a fairly good deal. Although the apartment is only 110M (1,250 sq ft) it is completely furnished and the ocean views from the balcony are beautiful!  The only way to get this apartment for $500 is in a full one years lease. If you only want the apartment for 3 months or 6 months it is $800 per month!  Ballenita now has a full sized grocery store for your shopping needs.

 

LISTING 3

Manta

$500 Negotiable 2 bedroom 2 bath modern apartment with AC and Balcony in a secure building w/pool in the center of Manta. Walk to beach but NOT ON THE BEACH. NO OCEAN VIEW.  NOT Furnished. 

 

 

The Biggest Mistake Gringos Make, But Not You - Discover Cuenca Ecuador VLOG

We're shopping for medicinal herbs today in Cuenca Ecuador and enjoying our day. In this video we offer a little commentary about the biggest mistake (unintentionally) gringos make when they go abroad. We probably made this mistake too when we first moved to Cuenca but we quickly realized it's not the way to live in a developing country.

         


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Still Gung-Ho about Mexico? Here's a 2/2 Penthouse Apartment with Ocean Views for $740

Here's another sample of what you can get in a popular Mexican tourist destination. This FURNISHED penthouse apartment located in Cabo San Lucas is only $740 per month; it has partial views of the ocean, plus walking distance to all shopping! And when we say "shopping" we really mean big grocery stores, not small tiendas with only a few items. This is a 12 month lease only.  

We couldn't find this kind of deal (Ocean view 2/2 penthouse) on the Ecuador coast for this price.

Click here for more information on how to get rentals like this one anywhere.

Click here for more information on how to get rentals like this one anywhere.

5 Popular Gringo Neighborhoods in Cuenca Ecuador with PROS and CONS 2017 Vlog

These are the top 5 popular gringo neighborhoods in Cuenca Ecuador. A taxi driver told us in 2016 that all of Cuenca is gringolandia now. There are other neighborhoods in Cuenca that are up and coming with expats and we'll talk about those in a later post.

                    


Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife

Chasing Rainbows in DEVELOPING Latin America

Some people come down here and chase rainbows for a few years and then they leave. Some people come down here with no expectations and make their own rainbows and they stay. It's not paradise but its home and that's why we're still here.  

                   


We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

How Much to Rent a Condo or House in Cuenca? How to Get Best Price! UPDATED 2016

Update 2016 – This article was first published 5 years ago and after scanning through it again, we were shocked to see how much more house you could get for the price in 2011!  Those same houses are now in the $500 to $1000 range.
 

We’re not saying there aren’t any good deals out there anymore because there are a few normal priced houses in between the overpriced stuff but you have to really work for them.  They are the exception.



Update 2018: Rental prices have come back down to more normal levels, as they should be. However property prices for the buyer have just stayed steady, not going higher or lower, although negotiating will always give you the unlisted price. 
 

Condos are located in high rise buildings usually with 24/7 security guard, elevators and other amenities. There are many variables that can make your rent be higher or lower. Such as if it includes furniture and if it has views, how many square feet, etc. Typically, if it has security and elevators you can rent a 3/2 apartment or condo between  $350 and $600, while those condos with views and balconies and spacious are between $600 and $1200 for the really nice ones.
 

Update 2016 – Those prices were back then in 2011 and 2012. Today there are no 3/2 apartments/condos with elevator or security for $250 and if you do happen to come across one in that price range it means there’s probably stairs which gringos will avoid.
 

Just to give you an idea of what we’re talking about, in 2011 you could rent a 3/2 in the very popular Palermo Building (elevator, security and views) located in Gringolandia for $350. Throw in furniture and raise the price to $400. Those were the normal prices and what the wealthier Ecuadorians spent on rents in that building.
 

Gone are those days and it’s only been 5 years!
 

If you know someone here that can help you get a good deal on a rental you will pay less for rent. You can’t be in a hurry. But understand, just because it’s cheaper than what you are used to paying in the states doesn’t mean it is a good price! You can always try to bargain down the price. The house we rent was actually $350 a month, but because it hadn’t been rented for several months and because Frank is a good negotiator we got it for $250 a month…and btw, we still pay $250.
 

You will pay more for furnished houses, apartments and condos, however. And bear in mind that good quality furniture and appliances are expensive here.
 

UPDATE 2013*** We have witnessed that home rental prices are going up. The upsurge of foreigners is causing Ecuadorians to higher the price on their rental homes because they are not just renting to the locals anymore.
 

