Cuenca’s three major pros are as follows:
1. Cuenca’s Old World Character and Ideal Climate
When more and more American cities and suburbs look like they were designed at corporate, Cuenca looks like something out of Europe with its gorgeous architecture, historic buildings, scenic public squares and parks, and tons of authentic character.
As for nature lovers, Cuenca sits at the cross-roads, so to speak of four major rivers and is surrounded by mountains, as it lies on the Ande’s mountain range. Most state parks are less beautiful than the cities average walking trail.
And outdoor beauty is important because the weather will make you want to be outside — with year round temperatures averaging in the mid-70s Fahrenheit, getting just cool enough in the evenings for a light sweater or jacket.
And all this in a city of only 500,000 people — about 100,000 people smaller than Portland, Oregon.
2. Cuenca As a Welcoming, American-Friendly, Metropolitan City
As mentioned earlier, many Ecuadorians who have spent some time working, studying or living in the US, settle back in Cuenca when they come back to Ecuador.
That means the people in Cuenca like and is welcoming of Americans and happy to help make them part of the community. Many are fluent in English and the city has plenty of English-language bookstores, store owners, and people willing to accommodate non-Spanish speaking travelers and expats.
Overall Cuenca has a very metropolitan feel, alive with talents, dollars, and a taste for life that these well-traveled and well-educated Ecuadorians and expats bring to it, and all of that rolled into a place that’s very reasonable and affordable to live.
3. Low Cost of Living Coupled with Excellent Schools, Food, and Health Care
We’ve already mentioned housing costs in Cuenca — they are affordably low, with luxury, furnished rentals running around $650 a month.
Factor in utilities, condo fees, cable, and everything else and you’re looking in the neighborhood of $900 a month — again for a furnished, luxury apartment in a desirable location. And the same goes for most anything else — eating out at a first-rate restaurant for two runs about $30. Buying groceries with plenty of grass-fed beef, fresh seafood and veggies will run you about $250 a month — or about $60 a trip to the market.
Along with the lower cost of living comes the higher quality of life for families and retirees. Not only does Cuenca have an abundance of Universities, including University courses in spanish for expats, but the local schools are excellent and the community places a very high value on education in general.
Many people who move to Cuenca retire there, but if you’re moving your family there, you can rest assured that your kids will receive a first-class education without worry of payment for private schools.
And this low-cost for premium living extends right through to inexpensive, high quality health care, available at 18 hospitals and medical centers in the city, many of which are home to a large number of English-speaking doctors — something extremely important to both retirees and families!
for more information please visit the following link:
