Moving to Ecuador from United Kingdom
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from United Kingdom to Ecuador — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Ecuador, you would find that Ecuador is 63.3% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £57,000 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly $27,700 in Ecuador to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Quito averages 71°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from United Kingdom to Ecuador.
What does your salary buy?
£57,000 → $27,700
To maintain the same standard of living in Ecuador
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 67.5% less
Groceries
pay 40.6% less
Transportation
pay 62.3% less
Housing
pay 75.4% less
Childcare
pay 78.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 53.8% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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 United Kingdom to Ecuador, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How United Kingdom and Ecuador stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ecuador leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United Kingdom generally does better on environment, though Ecuador leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Ecuador leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Ecuador leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United Kingdom performs better than Ecuador across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), HM Revenue & Customs (2016), Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | London | Quito |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 72°/49°F (22°/9°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 70°/49°F (21°/10°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Quito |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport holder visiting Ecuador
Visa Free
Ecuador passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Visa Online (e-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 Ecuador than United Kingdom?
Generally yes: Ecuador runs about 63% cheaper than United Kingdom 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 £57,000 comparable salary, that's around $6,925 in Ecuador for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Ecuador?
With 17.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ecuador can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in United Kingdom and Ecuador.
Is Ecuador safe for expats?
United Kingdom performs better than Ecuador across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Ecuador is 45.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Ecuador compared to United Kingdom?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ecuador leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 23.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Ecuador, compared to 33.0 in United Kingdom. Ecuador scores 77 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Ecuador compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Quito is 71°F, compared to 60°F in London. Quito receives around 43.2 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Ecuador?
The official language in Ecuador is Spanish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