Really, really sad!! You can still find the diamond in the rough but there is a lot of pavement pounding involved...and many times they are not listed anywhere online, such as the older, but very well-kept 3-bedroom, plus study, 2 bath home in Rio Amarillo for just $220. We just rented this home to a family who is very appreciative to rent this nice home with a yard for their pets.  Value is certainly here on this one.
 

Update 2016: the biggest price surge in rentals in Cuenca has been with houses with yards. We’re seeing a huge demand from the foreigner for large modern houses with yards in certain neighborhoods near river and walking to the grocery store. These houses typically go between $600 and $1500 if it has all the needs the foreigner wants.  Who’d a thought that “best place to retire on a budget” would sport these kinds of price tags.  Want to take a guess?
 

Exceptions
 

Sure, you’ll see less expensive houses than what we’re talking about but it’s because gringos will not rent those. If it is not within walking distance to El Centro and if it has stairs you might find one for $450 that is modern and large but they are far and few between.
 

Take a look at how much house you could get back in 2011 to 2013 in Cuenca Ecuador.  Cuenca rental video tours.

Did you look through the tour of homes? Now, simply double and sometimes triple the price on these same homes and apartments and that’s what you can expect to pay in 2016.
 

If it has a nice yard and no steps the price will triple. When you look through this playlist and see a nice and modern 4 or 5 bedroom with yard for $350 then today it will cost $700 or more.
 

The less expensive houses are really town homes and have a postage stamp yard or no yard. All of these town homes back in 2012 were $250 -$300! Now they are $380 to $450.
 

If the home does not have a modern kitchen or bathrooms it might be under $500, and so there are exceptions.  So we can see that the rental inflation is much much lower on houses that foreigners are likely to pass up.
 

If you are renting in the short term, it’s better to come here and rent something that is already furnished for a little bit more money than to have to buy furniture and appliances for an empty apartment or house. Appliances aren’t cheap here and there are no thrift stores in Cuenca like there is in North America. 



Cuenca has a few used appliance stores here, but they ask an arm, a leg, and a nose for a 70’s style refrigerator, try $275! When you rent with any real estate agency they are going to want a lease of at least six months, and many times a one year lease.  Many will also ask for several deposits up front that you’ll never see again. That really makes them a donation rather than a deposit, if you pay it.  If you really like donating money, we know some ministries that would really appreciate it. 
 

We found a 5 bedroom 2 bath colonial house for as low as $180 a month. Now, it’s a big old house, mind you, but if you have a big family it might be just what you need. You’ll want to go drive around the area, get out and walk around and see if it is a neighborhood you would like to live in. That was in 2011 of course.
 

Update 2016 – Yep, prices aren’t what they used to be. 
 

Do your rental market research, negotiate and be prepared to walk away if the price seems out of line. The longer you lease the rental for the better price you can bargain for.  The bottom line is in the states you have to be careful from getting ripped off, and the same policy holds true for here in Cuenca; you have to be careful here too.
 

Update 2016 – There are some unscrupulous real estate folks that apparently don’t seem to care if they get a bad reputation in Cuenca. We’re just letting you know, “be diligent”.
 

Until we write again, you might like to read these articles about renting in Cuenca Ecuador. 

• What’s It Like Dealing with Unscrupulous Real Estate agents in Cuenca Ecuador?

• Seeking Cheap Rental for Less than 3-Months in Cuenca Ecuador
  

• Warning Signs You Might be Paying Too Much for Rent in Cuenca Ecuador

We're an expat family of five liivng frugal, healthy and happy in Cuenca Ecuador. Come along for the adventure.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Cuenca Ecuador Discovery Trip Update 2016

Update 2016: It was four years ago when we first posted this article and we have a few new updates to add today to make your visit easier and less expensive. This article is written for people who are mostly just visiting/vacationing in (Cuenca) Ecuador. 



Let's Save Money



1. Get an Apartment: If you are only staying between 1 and 3 months (and even 6 months) we suggest to snag yourself an apartment before you get here, if at all possible. Most folks don't look at the Vacation/Temporary/Rentals on OLX Ecuador.  Check it out here! 



Once you arrive on the website, make sure you check the appropriate boxes on the left hand side for: how many bedrooms you want and check the furnished box. Today on May 15, 2016 there are 70 one bedroom furnished rentals on OLX just in Cuenca.   We think many of these listings are by owner rather than real estate companies and that means BETTER PRICES and MORE NEGOTIATION ROOM!



