Moving to Ecuador from New Jersey

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Jersey to Ecuador — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from New Jersey to Ecuador, you would find that Ecuador is 70.3% cheaper than New Jersey. A $75,000 salary in New Jersey would need to be roughly $22,300 in Ecuador to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Ecuador cheaper than New Jersey?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 68.2% less

Groceries

pay 63.4% less

Transportation

pay 51.5% less

Housing

pay 83.6% less

Childcare

pay 81.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 56.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown

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

What salary do you need in Ecuador?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → $22,300

To maintain the same standard of living in Ecuador

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to Ecuador

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from New Jersey to Ecuador, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
28,026 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Ecuador · UN DESA

Who's moving to Ecuador?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How New Jersey and Ecuador stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

NJ
30.0%
EC
28.9%

Ecuador performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

NJ
91.9%
EC
77.2%

New Jersey performs better than Ecuador across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NJ
4.5%
EC
3.3%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NJ
$70,788
EC
$7,125

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

NJ
77.5 yrs
EC
77.6 yrs

Ecuador performs significantly better than New Jersey across all family life metrics.

Weather in Ecuador vs New Jersey

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Newark Rain: 46.2 in/yr (1174 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Quito Rain: 43.2 in/yr (1098 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Newark Quito
Jan–Mar 48°/27°F (9°/-2°C) 70°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/51°F (24°/11°C) 70°/50°F (21°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) 72°/49°F (22°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/36°F (14°/2°C) 70°/49°F (21°/10°C)
View all months
Month Newark Quito
Jan 42°/24°F (5.6°/-4.4°C) 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C)
Feb 46°/26°F (7.7°/-3.2°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C)
Mar 55°/32°F (12.7°/0.2°C) 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C)
Apr 67°/42°F (19.4°/5.3°C) 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C)
May 76°/51°F (24.6°/10.7°C) 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C)
Jun 85°/61°F (29.5°/16.3°C) 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C)
Jul 88°/66°F (31.2°/18.8°C) 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C)
Aug 87°/65°F (30.4°/18.1°C) 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C)
Sep 80°/57°F (26.5°/14.0°C) 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C)
Oct 69°/45°F (20.4°/7.3°C) 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C)
Nov 58°/36°F (14.2°/2.4°C) 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C)
Dec 46°/28°F (7.8°/-2.2°C) 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI

Can you move from New Jersey to Ecuador?

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Ecuador

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Ecuador without a visa.
Ecuador passport

Ecuador passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Ecuador passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Ecuador than New Jersey?

Generally yes: Ecuador runs about 70% cheaper than New Jersey on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Ecuador?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around $5,575 in Ecuador for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Ecuador?

Working remotely from Ecuador's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in New Jersey and Ecuador.

How is healthcare in Ecuador compared to New Jersey?

Ecuador performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Ecuador compared to New Jersey?

The average high temperature in Quito is 71°F, compared to 67°F in Newark. Quito receives around 43.2 in of rainfall per year, while Newark gets 46.2 in.

What language do they speak in Ecuador?

The official language in Ecuador is Spanish. In New Jersey, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

EC
Population 9,548,215 18,289,896
Currency United States Dollar ($) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +593
Time zones 11 2
Emergency number 911 911