Life in Quito

After ten years since moving into my condo

in El Centro, it seems as if I am the only Expat

in the sector.

Sure, I see tourist types ambling around, but in

a typical day while shopping or eating out,

I don't expect to see any Gringos.

So Spanish is essential to live in the historical

center unless a person is some kind of hermit.

I moved into my condo the same year the last

of the casinos was shuttered. So now I travel

to Colombia or Lima or elsewhere to scratch

my itch and play blackjack.

My place is on the same street as national

government buildings, Calle García Moreno,

but five blocks up the rise, so I usually walk

down to the commercial area near Plaza Grande

and take a bus or a taxi back up, depending on

what I am carrying.

There's a swimming pool next to La Basílica,

which is within walking distance of my condo,

although the jacuzzi is only certain to be

heated on Saturday and Sunday .. and the

place is often closed on weekends lately.

About once a week when I am in Quito,

I drive across town to MegaMaxi or sometimes

a SuperMaxi to pick up costillas,

low-sugar ice cream, an array of veggies and

other items not found in El Centro. I have

never seen smoked salmon in my disttrict,

for instance.

I have no information re Carcelén.

What else would you like to know about Quito?

cccmedia

A lively area welcoming to Expats.

This is Mariscal Sucre a.k.a. Mariscal,

with its iconic plaza, Plaza Foch.

The sector is mostly flat, unlike El Centro

which has many hilly or inclined streets.

Around Plaza Foch are many restaurants,

hair and massage parlors, bars and

sports bars, banks, bakeries, nightclubs

and convenience stores.

There are some beggars and pickpockets

around so don't make eye contact with

strangers .. don't show smartphones or

jewelry .. and walk purposefully whenever

possible.

cccmedia

Quito transportation.

After many years in construction, the Metro

rail system opened in May of 2023.

Shortly thereafter, it closed due to

technical problems, at least temporarily.

The above-ground transport system

has been overburdened for many years,

especially around rush hour periods.

The Ecovía line is popular with Expats

as it has stops along Mariscal. Fares

on these lines are 35 cents a ride,

or 17 cents for seniors.

Taxis are inexpensive by world standards.

The minimum charge in the daytime is

$1.50. The taxis have meters, but after

8 p.m. drivers may not use the meters

and expect higher fares. Airport fares

from El Centro are $20 to $25 for a ride

that takes 45 minutes to an hour depending

on traffic and time of day.

cccmedia

Upscale living.

Gonzáles Suárez and El Tenis are among the

tonier neighborhoods inhabited by homeowners.

Remember the rule:  Don't buy property or a

home in South America until you have lived

in the target area at least for one year.

Expats with cars may want to consider choosing

to live in an established suburb such as

Cumbayá or Tumbaco, which are more or less

on the way to Quito's international airport.

Whereas daily highs in the city are generally in

the high 60s Fahrenheit, the surrounding suburbs

are mostly lower in elevation.  So temperatures

are usually warmer in the suburbs .. and

outdoor swimming, a rarity in Quito, is possible

in the 'burbs.

Quality shopping is available at QuiCentro and

nearby MegaMaxi Six .. and at various malls in

the suburban areas.

cccmedia

What are the monthly rents in a comfortable 2 bedroom in Quito?

Three-bedroom apartments in Quito are going for

$470 to $609 per month, according to numbeo.com ...

Naturally, two-bedroom units are renting for less.

Google... www.numbeo.com quito rents

According to an article last updated in December 2022 from the Primicias.ec available through this embedded link , the average rent for the middle class is $425 in Quito, $367 in Cuenca, and $285 in Guayaquil.

For years I have heard that Cuenca has the highest cost of living in Ecuador, but it no longer appears the case according to the article, when you add in other costs.

By the way, my preferred location in Quito would be Cumbayá, but I read not long ago that the average cost for a rental is around $667.  While Cumbayá is famous for its fortress-like ciudadelas,  I think my preference would be to live in a place that would allow me direct access to the street for the convenience of deliveries and doing errands.

I’m curious what experiences others have had living in Quito (between paros please); What areas are recommended / desireable with regards to amenities, transportation, parks / plazas, services, food, medical, safety? Anyone familiar with Carcelen in the North, Vs. Historico centre / Plaza Grande area in the South for instance?
-@rkg695

I am familiar with the Carcelen bus terminal, but that is about it. So have you changed your mind about Cotacachi?

@Mr. Barley would you need a car in Cumbayá? If i remember from my short visit it seems not close to the city center.