Most of the online rental portals (Mercadolibre.com) will also have a temporary/vacation rental section and is where people who are coming to Ecuador for six months or less should be able to find a rental easier and less expensively. We do this when we travel because it assures we will have a lower cost place to stay while we visit an area and there is never any pressure to hurry up and find a rental. 



2. Ask about monthly price: Some of the prices on OLX, as you will see are per night, however, if you see something you like, call them and ask what their monthly (if they have monthly) rental price would be.    



We would venture to say that 8 out of 10 travelers
that come to Cuenca do so for a discovery trip to see if they are going to like
living here permanently for their future retirement years. This is always a
good idea, but it is also a good idea to not live only as a
tourist when you come to visit. Go local! 



Update 2016 - What do we mean, "go local"?  Well, you can come to Cuenca on a vacation and not really know what you are getting into until you: 

1. ride the bus

2. take a taxi

3. negotiate and buy produce from one of the many Mercados

4. go out to eat in a typical almuerzo restaurant and try some of the other Ecuadorian cuisine

5. enjoy one of the many Ecuadorian festivals

6. eat while walking (lol)

7. get to know some of the the local folks on a personal level

8. go shopping in one of the local grocery stores

9. and so much more...



Get to know the Ecuador culture and way of life on your visit. After all, if you are thinking of uprooting your life and moving here, don't you want to know what it is really like? 

Our “Discover Cuenca Blog
has a lot of good information in it for first time visitors to Cuenca
but reading about going local in Cuenca is not the same as doing it. Just get out and do it! It's a lot of fun going local because you will experience so much more on your visit. 

  

Tourist Don’t Mind Spending Money on Food and Hotel Costs

Being a tourist we tend to
stay in nicer, more expensive hotels, and we tend to patronize the
International cuisine restaurants a lot, and mingle with the expat community more. We
spend money because we’re on vacation! There is nothing wrong with doing those
things; after all, you’re a tourist, right? 



We're not saying, don't do the tourist stuff, by all means, please do, but get to know Cuenca Ecuador and some of the local folks and culture on a more intimate level, that way you will have pushed out any expectations of how your new life is going to be and you will be more prepared to make the move or maybe not make the move...who knows. 

We know that you will not
experience “the real Cuenca” being a tourist. You will not see what you would
see if you lived here. We think your discovery trip should involve the local
beat as well as the tourist beat. Staying two weeks and even two months in
Cuenca as a tourist will not really tell you anything if you live like a tourist.

We went to Mexico for
vacations on three different occasions. All three times we stayed in nice
luxury resorts on the beach, and ate in the touristy restaurants around other
vacationers in the resort. We shopped in the touristy gringo craft shops and
Mercados; we ate in the expensive restaurants geared for the foreigners. We
were typical tourists.

It was like “Wow, Mexico is
nice, maybe we should move here”. But on our third trip to Mexico we rented a
jeep and drove off the beaten path to a city called Colima. We were in culture
shock! Seriously. It was like “Ohhhh, this is the “real Mexico”. “This is what
Mexico looks like behind the facade of luxury hotels and International
restaurants.”  Big, BIG difference.

Salinas Ecuador was much the
same way. Beautiful high rise condos, expensive restaurants and shops right on
the beach, but you walk a few streets back and there’s nothing there. The
variance is quite extreme.

Cuenca is a little bit
different in that there is really not a lot of “in your face poverty” like
there was off the beaten track in Mexico. In Mexico back then all you had to do
was walk out the gate of the resort and there was poverty and fallen down
shacks. It’s not like that in Cuenca.

There is a tourist Cuenca
and there is a local Cuenca. When you veer away from the tourist spots in
Cuenca, which is really not veering away at all, but patronizing the Ecuadorian
run restaurants and shops, you will find groceries are less expensive and
eating out is less expensive.   



Update 2016 - This is still the trend today,. Everything (panaderias, pharmacies, eateries, tools and hardware, food shopping, everything is less expensive when you walk away from the well trodden tourist sidewalks of Cuenca.



