Colegio Internacional SEK
IBInternational
Fee not published
Confirmed on its own website
Cost of Living inGuayaquil, Ecuador
Guayas, Ecuador2.7MUpper middle incomeRemote-work friendly
Image credit: David González
Purchasing Power vs. United States
Your money goes 2.29x further
Based on GDP per capita (PPP). Ecuador: $14,319/capita.
How Far Your Money Goes
Prices are 64% lower than the global benchmark (New York City = 100).
Overall
2.8x further
Prices are 64% lower than the global benchmark (New York City = 100).
Rent
9.5x further
Prices are 90% lower than the global benchmark (New York City = 100).
Groceries
2.9x further
Prices are 65% lower than the global benchmark (New York City = 100).
Restaurants
2.9x further
Prices are 66% lower than the global benchmark (New York City = 100).
Income Category
Upper Middle
World Bank GNI
GDP per Capita
$14,319
PPP, International $
City Population
2.7M
Monthly Costs
Rent
1BR City Center$450/mo
1BR Outside Center$388/mo
3BR City Center$757/mo
3BR Outside Center$730/mo
Food
Cheap Meal$3.50
Mid-Range (2 people)$50
Milk (1L)$1.18
Bread (500g)$1.82
Eggs (12)$2.22
Transport
Taxi per km$1.75
Gasoline (1L)$0.80
Utilities
Basic (85m² apt)$129/mo
Internet (60+ Mbps)$26/mo
Education
Preschool$400/mo
Intl Primary School$6,517/yr
Child Education
Public-school quality + expat access, alongside international and private school cost — the two paths a relocating family weighs.
Public schools
This describes Ecuador as a whole. Enrollment rules and school quality can vary within the country, so check with schools in Guayaquil.
Quality
Below-average public schools
Assessment snapshot: 2022
Expat access
Resident families can use it
conditionalInstruction
Spanish
Local-language fluency usually matters.
PISA / outcomes
383
Well below OECD avg
PISA 2022 · OECD avg ~480
Why this quality rating
Ecuador has below-average PISA outcomes with significant urban-rural quality gaps. The public system is Spanish-medium. Major improvements have been attempted but outcomes remain weak.
Why the expat-access rating looks like this
Resident expat families can technically use public schools. In practice, quality concerns and Spanish-medium instruction push most expat families in Quito and Cuenca toward private or bilingual schools.
📋 Homeschooling
Legal with registrationRegistration requiredCurriculum approvalPeriodic assessment
Ecuador recognizes homeschooling under its "educación en casa" framework. Families must register with the Ministry of Education and follow a structured program. Assessments are required.
Homeschool legality in Ecuador — check current regulations before committing.
Source: User-curated family relocation research (initial seed) (2026-04-14)
International & private schools
1 confirmed school
2 more suggested by AI, not verified
- IB1
Schools' websites are found with Wikidata and OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), and each is checked on the school's own site.
Childcare & Domestic Help
Estimate-only country fallback for the family-support costs we track in Ecuador.
Full-time nanny (5 days)
$525-$775
Estimate-only country fallback
Live-in / 24-7 nanny
$950-$1,350
Estimate-only country fallback
Source: curated family relocation research(derived country fallback)
Getting Around
Neighborhood mobility profiles are rolling out city by city.Guayaquil is still missing a verified walkability, transit, airport, and rideshare profile.
Healthcare
System strength, outcome signals, facility coverage, and self-pay visibility in Ecuador.
Method: country metrics come from public system indicators, facility coverage reflects mapped providers we can inventory, direct pricing only reflects observed self-pay pages, and relative care cost can fall back to broad cost-of-living healthcare indices. Sparse pricing does not imply sparse healthcare availability.
555 facilities tracked
Facilities updated 7 months ago
Healthcare system
GoodGood national coverage help, but hospital capacity looks tighter.
Public care
GoodA visible public hospital footprint support this rating.
Private care
MixedA meaningful tracked hospital and clinic network and visible specialty depth help, but the private footprint is not very visible yet and self-pay pricing transparency is still sparse.
UHC coverage
78/100
2023
Physicians
2.31/1k
2020
Hospital beds
1.32/1k
2023
Out of pocket
31%
2023
Outcome signals
Life expectancy
77.6 yrs
2024
Maternal mortality
55/100k
2023
Neonatal mortality
7.0/1k
2024
International patient readiness
LimitedThere is visible specialty depth help, but the private footprint is still thin and price transparency is still sparse.
Pricing transparency
LimitedPublished self-pay prices are scarce weigh on this rating.
Facility coverage
Pharmacy: 382Hospital: 64Dentist: 42Clinic: 37Doctor: 30
Self-pay pricing visibility
No verified self-pay prices are published for the tracked facilities in Ecuador yet.
