Video summary

Cost of Living in Ecuador đŸ‡Ș🇹 | Real Food Prices, Daily Life & Shopping in Loja (Near Vilcabamba)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Lifestyle

Key lifestyle & daily-life highlights (Loja near Vilcabamba, Ecuador)

  • Carl (Abundant Living Ecuador) shares a short catch-up vlog from Loja, noting it’s about 45 minutes from Vilcabamba.
  • He drives north through town and runs errands around local civic services and shopping areas, including Registro Civil for witnessing documents like birth certificates.

Travel / local navigation notes

  • Roads in Loja are generally described as running north–south.
  • Notable scenic/road stop:
    • A riverside area with a bridge and a coffee shop.
    • There’s also an option to go up to a tower.

Health & food routines / shopping approach

  • Shopping focus: fresh, affordable produce, even if it’s not officially organic.
  • Planning for freshness:
    • Mangoes may be bought frozen if they can’t be eaten quickly.
    • Pineapple and watermelon are often turned into juice and used for breakfast.
  • Health-oriented produce tips:
    • Turmeric is purchased and used for juicing.
    • Root vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes) are less expensive here.
    • The video contrasts this with buying greens at an organic market, described as higher quality (but more expensive).
  • Dietary produce guidance:
    • For the best greens—such as lettuce, kale, cilantro, parsley, and celery—go to the organic market.

Produce & grocery “price/quantity” shopping tips (Puerto Seco market)

Fruits (examples mentioned)

  • Mangoes

    • Identified as local Ecuadorian vs Peruvian varieties.
    • Carl says the Ecuadorian Edwards are best (sweeter); Peruvian ones are “different” (skinnier) but still good.
    • $20 per box, about 60 mangoes per box.
    • He buys two boxes (≈ $40 total).

  • Watermelons

    • Commonly coming from Peru.
    • $4 each for large, sweet melons.

  • Pineapples

    • Sold by the dozen:
      • $11 per dozen (≈ under $1 each)
      • $16 per dozen for larger ones

Vegetables & staples (examples mentioned)

  • Potatoes

    • Buys about 10 lbs.
    • Mentions 4 lbs for $1, plus varieties such as papuccina, camote, beets, and onions.

  • Tomatoes

    • $2 per bag (also mentions “3 for a dollar” for another bag size).

  • Cucumbers

    • 3 lb for $1.

  • Avocados

    • Multiple sizes/prices noted (about $0.50 to ~$0.65 each, depending on size).
    • He buys $4 worth of larger avocados, described as “buttery” versus smaller/lighter ones.

  • Turmeric

    • $1.25 per pound.

  • Beets

    • Mentions 30 lb of beets (price guidance provided alongside carrot purchasing).

  • Carrots

    • 25 lbs for $5 (and indicates additional bulk carrot buying).

  • Meat/other items

    • Mentions buying meat “for $3” (cut/quantity not fully specified in the auto-captions).

Gardening / food waste reduction tip

  • He follows a friend’s idea: plant pineapple tops.
  • He buys enough pineapple tops to bring to his land and plant.

Supplements / pantry items highlighted

  • Bulk/health products and “natural medicinal” items (sourced from Peru is mentioned):
    • Stevia: $2.50 (for colds—claims mentioned)
    • Totuma items with propolis and vitamin C (also includes ginger + propolis)
    • “Antibiotico natural” (mentioned, with the expectation it wouldn’t be marketed that way in the U.S.)
  • Kids’ snack:
    • Puffed rice (noted as possibly not the healthiest, but popular with the kids)

Plant seedlings mini-haul (very cheap)

  • Seeds/seedlings sold very inexpensively:
    • 30 seedlings for $1 (as mentioned in the text)
  • Purchases mentioned:
    • Lettuce (Carl says “definitely”)
    • Broccoli
    • Swiss chard
    • Strawberries for his wife

Shopping for household needs / stores

  • A supermarket highlight:
    • Gran Aki (compared to Supermaxi), described as slightly cheaper—about 5–10% less.
  • Bulk/nuts/seeds are also bought at a specialty shop (see below).

Vehicle maintenance / cost-of-living snapshot

Oil change + waiting snacks

  • He gets an oil change and walks while waiting.
  • While waiting, he buys Mora juice (blackberry).
  • Total oil change/fuel-related amount mentioned:
    • $32 for a 2.0L gasoline engine (wording is unclear, but presented as a good price).

Steering/power steering repair

  • Auto issue:
    • Steering rack / power steering leak suspected.
    • Diagnosed as a leaking power steering pump.
  • Parts and outcome:
    • New power steering pump: $100
    • Later reports mention multiple parts replaced:
      • Three different parts were changed (including bearings/wheels/brackets plus the pump).
    • Total labor/parts for the repair work mentioned as: $25
      • Likely refers to labor/adjustments only, since the pump cost was stated separately.

Notable products / places visited (and named people)

  • Loja (city outskirts and markets)
  • Vilcabamba (distance reference)
  • Puerto Seco (large fruits/vegetables market; noted for freshness and affordability)
  • Gran Aki supermarket (bulk-focused; compared with Supermaxi)
  • Lalo/Terminal area (bus station area where he walked)
  • Wind turbines around Loja (visible landmark)
  • Auto parts area / shop: Auto Parts OA
  • Riverside/bridge spot with coffee shop and a tower
  • Produce/bulk & specialty store: Futteria Al Paso (run by Diego; bulk nuts/seeds and powders like maca, chocolate powder, herbs)
  • Mechanic/parts shop reference: Lacasa de Amortiadoras
  • Beer mentioned: Cuskeñia Negra (black beer, ~5%, 310 ml; described as from Peru/Cusco; $8 per pack)
  • Promo line: “Abundant Living Team” and a “next retreat” link in the description
  • Speaker: Carl (from Abundant Living Ecuador)

Original video