PANAMA CITY Compared to QUITO - Transportation, Crime, Weather, Rentals 🇵🇦-🇪🇨 2019

Panama City compared to Quito Ecuador, including transportation, crime, healthcare, rentals, and more with pros and cons. For the complete article on the comparison of these two cities, click here.



           

Best Rental Options in Quito Ecuador Today!

Rentals in Quito Ecuador!

3/2 beautiful Quito Apartment (120M) located in North Quito.  The master has a jacuzzi tub and there is a parking garage for your car with electric door, plus a terraza! The apartment has pretty curtains throughout the whole apartment. Asking $400. Remember, all prices are negotiable. And if you want, we'll do the negotiating, translating, and we'll even make sure all the ducks are in a perfect row with the contract.

Nice 3/3 (Estranar Casa) in gated community with pool. This home with nice American style finishes is located in Los Chillos, a suburb about 30 minutes outside of Quito proper. The home boasts 3 bedrooms plus a studio. (125M) All 3 bedrooms have their own bath. Kitchen has a little breakfast nook for eating. There is also a social bath. Home has Living, dining room, and an area outside for BBQing.  Asking $500 but it is NEGOTIABLE.

We have already scouted for the best rental options today in Quito and here they are.  

We scout and negotiate, working to find you the best rental deals in Ecuador. Sign up (top right) to receive some of our latest good deal rentals in Ecuador available now!
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Retirees: Yes, Cuenca’s Great But Quito Might Just be Better!

Everyone has their reasons for moving to a certain area, but it seems to us that many people have been duped.  Cuenca’s property prices are already sky-high for Ecuador, and they have been for years, especially since the retirement press started going “cocoa puffs” over it about four years ago!



So, what about Quito? For a certain type of retiree, those who are healthier, maybe even younger, and like to do things, Quito Ecuador has a lot more going for it than Cuenca. From the perspective of things to do such as excellent mega shopping, International restaurants to dine in, and day-time cultural activities, and evening time musical fine arts, Quito comes out as A-One on all fronts. And remarkably, the people of Quito are just as friendly as they are in the smaller city, Cuenca.



We have a lot of positive things to say about Quito and we have a lot to show you about Quito because we had the opportunity for several extended visits, and more are planned. We actually rented an apartment in the colonial district and did the Quito adventure! In fact, we may just decide to move there ourselves because property prices have not risen there like they have in Cuenca. They are about 20 to 30% lower on rents and same with the real estate market.



If anyone has done the research on the real estate market in Cuenca, you’ll know what we’re talking about. This is Ecuador (it is still a developing country) and to pay what their asking for a “nothing special” small home on a small lot in Cuenca is absolutely outrageous!!



Check this out. You can buy a 3,500 sq ft colonial in Quito for $99,000, still today...and that's the asking price! In Cuenca the same building (Not restored) goes for $350,000! And if it is restored over half a million dollars!  What’s going on? We all know what’s going on and it isn’t going to get any better!



But most northerners come here and compare the Cuenca market to the Northern country markets and think the real estate market is great here in Ecuador…boy, have people been deceived.  Cuenca Ecuador is the most expensive city for real estate purchase and rentals, in all of Ecuador.  And it’s all fueled by foreigner money. 



We’ve already compared national wages for Ecuador/u.s.a  and then factored in the prices. And don’t forget about the rule of 3 and 4 either; it sure has gotten us out of a financial self deception on several occasions.



Just because something appears to be a good value to you doesn’t mean you aren’t getting ripped off.  To pay tourist prices for visits is understood, but to pay tourist prices for year round living, well, what do you think?  We’ve also seen people behave in strange ways toward a foreign country, in such a way that they would never act back home, such as believing the hype and the fear of loss high pressure selling tactics pushed by real estate agents.



We have to change the way we look at things when we move to developing countries, especially real estate.If we retire in a country that is still in its development stages it means that real estate prices are still developing as well; it does not mean they are already developed, but here in Cuenca it seems as if the market is at its high point (for a 3rd world city).