This usually reflects low online price transparency rather than a lack of healthcare providers.
Notable facilities
Hospital de Especialidades Guayaquil "Dr. Abel Gilbert Pontón"
Hospital · Emergency
neurologypsychiatryorthopaedicsophthalmology
Hospital General del Norte de Guayaquil IESS Los Ceibos
Hospital · Emergency
Gregorio
Hospital · Emergency
Hospital Naval
Hospital · Emergency
Farmacias Mi Doctorcito
Hospital · Emergency
Maternidad del suburbio
Hospital · Emergency
System metrics: World Bank WDI · Updated 2026-11-01
Safety & Governance
Street Safety
Safety Index25/100
Crime Index75/100
Source: Numbeo where a city row is matched; otherwise World Bank WGI and country-level safety context.
Political Stability
Political Stability-0.09
World Bank WGI scale: -2.5 to +2.5.
Wages by Sector
| Sector | Median |
|---|---|
| Administrative & Support Services | — |
| Agriculture & Farming | — |
| Arts, Entertainment & Recreation | — |
| Construction | — |
| Education | — |
| Finance & Insurance | — |
| Healthcare & Social Work | — |
| Hospitality & Food Service | — |
| Information & Technology | — |
| Manufacturing | — |
| Mining & Quarrying | — |
| Other Services | — |
| Professional & Scientific Services | — |
| Public Administration & Defence | — |
| Real Estate | — |
| Retail & Wholesale Trade | — |
| Transport & Logistics | — |
| Utilities | — |
2025 annual wages in Guayaquil, Ecuador · Source: INEC (region-adjusted)
Price Comparison vs. US
bread 500g
$1.82Estimated46% cheaper
budget hotel
$159.03Survey-verified338% more
childcare preschool
$400.00Estimated74% cheaper
eggs dozen
$2.22Estimated54% cheaper
gasoline liter
$13.01Survey-verified1163% more
inexpensive meal
$11.24Survey-verified47% cheaper
internet 60mbps
$26.44Estimated61% cheaper
luxury hotel
$159.03Survey-verified67% cheaper
milk liter
$1.18Estimated3% cheaper
monthly pass
$13.01Survey-verified81% cheaper
rent 1br
$397.08Survey-verified78% cheaper
rent 3br
$757.14Estimated76% cheaper
taxi km
$1.75Estimated6% cheaper
utilities basic
$129.38Estimated40% cheaper
Visa Information (US passport)
Short-stay entry
visa freeUp to 90 days
US passport holders can stay up to 90 days without a visa.
Long-Term Visa Programs
digital nomad
Digital Nomad Visa
24 monthsRenewableMin. $1,350/mo income
Migrated from legacy digital_nomad_visas row 23
retirement
Jubilado Visa EcuadorDuration variesMin. $1,350/mo income
Quick comparison FAQ
Structured from the deltas already shown on this page — no invented facts, no extra data sources.
How far does your money go in Guayaquil compared with the US?
Your money goes about 2.3x further in Guayaquil than in the US, based on the current PPP estimate.
Is Guayaquil cheaper or more expensive overall than New York City?
Guayaquil is cheaper overall than New York City — overall living costs are about 64% cheaper than the global benchmark (New York City) for Guayaquil.
How does rent in Guayaquil compare with New York City?
Rent in Guayaquil is about 90% cheaper than the global benchmark (New York City).
How expensive are groceries and restaurants in Guayaquil?
Groceries in Guayaquil are about 65% cheaper than the global benchmark (New York City), and restaurant prices are about 66% cheaper than the same benchmark.
About Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and primary commercial port, sitting on the Guayas River near the Pacific coast and serving as the country's economic and shipping hub even as Quito holds the political capital role. The climate is genuinely tropical, hot and humid year-round with a defined wet season from December through May, in sharp contrast to Quito's cool Andean altitude. Relocators choosing Guayaquil typically do so for shipping, agribusiness (Ecuador is the world's largest banana exporter), or shrimp and aquaculture industry roles. Costs are lower than Quito for comparable housing, though the security environment requires more active planning, with insecurity having risen significantly since 2022. Spanish is essential. The Malecón 2000 riverfront redevelopment anchors the central tourist and dining zone.
Tropical climate - hot and humid year-round (75-90°F)Internet quality - variable (fiber available downtown, can be inconsistent)Growing expat community - particularly in Urdesa and Samborondón neighborhoodsWalkability - moderate downtown, requires taxis/Uber for longer distancesExceptional food scene - fresh seafood, ceviche, local marketsVibrant nightlife - clubs, bars, and waterfront entertainment on MalecónCoworking spaces available - increasing number of nomad-friendly optionsSafety - requires neighborhood awareness, avoid certain areas after dark
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