Ready for a fabulous gay retirement in Ecuador?

Thinking about retiring abroad? You’re not alone. In Ep. 616 we break down Ecuador—a country that punches above its weight with year-round spring weather, U.S. dollar convenience, solid healthcare, and a much lower cost of living. We cover legal landscape (marriage since 2019; gender recognition 2024), where stigma still shows up, and our Top 5 Ecuador cities for gay retirees—Salinas, Cotacachi, Guayaquil, Quito, Cuenca—with 2BR rent ranges, cost-of-living vs. U.S., and our Queer Money Retirement Rating for each.

Key Takeaways

• Real savings: Many Ecuador cities run ~50–70% cheaper than the U.S., with rents that can be a fraction of stateside prices.
• Climate win: Highland zones offer “eternal spring”—often no A/C or snow shovels.
• Queer reality: Legal wins exist, but visibility and safety vary by city; Quito leads for LGBTQ+ infrastructure, Cuenca for expat ease.
• Trade-offs: Big-city perks vs. crime hot spots (e.g., Guayaquil), beach life vs. tourist pricing (Salinas), quiet charm vs. fewer queer spaces (Cotacachi/Cuenca).

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Intro: Why Ecuador keeps popping for LGBTQ+ retirees
• 02:29 – #5 Salinas (beach town, Vox gay disco): 2BR ~$500–$800 | COL ~50–65% ↓ | Rating 6/10
• 04:37 – #4 Cotacachi (quiet Andean base): 2BR ~$450–$600 | COL ~60–70% ↓ | Rating 7/10
• 06:29 – #3 Guayaquil (big-city energy): 2BR ~$620 | COL ~60–65% ↓ | crime caveat | Rating 7/10
• 09:11 – #2 Quito (capital & queer hub): 2BR ~$675–$1,300 | COL ~54–63% ↓ | Rating 8/10
• 11:40 – #1 Cuenca (expat favorite): 2BR ~$300–$600 | COL ~60–70% ↓ | Rating 9/10
• 13:51 – Next up & wrap up

Links referenced in this episode:

• queermoneypodcast.com/cities
• queermoneypodcast.com/hgrcalc

Mentioned in this episode:

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