Back to Quito. Why don’t we see much writing about Quito? All over the internet articles keep hyping up and glorifying Cuenca as the ‘cheapest place to retire’…NOT!   New articles keep coming out all the time about how great Cuenca is. And these new articles keep raising the cost of living every few months.



Go ahead and type in the google search, “Quito Ecuador International Living”. You’ll see about 6 articles written by IL Writers. And then type in “Cuenca Ecuador International Living”. Wow!   It keeps going on and on about Cuenca.



Does that mean Cuenca is a better place to live than Quito? Absolutely NOT! It appears that there could be an agenda to continue hyping up Cuenca Ecuador, at this time, for whatever reason.  We’ve certainly had expats whisper things in our ears.  We don’t like to speculate especially when we do not have all the facts. More in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide, it’s not just a welcome guide, it is a lifesaver.



Soon, or already now, you may see write ups and publicizing of the “new paradise” to prepare for in a few years when Cuenca becomes old news or too expatriated! We’re just saying, take a look at Quito or, why wait for the International Press to glorify a city, when we can get there before the herd does.  Why have your eyes set on Cuenca only? Open up and see more of Ecuador, or of some other paradise. And remember, paradise is what we make it not what some popular retirement press magazine says.



“You know we have blinders on when we are unable to set our retirement sights on any other city than the one that is being hyped up for that year.”



Learn more about Quito, the other paradise that doesn’t get all hyped up and glorified. Yet!  Our commentary about Quito coming soon, so be on the lookout for “Why We Like Quito Ecuador” coming soon!!  Quito may well be worth your consideration.

Dispelling the Myths about Quito Ecuador

Quito is a really neat and beautiful big city. We really found Quito to be a nice, pleasant city with some very nice people. Quito caters to those who like the big city life with lots of things to do. You won't get bored in Quito, that's for sure. We have heard some negative things said about Quito... but we're ready to dispel those myths and bring forth some facts, and of course, our personal observations.

1. MYTH: Quito is Dirty

FACT:  Quito is NOT a dirty city; in fact, we found it to be quite pleasant and clean. Of course in the tourist district where all the night clubs, discotheques and bars are it can get cluttered with garbage, bottles, cigarette butts and broken glass from the night before, but they clean it the very next day and by early afternoon the debris from the night’s party-goers is all cleaned up. 

All big cities have areas where there is more garbage on the streets, Quito is no exception, but you might not want to live, or even enter into such neighborhoods anyway. Overall, Quito was just as clean (they have garbage cleaners and city garbage sweepers) as Cuenca, which was very surprising since it is a much bigger city. Notice in our videos, the streets, they are sparkling clean.

2. MYTH: The locals are not very nice and some were rude. (this was said in comparison to Cuenca’s people).

FACT: We visited Quito twice just recently and we stayed in Quito for over a month and never experienced any unpleasant locals. We felt that the people were just as helpful and friendly as they are in Cuenca. No matter where one lives in the world you’re bound to run into rude people…it goes with the territory of travel.

Sadly, we hear from the locals in Cuenca that the expats are rude to them, so it works both ways. It is far worse to be the rude expat than the rude local, at least in our book.

3. Myth: There is more smog in Quito than in Cuenca

FACT:  People like to compare Quito to Cuenca. For one thing Cuenca is barely a half a million people and Quito is 2 million people! Therefore, to compare a huge metropolitan city (four times as big) to the quaint little town of Cuenca is really not conducive to any real facts… But anyway, we found Quito to have numerous electric trolleys (fewer buses) for local transportation and because of that there is far LESS diesel fuel pollution in Quito than in Cuenca, if you were to compare. 



When Cuenca gets her light rail up and running she will also have less air pollution as well.

FYI: buses don’t even travel in the colonial district of Quito so there is minimal diesel fuel pollution. At the time of this writing we feel that there is more car and bus pollution in the colonial area of Cuenca than there is in Quito.

4. MYTH: Quito is more expensive than Cuenca

FACT:  We keep hearing this but what we experienced when visiting Quito ourselves, and what we are finding out through our research this is just another myth. Well here, let’s take a look.

