Moving to Bolivia from Ecuador

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Ecuador to Bolivia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ecuador to Bolivia, you would find that Bolivia is 30.7% cheaper than Ecuador overall. A $75,000 salary in Ecuador would need to be roughly BOB573,000 in Bolivia to maintain the same lifestyle.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Ecuador and Bolivia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → BOB573,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Bolivia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 37.8% less

Groceries

pay 29.1% less

Transportation

pay 21.5% less

Housing

pay 25.0% less

Childcare

pay 54.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 37.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 11.02 BOB (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Ecuador to Bolivia.

Living there in 2020
1,115 ↑ 11% vs 2015

people born in Ecuador live in Bolivia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bolivia?

Top countries of origin for Bolivia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Bolivia compared to Ecuador.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

EC
45.7
BO
4.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

EC
23.4
BO
17.6

Bolivia performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

EC
$1,238
BO
$756
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

EC
23.1
BO
12.8

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

EC
23.0
BO
54.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EC
2.6t
BO
2.3t

Ecuador generally does better on environment, though Bolivia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

EC
17.2
BO
12.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EC
6.8%
BO
0.2%

Ecuador generally does better on infrastructure, though Bolivia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

EC
3.3%
BO
3.0%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

EC
$7,125
BO
$5,148

Ecuador generally does better on employment & economy, though Bolivia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

EC
77.6 yrs
BO
68.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EC
10.9
BO
14.2

Ecuador generally does better on family life, though Bolivia leads in education spending.

Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador (2016), Autoridad de Impugnación Tributaria (AIT), Bolivia (2016). How we calculate this

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Ecuador and Bolivia. To live, work, or study long-term in Bolivia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bolivia's immigration authority.

Ecuador passport

Ecuador passport holder visiting Bolivia

Visa Free
Ecuador passport holders can enter Bolivia without a visa.
Bolivia passport

Bolivia passport holder visiting Ecuador

Visa Free
Bolivia passport holders can enter Ecuador without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Bolivia than Ecuador?

On average Bolivia is about 31% less expensive than Ecuador, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Bolivia?

Budget about BOB143,250 for 3 months in Bolivia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Bolivia?

Connectivity is usually fine (Bolivia: 12.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bolivia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Bolivia safe for expats?

Bolivia performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bolivia is 4.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.7 in Ecuador.

How is healthcare in Bolivia compared to Ecuador?

Ecuador generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bolivia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 12.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Bolivia, compared to 23.1 in Ecuador. Bolivia scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ecuador: 77).

What language do they speak in Bolivia?

The official languages in Bolivia are Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua and Spanish. In Ecuador, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

EC BO
Population 18,289,896 12,581,843
Currency United States Dollar ($) Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)
Languages Spanish Aymara, Guaraní, Quechua, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +593 +591
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 911 110