About Cuenca

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Cuenca has been called “the Athens of Ecuador” by some writers on the internet. I think that is a very good introduction to those of you who are thinking of coming to Ecuador. It is the third largest city in Ecuador.

Cuenca was our place of residence in Ecuador from September 2008 until December 2010. The city is a must see for anyone touring Ecuador. It is located in the southern half of the country and is known as the economic and cultural centre and the capital of the province of Azuay. 

It was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999. The population is around 460,000 and the city is approximately 8300 ft above sea level. This city is a blend of old colonial and also modern-day facilities.

Four rivers wind through the town. There are many beautiful homes perched along the rivers Yanucay, Tomebama, Machangara and Tarqui. It is a daily activity for local women to do their washing in the rivers.

Our apartment overlooks the Tomebamba river and at times the river runs so rapidly it sounds like the ocean.

Cuenca has many beautiful churches, and the city is adorned with homes decorated with ironwork balconies and the streets are cobblestones. Cuecanos are very family orientated, culturally conservative, promoters of the arts, and many cultural and artistic events can be found at any time in the city.

Cuenca has eight universities and the most prestigious is the Universidad de Cuenca (University of Cuenca) a state school of about 12,000 students. This is the home to poets, writers, artists and philosophers.

As the Cuencanos are family-orientated and live a leisurely pace it is not uncommon to find businesses and public offices closed between 1-3 p.m. being the lunchtime hours. Most employees can go home and have lunch with family and friends. You can always find a restaurant which will serve the “Menu del Dias” anywhere between $2.00 - $3.85 for soup, main course, small salad and dessert. Click here to see our favorite restaurants in Cuenca.

A brief search on Cuenca’s history shows that it has been named various times throughout its history, depending on whose control it was under. The first settlers, the Canaris indigenous group, named it Guapondelig, (“land as big as the sky”). City was renamed Tumipamba (“plain of the ridge”) after the Inca conquest.

The Spanish explorer Gil Ramirez Davalos founded the city in 1557 and called it Tomebamba. The Spanish then renamed the town “Santa Ana de los Cuatro Rios de Cuenca (Santa Ana of the Four Rivers of Cuenca). So it has become and remains this day as Cuenca.

Cuenca regained its independence from the Spanish on November 3^rd 1820. We have just celebrated the “Nacional Day” with a three day celebration and processions, outdoor dancing and displays by Artisans from throughout Ecuador.

So how much do I need to retire/live in Cuenca?

 If you are thinking of renting a nice unfurnished apartment I would allow around $1300-$1400 per month.  This will certainly I believe give you a very comfortable lifestyle for two people.

This budget does not include household help.  If you do consider having live-in help you probably need to allow another $200 per month.  We personally don’t have any help as our apartment because I actually like to clean and keep things nice and John loves to cook.  So why would we take these pleasures away.  But if it ever came about that we were sick or very old then we may have to consider such help.   

From our apartment window I see many older expats accompanied by a maid on a morning walk much like a carer back home but these usually young women also cook and clean and are very pleasant. 

Renter’s Budget in Cuenca, Ecuador per Month

If you consider buying a home or apartment and don’t have to worry about a mortgage your budget could look something like this.

Budget per month if you own a home/apartment

The above does not include cell phones.  You can go on a plan or by a pre paid $10 card.  Also if you decide to have a car you should also allow for this.  I cannot give exact estimates as we have our motorcycle and hardly feel like we pay for gas.

Also if you intend to travel around the country and allowed $100 per month to be put aside you would definitely be able to make several trips around Ecuador which would include transport and accommodation.

I hope this has helped a little and please don’t hold us to the prices as in time they will change.  These prices are as at December 2008.