Rentals
Just as an example for comparison purposes, there are a lot more vacant homes, apartments and condos to go around in Quito and so it is easier to find a nice 3/2 house or apartment in the $300 to $350 dollar price range than in Cuenca. According to the cost of living index rents are about $100 to $125 cheaper per month in Quito for the same amount of apartment. Click on the city name to see the index.

Rent Per Month - Quito
 

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre $300
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre $200
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre $475
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre $350.00
Rent Per Month - Cuenca

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre $400
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre $300
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre $650
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre $450
 

Buying property

As far as purchasing property, we find there are some colonial homes with potential still under $100K in Quito (some need more restoration then others), while in Cuenca you’re looking at $350K (needs restored) up to 1M for a colonial home purchase in the colonial center.  And according to the cost of living price index, again, the price for buying a home or apartment outside of Quito city center is showing $214 per meter cheaper than in Cuenca!
So, Quito wins again.

Food prices


Food prices at the grocery stores in Quito do not cost more than in Cuenca. There are many Mercado’s in Quito where you can find great deals on fresh fruits and vegetables just like in Cuenca. Utilities do not cost more in Quito than in Cuenca.

The weather/climate is the same as in Cuenca, all year long, so you’ll spend the same amount on heating costs.  According to the cost of living index once again, food prices are better in the Quito grocery stores than in Cuenca, for most things. For example, rice, bread, milk, cheese, wine and cigarettes are cheaper in Quito than in Cuenca according to the cost of living index.
 

Dining out

The international priced restaurants are about the same in Quito as they are in Cuenca. Expect to be set back for a nice dinner about $8 to $15 dining out in a nice restaurant. FYI: Quito also has Almuerzo, Merienda, and Desayuno, and at the same $2 to $3 price as Cuenca. 

We ate out two times in the International restaurants and for five adults we were set back around $52 including the tip! These prices were the same as you’d expect to find in Cuenca. Not bad.

Transportation costs

We rode in a taxi several times within the same district and the driver only charged us $1. To go to the colonial district from La Mariscal district it will set you back about $4 to $5. That’s not bad considering the time it takes and the traffic. Buses and trolleys cost a whopping .25 cents.

According to the cost of living index taxis are cheaper in Quito!
 

Traveling 1 kilometer by taxi cab in Cuenca is $1.50, while Quito is $1 per kilometer.  Taxi start (normal tariff) is $1.50 in Cuenca which means no matter how far you need to go, even if it is just 4 blocks it will cost you $1.50. In Quito the taxi start (normal tariff) is just .45 cents. Meaning, if you just want to go 4 blocks it will set you back about .45 cents or maybe just .50 cents.

Health care

Health care is not more in Quito. Doctors do not charge more in the bigger city of Quito. A doctor’s visit in Quito will be between $10 to $40 dollars a visit. Prescriptions are much lower priced in Ecuador.

Entertainment

Quito boasts free concerts (National Symphony Orchestra) and other free musical admissions, just like Cuenca. In fact, Quito has many more free concerts because it is a bigger city.  Quito also has many superstar performances (not free of course) because it is a major hub for such big time concerts. 



How much you spend on entertainment is up to you but let us tell you this, there is a lot more to do and see in Quito and so your entertainment as far as cultural museums and tourist attractions means you might spend more in Quito if you do everything. 


The bottom line is, if we’re still comparing Quito to Cuenca, Quito is NOT more expensive than Cuenca. Although, because Quito is a super metropolis, you can spend as much as your budget permits. Quito has elegant high rise condos in the city center and then it has nice homes and apartments just outside of the city. So whatever you want to spend on cost of living, Quito will have no problem consuming it.

If you are considering moving to Ecuador, and you like the big city life, Quito may just be the place that fits your needs. We loved Quito and we'll be talking more about what it is that we loved about Quito in an up and coming post. 



There is so much more we will be exploring with you about moving and retiring to Quito Ecuador, so stay tuned to this blog and don't forget to subscribe with your email for all the latest posts.