Update 2016- We had to take a popular bakery (panaderia) out of the DIY Cuenca guide because it was a half a block from Park Calderon and too many tourists visited this bakery every day and they still do to this day. All the pastries and cakes and coffee and water (yes they started charging for water form their tap) went up in astronomical prices in just a couple of years...so we took them out of the guide and walked about 7 blocks away and found another really great bakery with normal prices and added them to the guide book to take the place of the over-rated bakery. 

As far as rents go there is
a tourist rent and a local rent. Unfortunately anything furnished caters to the
tourist but you can still find better priced furnished if you keep looking. If
you rent for longer than six months and get a year lease your rent will be less than the three to six month rental. 

The tourist Cuenca is
managed and run by other expats and Ecuadorians who are catering to the
vacationing tourists. Rents, food, shopping and tours will be at tourist
prices. You can spend thousands of dollars during your stay in Cuenca by being
toured around, eating, shopping and touring in the tourist hot spots.

Or…you
can read the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide and go local
and spend a fraction of the cost by utilizing the resources we have outlined in
the guide book.

If you’re anything like us
and want to live on a retirement budget, once you move here, you’ll see that
living as a tourist in Cuenca is not the way to do it. We encourage our readers
to go local and save their hard-earned money!

There is absolutely nothing
to fear about going local, even if you do not speak Spanish. You can get by
using a Spanish pocket dictionary and sign language—as foreigners the local
population is very forgiving if you do not know Spanish, yet.

To see the real Cuenca,
you’ll want to stray off the beaten path to some of the Ecuadorian grocery
stores we list in the guide and do any run of the mill activities that a permanent resident would be doing.  You’ll need to know a little Spanish for this. 



Update 2016 - Funny the Mercados, especially Feria Libre is becoming more and more expensive for the foreigner and subsequently we don't even go there anymore. In fact when you buy produce "in season" in the regular grocery stores we pay the same or sometimes less than at the local Mercados. Of course, we hope and think they are only price gouging the gringo and not the local because it would be very disconcerting to find out that locals are also paying gringo rates at the Mercados!! 

You can spend $5 to $8 now more like $6 to $10 eating out FOR LUNCH in an international restaurant frequently managed and owed
by expats. But will you want to do that every day? Instead, you might want to
download our free restaurant guide
which lists 10 good Ecuadorian restaurants (LUNCH) between $2 AND $3!   



Update 2016 - Our restaurant guide is still available to download on our website here, however prices in most of the establishments have gone up in price, so expect to pay more than what is listed in the guide. We do list a couple of expat restaurants that have reasonable prices and good food in the updated version found here.

We encourage you to come to
Cuenca and see it for what it is, and step out beyond the usual tourist traps.
Just three, no make that seven years ago, Cuenca was unheard of. There were few tourists
being gouged, and there were fewer gringos even living in Cuenca.

Today, if you are not
careful you will be taken advantage of, but with the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide in your hands, you’ll be able to
spot when someone is trying to gouge you and you will be encouraged to just
smile and walk away, feeling good about your decision. There’s always a better
deal down the road. 



Until we write again, you might also like to read these posts about the real Cuenca Ecuador.

• Get the Real McCoy in Cuenca and Quito Ecuador: Know what is REAL and Who You Can Trust

• Retire Cheap in Cuenca Ecuador? Reality Check

•  How Many Foreigners Live in Cuenca Ecuador? Update 2016

•  3 Ways Going Local Helps Ecuador

We're an expat family of five living frugal, healthy and happy in Cuenca Ecuador.  We vlog/blog about what it's like to live abroad and be frugal. Come along and enjoy the adventure with us!

10 Warning Signs You Might Be Paying Too Much for Rent in Cuenca Ecuador? Updated 2016

Some of you might think you got a great deal on your rental and maybe you have. However, we know that many expats in Ecuador are overpaying for their rental house or apartment. So consider the list below to see if you may be getting gringoed on your rent.

 

1. You procured your rental through an English speaking/ Ecuadorian real estate agent or online.  
2. You asked for any one of these amenities in your new place: views 2) elevator 3) by the river 4) near shopping 5) walk to Supermaxi.6) yard 7) a detached house.
3. You took the first price that was quoted and did not negotiate.
4. Your new place is a furnished one bedroom suite. (Tourist rental) 
5. Your landlord raised the rent after one year. (Illegal in Ecuador)
6. You paid two or three months rent upfront. (The locals do not do this)
7. You compared the Ecuadorian rental price to what you WERE PAYING in the u.s.
8. You brought your u.s standards of living with you.
9. You simply don’t care how much your rent is.
10. You’re paying more than $400 (now new gringo rate $600 to $1200 for a house) for an unfurnished 3-bedroom 3-bath house, or you are paying more than $350 for 3 bedroom 3 bath apartment that does not have 24 hour security or elevator.

