Living costs in Ecuador ?

Hi Guys, thamk you for your posts im sorry I meant $400 per month, Alix you mention i would need $400 to live off so I feel a bit more positive :) 

Also I am quite well travelled due to my parents hatred for English winter, I have been lucky to live in in countires such as India, so im used to embracing new cultures and I love it! However I have never been to South America and have heard mixed reviews on safety, I understand that living in London can also be dangerous but being a young girl and moving a long way from home I just wanted to see whether I would feel safe and if anyone has had any major issues?

Thank you

Emma!

$200 certainly isn't enough to live on. Depending on where you live rent will be like Alix said aything from $70 and up. I'm currently in Cuenca paying a $110 per month in a shared house with furniture and internet but most of my colleagues pay way more. 

Rules are constantly changing here, and even though it's a hassle I would recommnd a school that helps you out with a visa. If not for not having the risk to be expelled from the country I think a school that offers visa help is probably a bit more trustworthy to begin with.

Enjoy finding a position here, it's a great country to live in!!!!

I think the page is just out of date - you could apply through them or look on Daves ESL Cafe, or send an email to canadian house center.  Also, you could ask Casslyncole about the school she's going to, infact a few people on here seem to be going out to Ecuador soon.

Thank you very much for your reply, I did feel that was quite low, I will look into maybe finding a job not through I to I x

That would be a very low wage even for Ecuador, I used to get $400, and I think they've put the wages up now to $5/hour.  $200 wouldn't be enough really, although many people live there on much less, that's because it's a poor country and you can do much better.

You can pay anything from $70 to $100 monthly for rent but more in a big city like Quito or Guayaquil. Food is cheap, especially from markets, clothes are variable, there are plenty of cheap ones, but you might not find much you like!  Electronic goods are quite expensive, as is anything that is imported, like shampoo etc.

Travel is cheap as chips, but scary!  Hostels anything around $10 a night or sometimes less... obviously there are some very expensive ones too, like eco lodges and stuff, full of rich Americans mostly.  You need a gas bottle for your kitchen which is expensive to buy but less than $2 to replace when empty.  

If you go with CHC (I-toI's partners there) they will help you with accomodation and let you owe them some rent until you've been paid if necessary, but I got myself a seperate place shared with people of my choice to avoid the politics that can happem sometimes between teachers with different expectations.

Some schools will help you with visa costs, but usually you have to make a commitment to work there for a certain period.  I wouldn't worry too much about a visa if your school doesn't! I never had one.  

Basically, the cost of living is cheap, but if you want to travel and go out to eat sometimes you want at least $400 a month - you'll get by on less, but you can earn that, so don't accept less.