Uh, Overpaying Because You're a Gringo?

Seasoned travelers know prices but tourists, vacationers and newbies don't know what prices should be...and so what happens? Well, several things happen such as the vendor sets a new precedent for the cost of something because he or she now knows a gringo will pay that much. The other thing that happens is obvious and that's rising prices. The most important principle here is to understand that not wanting to overpay doesn't make you look cheap unless you are cheap. It's about principle, not about how a person feels. 

                         


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!

I Was Going to Offer Less for This House But...

We're in Salinas Ecuador looking at a house rental in Punta Carnero. We were going to offer less for this house but then we found out that...watch the video to see the rest of the story.

                     


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!

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!