Accommodation for a couple of months in Cuenca

Landlords anywhere in Ecuador who rent furnished apartments by the month to Expats charge well above market rents, which currently are....

    1-bedroom apartment in central Cuenca $358 per month

    3-bedroom apartment in central Cuenca $538 per month

Rents in nearby areas outside Cuenca are 25-30 percent below the above prices.

Source for these market-rent statistics:  www.numbeo.com

Your information was correct:  the days of the $200 per month apartment in Cuenca suitable for arriving Expats are over, a casualty of EC's third-largest city having become the world's favorite retirement venue.

  -- cccmedia

Where can I find an apartment that is not targeting expats. Looking for a one year lease on a furnished. Should I air bnb or hotel for a week or so and look for for rent signs, or is there a local classified publication I can peruse? Thanks for all your help!

OLX and MercadoLibre have lots of listings

I usually rent for 3 months at a time and I like airbnb. We usually get a good place in Cuenca for about $450. per month . It is a studio that includes everything even a small frig. and stove ,coffee pot,microwave,Tv and internet. Yes,cheaper ones can be found but they might not have everything you need. We have rented AirBnb places all over the world and yes there is a small fee but if there is a problem they will resolve it making you feel much more secure no matter where you are in the world.
Just my opinion.
For example there are cheaper places but many have a shared bathroom . This doesn't work for us.
And if the price is too cheap there is usually a reason that you will discover when you get there.
My best advice before getting a place or going to a new country is research,research and research.