Having been in the U.S. Air Force and then later as a representative for an International Steamship Company and owning my own company, I’ve had the good fortune to travel to many places on this planet during my career. When I hit retirement age, I considered living abroad. After my first visit to South America and Ecuador about 10 years ago, I realized that Ecuador had everything I had been looking for… low cost of living, awesome coastal lifestyle, the year-round great weather of the Andes Mountains, affordable healthcare, political stability and an amazing people and their sense of community.
I found the northern Andes with its spring-like, year-round weather quite enjoyable. The capitol city of Quito has something for everyone and the awesome villages and towns of Cotacachi, San Antonio, Ibarra and Otavalo are simply amazing. The southern Andes has Vilcabamba, Loja and Cuenca and boasts a never-ending growing season. However, being more of a warm weather and sunshine type person, I fell in love with Ecuador’s beautiful coastline. Salinas is a beautiful city with many expats situated in the southwestern part of the country. Up the coast from Salinas are many fishing villages and great surfing towns. Then we come to the small city of Manta, which has very warm weather all year round (averaging 85 F during the warm season and 80 F during the cold season), and offers an amazing coastal lifestyle at a low cost.
Manta has 12 beaches, each of which is very unique. For example, there’s Santa Marianita, popular with expats and one of the best kite surfing locations in South America. San Mateo is famous for its outstanding surf break. And Murcielago, the beach in Manta city, has something for everyone – shopping, outstanding restaurants, and a calm ocean to swim in. My favorite beach is Murcielago. It’s easy to get to, clean, and full of friendly people.”
Like everywhere in Ecuador, Manta has a low cost of living, but the draw of this place is its relaxed lifestyle. A typical week can involve surfing lessons, Spanish classes, and eating out with friends. Every Thursday night, the large expat community gets together for “gringo night” and have dinner or check out the latest bar.
What I found so special about Ecuador is its people. Ecuadorians live in the moment, and are relaxed and peaceful; leading unmaterialistic lives, and yet seem so happy.
Here are some prices one might expect to pay in Manta.
Rent $210 to $230 a month for a furnished apartment (with a pool) in a gated community with only a five-minute drive from Murcielago beach.
Water $8 a month
Electricity $30 a month
Internet $30 a month Groceries $425 a month – and this includes eathing out at least once daily with drinks
Because Manta is such a small city, a car is not necessary. One can walk most places. Should you want to take a bus, $0.30 to $1.00 will get you anywhere in the city. A taxi can cost approximately $10 per hour or take a camionetta for $1.05 per trip. A camionetta is a small shuttle service run by locals between Manta city and the beaches.
Most expats choose not to take out health insurance as access to healthcare in Ecuador is affordable and accessible. While you need to be a permanent resident to obtain the full healthcare benefits, emergency hospital visits are free for everyone, including tourists. Here are some sample costs:
Dermatologist $42
Dentist $30
Medicines $10 to $104
Ecuador’s healthcare system is really quite amazing. Most doctors are trained in the USA or Europe. One gets the impression that the nurses in Ecuador really care about you. You’re not just a number to them. That alone makes you feel better about receiving any kind of treatment.
My advice for tourists and future expats alike would be this: Always display a smile, and be prepared to say hello, even to strangers. Come with the right attitude, try to fit in and then understand the local customs and be humble and friendly.”
