Cotacachi Ecuador on a $1,500 Budget - Can you live in Cotacachi on the average Social Security?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Please visit our website www.WarrenJulieTravel.com For information on International Medical Insurance, our Amazon store, services we recommend, contact information and more.

[@jomerriam1]

Great coverage of "my" town! I've been living here for 6 years and you gave a very accurate picture of this lovely, quiet, and exceedingly safe place to live. Normally, (non-covid times), you can safely walk anywhere in Cotacachi with no fear or anxiety. Many times I have walked home alone at night in the city as late as 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. The only people out on the street are police officers on patrol. Since we are still on partial lockdown, no one is allowed out after 10 or 11 at night. Also, we have a total population in the city of about 9,000 people with about 400 or so full-time expats. And we have quite a large number of single retired women here because it is so safe. Thanks for the good words about our lovely little town!

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks we were impressed with the area. I noticed there seems to be a lot more expat women than men there. Thanks for the added information, I’ll pin your post. 😁

[@mariacamille1483]

This is nice to hear. I'm a single woman - world traveler, but getting older and looking for a safe, clean, quiet beautiful place like shown here.

[@charlesdavis7461]

@dramaqueen Thank you for the information, maybe someday, but I'm certainly not getting younger lol.

[@tonirodriguez6649]

Excellent!! I’m going to make an exploratory trip as soon as I can.

[@kathyellis2506]

Thank you! I’ll be spending 5.5 weeks there this winter and I feel much more comfortable now!

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Enjoy:)

[@ExploringEcuador]

Your video was one of our first videos I watched to help us make the decision to move to Cotacachi. Thank you.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Great! We hope you’re happy with your move and results.

[@MonacoSpeed]

I was there just before the pandemic. My father is still there. Please let your viewers know that if you don’t decide to live in a gated community as most expats do, you’ll be paying from $120 to $180 in rent for a 2 bedroom place city center. I do understand why most retired expats would choose a gated community though. I recognized all places you filmed and went to. There’s also a second ( Mercado ) there that was not in this video. The Otavalo outdoor Mercado you went to was absolutely packed when I was there, even the side streets leading to it had stalls for at least 100 yards/meters.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks for the information.

[@kevincriollo8402]

This type of content encourages me to know much more about my country and everything it has to offer, thank you very much for your recommendations and grettings from Quito, capital of Ecuador 🇪🇨

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@hiindandes]

Nice video. I live in a rural area of the canton of Cotacachi. It is far less expensive to live out in the countryside than in town. I have lived both in town and in the countryside and personally, I prefer the peace and tranquility the countryside offers.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

There are pluses and minuses to every location. We both enjoy the rural areas and the city. ☺️

[@robertmartinez988]

I prefer the country also. I live on the Canary islands in the mountains and grow my food. Thinking about moving to Ecuador and wanted to look into renting in the country.

[@rolandcates9271]

Very nice, I can't wait to visit. Thank for the tours

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Our pleasure! We hope you enjoy Ecuador.

[@bitterandcynical]

Thanks for this information. I appreciate knowing real costs.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks we appreciate your comments, and we’re glad to have you watching our channel. 😁

[@kitthornton2336]

I wish we could leave today. Still have to sell the house and wrap up some things.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Good luck with the house sale, we hope you get a great price. 👍😁

[@alainbergeron4520]

Great information about the little gem of retirement place. I'm glad you found your Shangri-la in Cotacachi.

[@raiz91]

Thanks for the information. Beautiful city!!

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks 😊

[@tomcorridan5236]

Fantastic video..you guys are so pleasant..I loved that you were considerate at the market...I would feel the same ...be fair and respectful...

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks we are glad you liked it. 😁

[@jaynebuck5163]

Looks like a place I could live.❤️

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

It’s worth considering, it a nice place and the people seem pleasant.

[@jerrygarcia4390]

Wow, what a nice view ❤

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

It was!

[@MrJrweir]

Late to the rodeo, great video, love the city, looks like a very laid back place to live, thanks for sharing.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks for watching

[@charlesdavis7461]

Great video. I will try and get more information such as how far for medical care and other things. I need certain specialists that I'm sure I'd have to find transportation.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Good luck, there is a smaller hospital in Cotacachi.

[@javierron9259]

Wow nice apt I will love to live there how hight on the andes I get sick on the altitude soroche but I like a small town to live just ,I'm looking forward to move there thank you for ur videos👍

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

The altitude is high but manageable, I’d recommend you visit there. Mindo is at a lower altitude and so is Vilcabamba if you want a smaller town feel. Thanks for watching 👍😁

[@MERCYCARRION1]

GRACIAS, LINDO REPORTAJE, FAVOR SUBTITULO EN ESPAÑOL... GRACIAS

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Subtitles are available.

[@OrthodoxDAO]

Just to be clear, there are people living in NY or Geneva or Tokyo on a $1,500 Budget, HTH

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

True, this about the quality of life you can have on that budget also. Going out to eat everyday and having a social life. Anyhow in case you’re not aware we are traveling the world and will look at cost of living elsewhere. In 2021 we hope to visit Colombia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Montenegro, Poland and Turkey or Morocco.

