🇪🇨 South America
Cuenca, Ecuador
South America ✓ Live Numbeo data See Ecuador country profile →
Top-ranked expat retirement city; UNESCO heritage center
Climate
Rainfall, humidity, and the best months to visit: see the full Cuenca climate profile →
Internet speeds
Measured medians from 25,396 real speedtests within 10 km of the city center (Q1 2026) — not advertised ISP numbers.
| Download | Upload | Latency | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband | 266 Mbps | 251 Mbps | 9 ms | 24,033 |
| Mobile | 168 Mbps | 35.4 Mbps | 27 ms | 1,363 |
Speedtest® by Ookla Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps, © Ookla. Accessed 2026-07-18. Your building's wiring and ISP plan matter more than the city median. Compare all cities in the Internet Speed Explorer →
Cost of living breakdown
USD converted from local prices at baseline rates (1 USD = 1 USD, 2026-06-16). Use the Cost of Living Explorer for live exchange rates.
| 💰 Monthly budgets | USD |
|---|---|
| Individual (excl. rent) | $498 |
| Individual all-in (excl. rent + 1BR center) | $952 |
| Family of 4 (excl. rent) | $1,848 |
| Average net salary (after tax) | $546 |
| 🏢 Rent & property | USD |
|---|---|
| 1BR city center | $454 |
| 1BR outside center | $356 |
| 3BR city center | $676 |
| 3BR outside center | $555 |
| Buy price / sqft — center | $114 |
| Buy price / sqft — outside | $78 |
| 🍽️ Food & dining | USD |
|---|---|
| Cheap meal (1 person) | $3.50 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $30.00 |
| Fast food combo | $8.00 |
| Beef (per lb) | $3.26 |
| Taxi (per mile) | $1.81 |
| ⚡ Utilities & lifestyle | USD |
|---|---|
| Basic utilities / mo | $37 |
| Phone plan / mo | $12 |
| Internet / mo | $27 |
| Gym membership / mo | $30 |
| Cinema ticket | $7.00 |
| Preschool / mo | $230 |
| International school / yr | $3,500 |
| New car (Corolla equiv.) | $25,000 |
Visa, taxes & legal in Ecuador
Country-level research that applies to living in Cuenca — each row links to the full comparison dashboard.
| Tourist entry (US passport) | 90 days visa-free + 90 extension |
| Digital nomad visa | Rentista Remote Work (Nomad) Visa — income requirement ~$1,350-1,400/mo (3x min wage) or $16,200 savings — compare all countries → |
| Path to permanent residency | Yes → after ~21 months on the nomad visa |
| Tax if you become resident | Worldwide system · top rate 37% top — tax breakdown → |
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 6/10 · cross-border collection 5/10 — legal detail → |
Everything about the country in one place: Ecuador profile for American nomads →
Location
Compare with nearby cities
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo