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Analytics
Cuenca, Ecuador 🇪🇨
#593
,
Nomad Score:
70%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Cuenca is known for its low cost of living compared to many Western cities, making it very affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
85%
Weight: 80
Rental prices are quite reasonable, with many options for furnished apartments and shared housing.
🍎 Food & Groceries
89%
Weight: 40
Local markets and grocery stores offer fresh produce at low prices; eating out is also affordable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
90%
Weight: 20
Public transportation is cheap and widely available; taxis and ride-shares are affordable.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
83%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options like cinemas, cultural events, and bars are inexpensive.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
78%
Weight: 10
Gyms are affordable but vary in quality; some premium gyms are pricier but still reasonable.
💱 Currency Stability
72%
Weight: 30
Ecuador uses the US dollar, providing currency stability and eliminating exchange rate risks.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Average internet speeds around 20-30 Mbps; reliable but can be inconsistent in some areas.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
63%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but fewer than in larger cities; growing community.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
79%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer free WiFi, suitable for casual work sessions.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
71%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads with power outlets and good seating, but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
65%
Weight: 100
Cuenca is gaining popularity among digital nomads but is less known than cities like Medellín or Bali.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
83%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain prepaid SIM cards with affordable plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
86%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with a good balance between work and leisure activities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
78%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality and green surroundings, though some urban pollution exists.
🧼 Cleanliness
69%
Weight: 10
City is relatively clean but some areas can be less maintained.
🗨️ Language Barrier
52%
Weight: 30
Spanish is dominant; English is not widely spoken outside tourist and expat areas.
💨 Air Quality
75%
Weight: 15
Air quality is generally good due to altitude and limited heavy industry.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
62%
Weight: 25
Good for families with schools and parks but limited international schooling options.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
70%
Weight: 20
Healthcare services are decent with several good private clinics and hospitals.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
84%
Weight: 25
Medical care is affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
72%
Weight: 20
Access to quality healthcare is good, but some specialized treatments may require travel.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
76%
Weight: 80
Mild spring-like climate year-round; moderate rainfall but generally pleasant.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
64%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of earthquakes and occasional flooding; no major hurricanes or typhoons.
🏞️ Green Spaces
79%
Weight: 10
Several parks and natural areas within and around the city.
❄️ Air Conditioning
55%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not common due to mild climate; some accommodations may lack it.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
48%
Weight: 10
Limited seasonal variation; mostly consistent mild temperatures year-round.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some busy streets and nightlife areas can be loud.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
83%
Weight: 20
Rich colonial history, vibrant arts scene, and traditional festivals.
🌃 Nightlife
61%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest with bars and live music but not very extensive.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
80%
Weight: 15
Proximity to mountains, rivers, and hiking trails offers good outdoor activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
70%
Weight: 10
Several Spanish language schools and informal learning opportunities available.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
74%
Weight: 10
Good variety of cultural tours, markets, and day trips to nearby attractions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
65%
Weight: 10
Museums, galleries, and cafes provide indoor entertainment, though limited compared to larger cities.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
81%
Weight: 25
Diverse local cuisine with fresh ingredients; growing number of international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
67%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70%
Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are accessible but not abundant.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
80%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and organic markets are common.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
73%
Weight: 20
Ecuador is in GMT-5, convenient for North and South American clients.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
60%
Weight: 25
Limited but growing expat and digital nomad networking events.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
55%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most opportunities come from international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
58%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is emerging but still small.
🏢 Coworking Quality
62%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces offer basic amenities but lack some high-end features.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
49%
Weight: 15
Startup ecosystem is nascent with limited funding and infrastructure.
💳 Local Payment Services
67%
Weight: 10
Basic local payment services available; international payment options widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
50%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but adoption remains limited.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
58%
Weight: 30
Mariscal Lamar Airport offers domestic flights; international connections require transfers.
🚇 Public Transit
71%
Weight: 20
Bus system is affordable and covers most of the city.
🚶 Walkability
76%
Weight: 20
Historic center is very walkable with pedestrian-friendly streets.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
68%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-share apps operate but coverage is not as extensive as in larger cities.
🚲 Cycling
59%
Weight: 10
Some cycling infrastructure exists but limited; hilly terrain can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good bus connections to other cities; limited train services.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Limited availability of scooter or bike rentals.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
74%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
80%
Weight: 20
VPNs work reliably with no significant restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
75%
Weight: 15
Generally stable electricity supply with occasional brief outages.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
63%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is available in some public spaces but not widespread.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
78%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa is easy to obtain; 90-day stay with options to extend.
📊 Tax Friendliness
60%
Weight: 30
Moderate tax rates; some complexities for foreigners working remotely.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
75%
Weight: 15
Generally respected with some political sensitivities.
🏛️ Political Stability
68%
Weight: 20
Relatively stable but occasional protests and political unrest occur.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
57%
Weight: 15
Can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation; easier with residency.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Process is possible but involves paperwork and some delays.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
67%
Weight: 50
Friendly community and infrastructure improving but still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
59%
Weight: 25
Occasional meetups and events but not frequent.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
64%
Weight: 20
Moderate online presence with Facebook groups and forums.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
69%
Weight: 100
Generally safe but petty crime exists; usual precautions advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Fairly female-friendly with growing expat women community.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Moderate racial tolerance; some cultural conservatism but generally welcoming.