[@TruWzrdTexas]

Beautiful apartment. Thanks for the video

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks for watching our channel! 😁

[@adrianafernandez2458]

Im single and Happy person With 2000 a month retirément Right now im in a lovely small Sea Port in Italy. Low Covid19 incidence

[@veraschnapp2813]

Are you still living there? I am in Manta but I cannot handle the weather.. We are going to Cotacachi next Thursday . Can you recomende to us a realtor or a link that we can find the houses for rentals ? Your video is very well done and explains everything… I am living in Manta but I don’t like. To hot ,we melted with the humidity… going to this place next week to know before we thing about movie

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

I don't appreciate hot weather either. We don't have a real estate recommendation any longer. We left Cuenca in January 2021. I think you would love the higher elevation villages and cities.

[@krekhorohenian2154]

I assume there are those expats who come to Cotacachi and for various reasons choose to leave. What are the most common reasons for these decisions?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

This is only speculation, but for some it may be for family, others may want a larger city or community, for others the altitude may be or become a factor. I’ve not spoken with many people who departed Ecuador or its regions to discuss their reasons. My friends Paul and Ruth wished to experience Cuenca so they left Cotacachi, and we will leave Ecuador in 2021 to explore Europe.

[@veraschnapp2813]

Coast of life for sure

[@joann5157]

I'm impressed with the cleanliness of the streets and public spaces, but the roll down shutters on everything kind of make me wonder about safety.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

There are a lot of countries even in Europe where these are common. We even had them in Florida for hurricanes, but we used them often to keep the sun out.

[@julioblanco]

Please talk about that home made dog food. How it's made?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

I make it different ways. I try to include at least 3 vegetables in each batch. It should be 40 percent protein, 30 percent complex carbohydrates and 30 percent non starch vegetables. I have chosen to begin using dry kibble for their additional vitamins and omega-3’s etc. I cannot buy some of the things here that I did in the United States so I want to ensure they get adequate intake. I do 50 percent homemade and 50 percent kibble for the puppy. My other one is ten and she doesn’t like the kibble, so hers is 90/10. If you have other specific questions let me know.

[@walterdavies6434]

wheres the dishwasher ? and the washer /dryer and the hot water heater?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

There was a laundry room for the building with washers and dryers, I don’t recall where the water heater was but it worked fine for four of us. We washed the dishes by hand at this location.

[@sjacobs310]

That was fun 😁 what’s the weather like. Press that like and subscribe button 👍🏼

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks we appreciate you 😊😊

[@BoydJones]

Has it been difficult to be a vegetarian in Ecuador?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

It can be challenging at some smaller restaurants, but most regular places will have an option of some sort. We eat fish on occasion so that’s a fall back in a pinch.

[@adrianafernandez2458]

Lovely.

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@dondemavivas1063]

Are you two planning on "settling down" in Latin America after your European tour?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

We are uncommitted, we are leaning toward eventually calling Kotor Montenegro home, it’s our European home base.

[@d.m.4815]

How far is the airport?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

It looks like it’s 92 km and 92 minutes

[@onetry7406]

Wow!

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Thanks, glad you are watching our videos. 😀

[@kevinjoseph517]

you mention size=population = what?

[@janasteele9358]

Can u do it on 1200$ per month. Thank you

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Absolutely 👍

[@tmcdon]

Who was your guide? How do we get ahold of her?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

We didn’t use a guide, we were with friends that lived there previously but now live in Cuenca.

[@TreesOnTheBeach]

I see salad on your plates near the end of the video. Aren't you afraid that they washed the lettuce in the local water?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

This is Julie, and yes to answer your question I am very cautious about the fresh food, but I was already sick from a parasite issue and this restaurant was actually frequented often by our friends so we knew we could trust the food.

[@armando6565]

It all looks very nice, but there is no way of talking with someone to find out how to get there from Florida. Not even a travel agency!

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

I wish I could help you, we do our own travel planning. We use Skyscanner.com for airlines, car rentals, and AirBnb for lodging. Busses go by the Airport in Quito if needed also. Andes Transit can send a private van for you for airport pick up to take you to Cotacachi also.

[@javierdavid9486]

You can live with way cheaper. This is the Gringo budget. Lol $375-$400 is the monthly average people make over there..

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

I actually focus on $1,500 as this is the average Social Security payment for a US retiree.

[@JohnnyGarayA]

Yes the minim wage is $400.00 but the basic basket(canasta basica) which is the minimum you need to live is $750.00 you would need two people working at a household in other to have a somewhat good life... $400.00 is not enough could never afford to live in such a nice apartment as they showed on the video, also the locations for the cheaper rents are more dangerous. $1500.00 you can live in a nice place and have that lifestyle of going out, travel, and not be worried about money

[@mikehunt5637]

Please tell me the trash cans in the bathrooms aren't for toilet paper...

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

We flushed 👍

[@iamsnedman]

They are. The majority do not flush toilet paper. Their sewage goes directly into the rivers.

[@thesamson1091]

In N.Y.city you be paying 2000 a month all more believe me

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

👍

[@thesamson1091]

Nices Good price

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

👍

[@bananapatch9118]

We are Vegan and want to thank you for not pushing leather products. When people really think about what they are actually buying...it’s a horror show. Great video...thank you !

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

I agree, thanks for commenting and watching. 😁

[@leahl7352]

Why are you wearing masks outside???

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

It is required, it’s almost a habit now.

[@rossellapalacios8481]

Por fabor hablen en Español. Please, Español.

[@mikebailey336]

so i guess your belt and shoes are all plastic ?

[@WarrenJulieTravel]

Yep, and other materials. Most car makers do not use leather either. There are tons of options.