None of these are a guarantee that you are getting gringoed, but we think you should use it as a gauge to see if perhaps you just might be over-paying for rent.  

Note: There are many variables that go into the price of a rental including but not limited to, whether bldg. has an elevator, square footage, foreign owners or local owners, etc. etc.  Houses have higher rents than apartments.

See our videos of beautiful homes in Cuenca for between $250 and $400!!              
We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!

A New 6 Bedroom 4 Bath House for the Frugal Family or Not?

We saw a big house in Cuenca Ecuador for $380 negotiable; don't see prices like that much anymore here in paradise. We went to go look at it and this is what it looks like. 

                      


We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

6 Facts Showing Rent & Housing Prices Have Increased Considerably in Cuenca Ecuador by Foreigners!

Once again we bring you the real nitty gritty about expat life in Cuenca Ecuador.  Each year the same question is asked "How many foreigners live in Cuenca" and each year for the past 10 years the same answer of a few thousand (4000) is conjured up just out of the blue. 



What this does is gives those who for one reason or another need to believe that foreigners don't raise prices while they go around spouting off that a few thousand foreigners could not possibly raise housing markets, rental prices, or any prices for that matter.  Their persistent and dogmatic forum postings say things like:



 I
am so fed up with unsubstantiated claims (Gringo urban myths) that
4,000 gringos supposedly drive up prices for everybody in a city of
500,000. How does this make economic sense??? Somebody explain this to
me with facts.

Ok, who's common sense should we use: how about the official office of the 'Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) that processes and registers the visa paperwork!?  Moving on... 

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

1. [Aunque para la Cancillería es halagador que los extranjeros prefieran Cuenca a los países desarrollados de los que provienen, el crecimiento de dicha población “necesita ser regulado”, según Humberto Cordero, secretario del Viceministerio de Movilidad Humana.



Según un estudio de la Universidad de Cuenca, los extranjeros prefieren zonas cercanas al Centro Histórico, a no más de 15 minutos de distancia en vehículo. Esto ha hecho que las propiedades en dicho radio de acción aumenten considerablemente de valor.]

This from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Translated for non-Spanish Speakers

[The ministry of foreign affairs is flattered that foreigners prefer Cuenca Ecuador, a developing country over their own country for retirement; however the MOFA states that the growth of the population needs to be regulated because of substantially higher housing prices.



A study by the University of Cuenca shows that foreigners prefer areas near the historic center, no more than 15 minutes away by car. This has caused the properties in that range to increase considerably in value.] 

 

SOURCE: The Cuneca Ecuador Study (2010 - 2011) of the Impact of Foreigners to Cuenca Ecuador - Click PDF for the 2011 study of the Impact of Foreigners to Cuenca Ecuador to get an idea of what the new study involves. (Can't find the new 2015 - 2016 study online, if there even is one)



 2. Cuenca has 12,000
gringo/permanent residents now according to the 'Ministry of Foreign
Affairs'. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (who better to get the facts from than the OFFICIAL office that processes the residency visas, uh?) 



[Según el último registro del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, los estadounidenses que viven de forma permanente en la ciudad superaron los 8.000 habitantes; junto a europeos y canadienses sobrepasan los 12.000 residentes extranjeros.]

Translated for non Spanish Speakers

At the last registry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of north Americans (U.S) who live permanently in the city exceeded 8,000; with Europeans and Canadians the numbers surpass the 12,000 foreign residents living in Cuenca Ecuador.



Notice the "El Tiempo" article says...AT THE LAST REGISTRY OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.  Unlike the forum opinions attesting actual figures to some University study, these facts come directly from the official government offices that have a registry of all residence apps.



Is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs registry files mistaken? Could there still only be 4,000 gringo residents living in Cuenca years and years later? Please read the article yourself at the source: El Tiempo Newspaper



And
how is it that year in and year out these nay-saying doubters throw
around the same number of year round residents that was being touted ten
years ago?  After many years, they’re still using the same number. 
Read on.


