3.66/5
320 reviews
Photo by Andres Medina via Unsplash

Quito

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night

carolina

country

dogs

walk

safe

uber

locals

safety

staying

prices

stay

experience

average

love

streets

areas

encounter

sizes

Quito offers some practical advantages that appeal to remote workers and travelers on a budget. The La Carolina area is noted as convenient and affordable, with options for secure apartments and coworking-friendly cafes like El Cafecito and Jaru. The city is well-situated for outdoor getaways, being near hikes, lakes, and waterfalls, which makes it easy to explore nature on weekends without traveling far. For digital nomads, there are also some financial perks like online work tax benefits and low living costs compared to North American cities.

However, safety is a major concern repeated consistently across reviews. Locals and expats caution against walking around, even during the day, with valuables like phones or laptops visible. Issues with stray or aggressive dogs were also reported in both urban and lower-income residential areas. Social life may feel limited, especially for solo male travelers, and some noted that locals can be reserved or transactional in interactions. Shopping can also be difficult for those with large shoe sizes. Overall, while Quito has its strengths, particularly for short stays and lower-cost living, many users highlighted significant safety drawbacks and frustrating day-to-day experiences that may outweigh its benefits for long-term living.

AI-generated summary of reviews
1 year ago

I've spent the past four months living in Quito, and to be honest, I've decided that I won't be returning to this country again. My experience here has been incredibly frustrating, especially when dealing with the average Ecuadorian citizens. For instance, when you go to a store and ask for a specific item, you often end up with something entirely different. Additionally, using Uber has its challenges, as many drivers keep their phones in their laps, constantly glancing down at the GPS instead of using a phone holder for safety.

While I've always had a love for dogs and grew up with them, my time here in Quito has led me to develop a genuine fear and dislike for them. It's not just the stray dogs causing issues on the streets; it's also the ones owned by people in lower-income areas. Many of these dogs are not properly controlled and have a tendency to randomly attack passersby. I had a particularly distressing encounter with a group of aggressive dogs during my third month here.

Moreover, if you happen to wear shoe sizes above 10 and a half, you'll face difficulties finding suitable footwear, as these sizes are rarely available anywhere in the city.

As for the dating scene, I found it to be quite lackluster, especially as a male. Quito doesn't offer a wide range of activities or a thriving expat culture. Most locals you encounter seem to be interested in forming friendships only to gain something from you.

On a more positive note, I did find some redeeming qualities in Quito, such as the ability to take quick trips to places like Banos and the overall cost of living. However, based on my experiences, I wouldn't recommend living in Quito for an extended period, as it doesn't offer much in terms of a fulfilling experience. You're not missing out on much by choosing to explore other places instead.

3 years ago

I have been living in Quito for almost 3 years, and at this moment in time, I can not recommend it as a travel or remote work destination. A number of high profile terrorist attacks have rocked the country, and the prevalence of random violence and kidnappings in urban areas is increasing. Drug trafficking has decreased safety throughout the country, and no one is out at night past 8 pm. The streets are literally empty once it gets dark. I wish it weren't so, but I'm not considering leaving because of how bad the security situation has gotten since I moved here.

3 years ago

I've made Quito my base and it has its pros and cons. It's not a lively city but there's still decent events if you know where to go to. I recommend staying in La Carolina, more specifically around avenida Portugal. El Cafecito in La Mariscal is my favourite place to work from (they have great breakfasts). Locals are very polite but not the most extroverted. Another downside of Quito is that due to the US dollar, everything is a bit more pricey than in other latinamerican capitals (e.g. Lima, Bogotá). On the plus side, there's many tax advantages for europeans working online as a contractor and I actually end up saving a lot of money that way.

3 years ago

I have lived in the La Carolina District of Quito now for 3 months and love it so far. U started out with an Airbnb but found an awesome apartment including all but electric for 500.00 a month. 24/7 Security, gym,sauna and steam room. I walk to most places or was using taxis but Uber seems to be safer plus you know the cost upfront. Price is about the same. Most foreigners go to Cuenca but if you notice the prices as almost 500.00 more. Also Quito is next to the international airport.

4 years ago

AMAZING country, You will not get bored because it is super rich both culturally and for nature-related activities (hikes, lakes, waterfalls, etc). Everything is pretty close to Quito.
But be very careful not to walk around with laptop or cellphone-not even at daylight. Safety is not good. Specially if you are alone.

4 years ago

Very underrated. Had a great time staying in La Carolina. I have friends who have been living there for 3+ years and can confirm safety has gotten a bit worse but it's still reasonable. Prices are affordable and there's many hiking spots within 1-3 hours.

5 years ago

There are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants where it's normal for people to go with their computers! We have seen people working/have worked in many places around the city including Donde Gopal (vegetarian restaurant), Tandana (vegan restaurant) and cafes like Jaru. Quito is a beautiful city but I do not walk around here at night.

