#3 Ecuador
Ecuador is still a largely undiscovered country that has not yet been homogenized but still provides modern comforts such as high-speed internet, American dollar currency, mild weather, efficient transit systems, and affordable healthcare and housing. The inhabitants are a mix of indigenous people, people of Spanish ancestry, North Americans, Europeans, and people of various nationalities.
There are not so many countries in this world in which the cost of living is as low as in Ecuador. It all depends on your location and lifestyle, but in theory, you can comfortably live on $1,500 to $1,800 per month. For around $150,000, you can purchase a house on a Pacific Coast beach or an apartment in the Andes. Accommodations are plentiful and affordable. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo beginning at $500.
Larger expat communities can be found in Salinas, which has beaches lined with modern apartments; Cotacachi, a tiny, quiet village where artisans make everything from leather products to alpaca ponchos; Cuenca, the newest Andean resort town that serves as Ecuador’s cultural center, with music, art, as well as New Orleans-style architecture attracting visitors from all over the globe; and Vilcabamba, the home of the “Valley of Longevity,” known for its laid-back expats who relax outside cafés sharing ideas.
