Apartment rental costs

Cuenca Ecucador tough to do this short $400.- $800.  and more if you want to. The more you go some are furnished.  One lady the day had a home $400. l yr lease 3 bed 2 1/2 arrange by an Edcuadorian person for them they had a dog Gringos unfurnished terrace front yard bus stop in front.  Association fee $15.00 According to the arranger and the law landlord could not raise rent for 2 yrs.  House in nice location.  Another house they wanted $600.00 in great location unfurnished we felt it was way over priced landlord trying to get a Gringo you was nuts.  It was nice save neighborhood but just not worth it come on.  Our condo is $550.00 everything included and furniture 2 bed 2 bath.  Now in our bldg. some go a lot higher with an Educadorian man salesperson handling it but we think they are way over priced.  If you get a person neg. for you that is Spanish and highly reco and nice and known what going market is and what is fair and goes out working for you she is $10.00 an hour and she will come back and get you when she has found the place.  So the landlord does not see your a Gringo etc and she is honest.  Plus she knows the laws your safe.  So I am saying us your head.  Now some people get real hurt and get mad but it is their fault and they don't talk to Expat and learn they jump in and believe everyone and don't talk to others.  You learn by talking and learning.  The more you talk to people Americans you learn.  Don't jump.  Some times friends say don't you get embarrassed asking so many question nope.  not at all they can say no they can walk away they can say I don't remember.  One friend is actually sending me pictures Bravo thank you so much.  What is good for you might not be good for me.  One couple bought a love seat, couch, ottman, Chair, Coffee Table had it made I sat on it and combared it to some of the rental furniture $650.00 and it was comfortable was it fantastic no great no but way above average and you definitely go your moneys worth and you would only have to buy a bed and your apartment would be set up.  and you pick the material and you could pick different material on pcs. which is nice.  I thought wow that is great too.  See I don't want to start life over or want the best now.  I want to be comfortable but I don't have to have it last another life time.  Well this writing is all I can say.  Now on some of these rents yes you have to buy a refrigerator range oven washer dryer you do some you don't and you have to consider this.  This is why you need a person neg. for you she knows when it is a deal and when it is not a deal.  To many extras.  Some places are to dirty and unsafe an area.  and no buses or taxi.  or nice neighbors Gringos or Ecuadorians.

Thank you for your gracious and insightful reply. Some of your comments made me stop and think things over once again. Once again Thank you.

Ok Timo I am going to give you Specifics my Landlord is wonderful fantastic good people.
Rent of conclusive $550. furnished we deduct everything from rent for them.
In Most cases Retired people want to pay water gas etc and deduct from rent why because here they shut everything off immediately even in a mistake or if the wind changes so the renter wants to be incharge to be sure its up to date and will be deduct it from rent and send it to land lard just in case he forgets to pay I think.  My landlord and I think a lease is important we both like it and recommend a lease its important.  I recommend a fluiciliator if she does not find the apt for you at least have her draw up the lease and help you do that part.  Take a long term lease and let her negioator  without the landlord seeing you because it starts bad feeling at times and she knows what to say.  Sometimes price goes high for Gringos and blacks and Columbians the truth.  The negioator stops that.  Keeps everything in a fair level playing field because she is a Ecuadorian and she is there controlling things.  The one I use is a judges relative and she is honest which is good.  It starts things off smooth and nice.  You have to know what you are looking for and keep it clear.  Like what is your most important thing my husbands is Internet he has to have Internet because of stock he dies with out Internet.
Mine is a washer/dryer I must have both my #one.  We moved into a place with a washer and no dryer big mistake.  Our clothes were so hard from drying on the line that my husband was even mad hahahaha.  Live and learn.  He straighten that on out fast I know own a dryer now.
we live in a mixed building of Gringos and Ecuadorians 2 Bedrms 2 baths LR, Kitchen Laundry,balconey,walkin closets, elevator, furnish, micro, refrig,oven,double sink,view of mtns sliding doors out to view lots of light..been her 2 yrs renting.  everything is nice..neighbors seem to come and go though which is disappointing to me because I become fond of all them.
I love them all children, ecudorians, Grinos my landlord has become my daughter I email her every day she is a intelligent kind sweet daughter God wanted me to have that I never had and he has passed her through my life thank God she is tiny a spit fire and so smart she learned to talk English in 2 mo. I am struggling still 2 yrs later.  I am on 14th flr it is warm cozy
I live in Cuenca bus dr know me, a lot of taxi 1/2 know me after a while lots of people know you here it becomes a small town espically if you stand out and I do I am 6'1' white white old gringo but with a pretty good figure which is shocking and a young husband who looks like a jujoo wrestler we are not a couple you forget so they wave a lot probably from shock ha. 
I think I have answered this time all your questions and more.  Timo you have your info.plenty