@Mr. Barley would you need a car in Cumbayá? If i remember from my short visit it seems not close to the city center.
-@lunamick

I have never been, but JP and Amelia visited as tourists and we're without a car. There is a Supermaxi in Cumbayá , so if I could walk to it in 20 minutes or less, then there is little more that I need. I have heard that the greatest concentration of English speaking brethren is found Cumbayá, although not a factor for me, since I can wing Spanish communications at this point.

Muchas muchas gracias al seniors CCCMedia y Mr. Barley for all the information! Obviously, both as passionate about Quito as I am! No Mr.Barley I’m not dissuaded at all, although Cuenca is a greener beautiful (& has long been in my top three places to live in Ecuador, or have a second home??? Someday?!), it’s too far away, and somehow I love the energy and exploration available in Quito just as much.

I will probably avoid any of the hills, which I know sounds impossible, lol, and I too am not a fan of planting myself in the middle of too many Gringos. i’m here to be a happy immigrant in Ecuador, not to transplant small town Canada to South America. But good advice to avoid some of the areas mentioned. I’m saving my pennis for someday, looking for someplace a walk or a short bus ride away from shopping/markets.

I absolutely drool over some of the quirkier single family Ecuadorean homes; no concrete boxes for me! Tile roofs, back garden (found a couple with pools, bonus!), adobe walls around wood post & beam, and a big kitchen! Si ! Tan necesario!

It’s always interesting to see a city through the eyes of someone who lives there, rather than as a tourist… it sounds like one of the few challenges of living near the cultural centres is finding a grocery store? And do you recommend the bus system in all areas of the city? Or just along the major routes North-South? Reason I ask, is all the worst case scenario stories that get told about overcrowded buses. Overblown much?

"sounds like one of the few challenges of living near the cultural centres is finding a grocery store? And do you recommend the bus system in all areas of the city? Or just along the major routes North-South? Reason I ask, is all the worst case scenario stories that get told about overcrowded buses. Overblown much?"

-@rkg695

There are grocery stores in El Centro, Quito. El Comisariato

is just a block from Plaza Grande on Garciá Moreno.

However, a much larger supermercado

such as MegaMaxi on 6 de Diciembre (Ecovía stop

is Benalcázar) provides a wider selection of foods,

includng salmon, low-sugar ice creams and bagels.

cccmedia

Bus insecurity.

As for crowding on buses, this amplifies Expats' risk

of being victimized by thieves.

About ten years ago, a small but clever pre-teenager

used the crowding on the Ecoviá line to get

close enough to me to pinch my flip phone.

Easily replaced at 35 USD.

More recently (2023) as I was exiting a bus in front

of a computer repair store, two women pushed

against me and I managed to maintain my balance

as I climbed down the steps of the bus.

When I got my bearings, I realized that one of the

women had managed to pull my backup computer

from my carrying bag .. and it was gone.

I replaced that with a Lenovo PC for about $400

and ended up with a laptop that is much faster

and has better streaming capabilities than the

ten-year old laptop the woman stole.

cccmedia

There are grocery stores in El Centro, Quito. El Comisariato
is just a block from Plaza Grande on Garciá Moreno.

Not bad. When I spent 6 months in La Libertad, El Comisariato was the store I shopped at since I could walk to it.  One thing unique about the mall it was in, was that the food court had a Carl's Junior. 

Cumbayá, m'lord, Cumbayá.

An Expat could live in this suburb without a car

if he or she chose to live near a bus line into Quito

or could enjoy life without going into the big city.

Rents may be higher in the nicer areas of Cumbayá

as these include single family homes in upscale

communities.

One advantage of life there is proximity to air travel,

as thiis suburb is closer to the international airport

in Tababela than is Quito proper.

cccmedia

@rkg695

One thing I learned while sharpening my expertise about Quito via Google is that in Quito, they have businesses/franchises that offer storage facilities for your stuff. While some are clearly oriented to storing your furniture and have different size units available for as low as $40 a month, it appears there are places that would store just your suitcase for instance, although it didn't appear to be in a private space.

@Mr. Barley I did this in Medellin for years for 23$ a month for a nice private locker, enough for 10 to 15 suitcases, thanks for the heads up, i love to travel with only a small backpack,

Earlier today, member rkg posted about

a cable-tangle issue in Cuenca .. in a post

that appeared on this Quito forum.

I communicated with the Home Office after

creating a new thread on the Cuenca forum,

where rkg's post is now re-located.

That Cuenca forum thread is titled

Untangling the cables of Cuenca.

We now return to Quito-related topics

on this thread.

cccmedia

member, Expat.com experts team