Ecuador uses the US dollar, has one of the lowest cost-of-living thresholds in the Americas, and Cuenca consistently ranks as a top-rated expat retirement city.
Single-adult planning estimates in USD: lean $1100, comfortable $1800, premium $2800. Costs vary by city and circumstances. Obtain current rental and insurance quotes.
Pensioner Visa: $1,446/mo pension (3x Ecuadorian SBU of $482 for 2026). VA disability and SSDI qualify.
Cuenca, Quito, and Guayaquil have solid private hospitals. Public IESS available to residents for ~$80/mo.
No VA hospitals in Ecuador. Foreign Medical Program reimburses service-connected care. Many Cuenca expats use Hospital Universitario del Río or Hospital Monte Sinai for private care plus IESS for major events.
Recent security concerns in coastal cities (Guayaquil). Cuenca and highland towns remain safe. Check current advisories. Spring-like climate in highlands, tropical on the coast. Spanish required. Strong expat hubs in Cuenca and Vilcabamba.
Veterans wanting maximum dollar value in a USD economy with established US retiree presence.