Cost of living 

The cost of living in Ecuador is one of the lowest in the world. The 2007 – 2008 Mercer Human Resources Cost of Living Survey, which provides data on cities, ranked Quito the third cheapest in the world, just behind Asuncion, Paraguay and Karachi, Pakistan, and just ahead of Montevideo, Uruguay.

Tourism growth 

Based on annual percentage growth, Ecuador has ranked in the top five nations worldwide in tourism growth since 2002 according to the International Council on Tourism.

U.S. - Ecuador education connection 

On a per capita basis, more Ecuadorian students attend college in the U.S. and Europe than students from any other Latin American country according to the American Association of Colleges and Universities. The AACU also reports that more Ecuadorian high school students attend U.S. high schools as exchange student, than from any other Latin American country.

Ecuadorians living in the U.S. 

More Ecuadorians, as a pecentage of the country's total population, live in North America and Europe than citizens of any other Latin American country. Best estimates are that 1.2 million Ecuadorians live in New York and New Jersey, and another .5 million live in Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and South Florida.

Where gasoline is still a bargain 

Prices of gasoline and natural gas are subsidized by the Ecuadorian government, a practice that started after the country became a significant producer in the 1980s. A gallon of regular gasoline runs $1.48 a gallon but the best deal is on diesel, which costs $1.03. Domestic natural gas costs consumers less than 20% of the international market rate.

Major port expansion underway in Manta

Manta, the largest coastal city, has embarked on a major port expansion project aimed at making it one of the largest cargo ports on the South American Pacific coast. The Chinese company, Hutchinson Ports Corporation is coordinating the project.

Inflation rate rises

Inflation in 2008 is predicted to run 8.2%, the highest in seven years, according to a recent report. It is the first time inflation has topped 4% since the U.S. dollar became the Ecuadorian currency. The higher inflation rate is blamed on the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar and on agricultural losses suffered during the 2007 -2008 La Nina floods. The July report by the London School of Economics noted that Ecuador's inflation rate was below that of many of its Latin American neighbors. Inflation rate predications for 2008 include: Argentina, 26%; Costa Rica, 13%; Uruguay, 19%; Brazil 14%; Venezuela, 29%; and Bolivia, 17%.

Number of expats growing but is still low

Although Ecuador is experiencing exponential growth in the number of new foreign residents, it has far fewer expats on a per capita basis as Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama. In 2006 the U.S. State Department estimated that there were 19,000 U.S. citizens living in Ecuador, about 10% of the per capita rates in Mexico and Panama.

Ecuador's life expectancy passes the U.S. 

n January 2008, Infant Rescue International and the World Health Organization reported that life expectancy for Ecuadorian new-borns exceeded that of U.S. new-borns for the first time, 77.4 years to 77.2. Infant Rescue called the numbers "truly amazing considering the relative poverty of Ecuador when compared to the United States. One can only conclude that the relaxed pace of life and good food are the reasons."

Cell phone use increases

In May, there were 10.7 million cell phones in operation in Ecuador. According to AmiercanMovil. The represents the highest rate of cell phone ownership, per capita, in Latin America.

Ecuador's serious crime rate remains low 

International crime records compiled by Interpol in 2007 indicate that Ecuador is one of the safest countries in Latin America in terms of serious crime. The murder rate is the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. Kidnapping is the only category where Ecuador ranks high, largely due to the so-called ATM Kidnappings in Guayaquil and Quito in which robbery and car theft are the chief motives. On a per capita basis, Esmeraldas, Guayaquil and Quito have the highest serious crime rates in communities of more than 100,000, while Cuenca and Loja have the lowest rates. Although statistics are unreliable for petty and property crime, Ecuador’s rate appears to in line with other Latin American countries – which means that it is a serious problem. Tourists are frequent targets and should take precautions to protect their valuables.

Internet speeds increase, cost decline