Articles

Everyone tells you to buy. The prices are so cheap! But cheap doesn't mean smart. Here's why renting might be the better financial move for most expats — and when buying actually makes sense.

Ecuador's social security system just changed how it calculates voluntary affiliate contributions, and the new numbers are giving expats sticker shock. Here's what you're actually looking at now, whether IESS is still worth it, and how it stacks up against private insurance.

Ecuador received a record $7.9 billion in remittances last year — more than bananas, shrimp, or cacao exports. Now a combination of ICE enforcement, deportation fears, and a new US tax on cash remittances is cutting those flows. In Cuenca, families report receiving half what they used to.

On February 13, the US and Ecuador announced they've 'substantially concluded' a new trade agreement. Ecuador is dropping tariffs on American wine, nuts, fruit, and wheat. Here's what might actually change for expats shopping at Supermaxi.

If you earned more than $12,081 in 2025 or have interest income from Ecuadorian bank CDs, the SRI wants to hear from you. Your first deadline is this month. Here's the timeline.

No more Quito layovers — LATAM Airlines just announced twice-weekly direct flights from Cuenca to the Galapagos starting March 31, 2026. Round-trip fares start at $310. Here's the schedule, how to book, and what this means for Cuenca-based travelers.