The last paragrpah of the article in El tiempo the MOFA states:

[Since 2012 the number of foreign residents increased by 1,000 people per year. The trend continues, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]



But just for fun we'll play the game with all the naysayers. Let's suppose there are still only 4,000 permanent residents living in Cuenca. So what! There is always a new influx of gringos coming that need to rent houses and apartments. Do you get that?



According to the MOFA there are 10 new applicants a day processing permanent resident visa paperwork in Cuenca immigration. That's 50 per week, 210 per month and yearly that's approx. 2060 visa requests, not counting for the last part of the holiday month of December.   If only half retain residency (that's a full 1000 per year that would be leaving)  that would be more than 1,000 new residents each year residing in Cuenca! Which coincides with the MOFA statement of 1,000 new residents each year!

 

[Since 2012 the number of foreign residents increased by 1,000 people per year. The trend continues, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs] 



It
doesn’t take many gringos who demand what he or she likes, river views,
near to El Centro, walking to store, no stairs, pets, a yard, etc…when they all ask for
similar cookie cutter housing, for landlords and real estate agents to
get wind of it and raise prices on their homes that have these
amenities!! But all the gringos have these same demands! Now do you see?
It’s not that hard or difficult to get.
 

3.
Listen and read what other expats are saying, that have lived here for 3
to 6 years, about rental prices. Are large groups of gringos lying
about rental prices doubling, or is it what’s really happening? What or
why would a large group of people get from lying about something like
this anyway? Please see our video "What's it Like Living in a Tourist City Like Cuenca".
 

4.
In 2011 a taxi driver told us not to pay more than $250 to $300 dollars
for a 3/3 house.  Should we not believe the local who has lived here
all his life, or should we believe the stumped gringo(s) who only just
moved here 6-months ago?
 

4
years later: Look online, look in the paper, ask around and you’ll soon
discover that the $250 house has vanished. Now the new price for a
decent house (same value as the $250 house) is between $450 to $700
dollars rental price. You can get a whole lot of house in a lot of parts
of the world for that. See Cuenca Ecuador Rental Market Compared to 8 others Countries.
 

According
to Numbeo the cost of renting in July 2014 was showing 50% higher than
Medellin. Now, 8 months later it is showing a 72% higher rental market
than Medellin. And this is according to 46 renters who live in Medellin
and 46 renters who live in Cuenca. Who better to talk about rental prices than the renters themselves!!!?

          (top) July 2014 screenshot taken from Numbeo.com

         (top) February 2015 screenshot taken from Numbeo.com
 

The facts are everywhere, but some gringos show perplexity and wonder how just a few thousand gringos can
raise prices that they don’t believe it. A doubting Thomas will never
believe until something happens to them to show otherwise.  Just because
Thomas doubted, did not change the fact that his Lord was standing
right in front of him.
 

6.  Returning Ecuadorians (with money to spend) were descending upon Cuenca in the thousands.
These wealthy Ecuadorians have been living in the u.s for more than
half their lives, working and saving, and now many of them are returning
to their homeland of Cuenca. Many of them live in gringolandia because
they are gringos.  They call themselves that.
 

Okay,
now that you know some of the facts, let’s do some more considering.
When we reverse the process, or let’s say, put our self in the landlord /
agents shoes, we just need to ask ourselves this: If all the gringos
and all the returning Ecuadorians went back to the u.s tomorrow, who
would the landlords rent their $600 and $700 houses and apartments to?
 

The
majority of (Cuenca) Ecuador are wage earners and small mom and pop
business owners. Are they going to rent a house in Cuenca for $600? No,
they probably are not going to rent anything over $300 dollars unless
one of the earners in the home is a doctor, lawyer, professor; you know,
a wealthier Ecuadorian.
 

Are
the majority of renters in Cuenca, doctors, lawyers, and large business owners, or are they wage earners and small mom and pop business
owners?  CIA world fact book says the latter. So then we must ask the
question again, who is going to rent all of the houses and apartments
that were typically priced at the local rental rate of $250 to $300 back
in 2011 that are now typically $500 and $700?  Still stumped? It is
not rocket science.
 

Many
times because of unbelief for one reason or another, we just have to
step outside of ourselves to see something, you know, “get it”, even if
it is right under our noses.



Until we write again, you might like to read these related articles too.

• How Many Expats Live in Cuenca Ecuador?

• 10 More Shocking Truths about Cuenca Ecuador

• Why (some) Expats Move Back to North America after Living in Ecuador 

• Cuenca Ecuador has been Discovered!

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!