5 years ago

Carolina is not safe anymore. Agree with the rest. Live in Quito for 7 years

7 years ago

beautiful city, lovely people and culture, prices are affordable, but not that safe in general. The crime has been rising in Quito. Wouldn't recommend staying in the historic area if you want to go out at night (because most locals won't leave their houses once it's dark due to crime, especially important for women to note this). In the daytime, relatively okay to walk around but i wouldn't recommend taking a computer to a coffee shop (it's not that type of city and would raise eyebrows). I recommend dressing down and not wearing jewelry and taking uber if you need to get around. Knowing some Spanish will get you by further. If you're looking for nightlife you can check out the Zona Rosa which is pretty safe at night and is a good place to stay if you want to go out at night. Meals on average are $2 for a full plate of food juice and dessert. The safest neighborhood to stay in is near the park La Carolina which is might as well be an entirely different city (this is basically the "rich area" but is nice to stay at because you can also go out here at night and be safe). Also this area tends to have more modern apartments available on AIRBNB with aircon/heating/internet that sort of thing. InaQuito/Baton are the safest neighborhoods for nomads.

7 years ago

✅ Very affordable

✅ Many hiking and nature options

✅ Good cafes and restaurants to work from

✅ Fast internet

✅ Good air quality on average

✅ Many Nomads.com members have been

✅ Spacious and not crowded

✅ Very easy to make friends

✅ Good hospitals

✅ Freedom of speech

✅ Democratic

✅ Very safe for women

✅ Family friendly

✅ Very friendly to LGBTQ+

✅ Not many people smoke tobacco

✅ (Medical) marijuana MAY be legal, unenforced or decriminalized (always double check this)

❌ Not safe, especially at night

❌ Aggressive stray or uncontrolled dogs

❌ Limited footwear sizes for larger feet

❌ Dating and social scene lacking

❌ Poor customer service

❌ Uber and driving safety concerns

❌ Expensive

❌ Not very safe

❌ Not much to do

❌ Gets cold in the winter

❌ Not many Nomads.com members right now

❌ Difficult to do business

❌ Quality of education is low

❌ Roads are very dangerous

❌ People don't speak English well

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Feels (median)

1559°
cool

1661°
cool

1559°
cool

1661°
cool

1763°
cool

1661°
cool

1763°
cool

1661°
cool

1763°
cool

1661°
cool

1559°
cool

Real (median)

1559°
cool

1661°
cool

1559°
cool

1661°
cool

1762°
cool

1661°
cool

1762°
cool

1661°
cool

1762°
cool

1661°
cool

1559°
cool

Humidity

damp
85%

damp
86%

damp
87%

damp
83%

damp
81%

damp
73%

damp
74%

damp
73%

damp
82%

damp
87%

Most common

☔️ Rain

Rain

rainy
180mm

rainy
261mm

rainy
350mm

rainy
287mm

rainy
225mm

rainy
150mm

rainy
69mm

rainy
114mm

rainy
122mm

rainy
282mm

rainy
288mm

rainy
214mm

Cloud

cloudy
83%

cloudy
87%

overcast
91%

cloudy
87%

cloudy
79%

cloudy
74%

cloudy
69%

cloudy
71%

cloudy
72%

cloudy
82%

cloudy
87%

cloudy
85%

Air quality

okay
59 US AQI

okay
68 US AQI

okay
70 US AQI

okay
64 US AQI

okay
60 US AQI

okay
55 US AQI

clean
49 US AQI

okay
63 US AQI

okay
78 US AQI

okay
67 US AQI

okay
64 US AQI

Sun

avoid sun
8 UVI

avoid sun
9 UVI

avoid sun
8 UVI

Remote workers

2,040 people

2,267 people

1,114 people

1,600 people

1,750 people

1,909 people

1,714 people

1,000 people

1,600 people

1,364 people

1,300 people

1,243 people

Green is good. Red is bad. Values shown are the medians of all daily highs in a month based on past few years, not necessarily current numbers. Remote worker count is estimated based on the total amount of trips logged by Nomads.com members.

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Current weather data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0)

Based on Quito's cost of living, here's selected remote jobs that would cover your costs:

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$1,644 / mo

32 Mbps

Colombia

⭐️ OverallAll

💵 Cost 😙 Affordable

📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast

👍 Liked mediocre

👮 Safety very bad

Tap to open

🌥 Feels 17° 63° 17° 62° AQI 33

✈️58min

$2,146 / mo

🌇 Also went here133 people

Mexico

⭐️ OverallAll

💵 Cost 🧐 Pricey

📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast

👍 Liked good

👮 Safety bad

Tap to open

🌥 Feels 21° 70° 21° 69° AQI 42

✈️4h

$3,567 / mo

🌇 Also went here143 people

Santiago

Chile

⭐️ OverallAll

💵 Cost 😳 Extremely expensive

📡 InternetWiFi 🏎 Fast

👍 Liked mediocre

👮 Safety mediocre

Tap to open

🌥 Feels 21° 70° 21° 70° AQI 28

✈️12h

$7,541 / mo

🌇 Also went here128 people

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Members who have been here

Values shown are estimated visits by traveling remote workers based on the total amount of trips logged by Nomads.com members. Visits to a place are only counted once per year per user, even if they visit more in that year. Visits are also normalized by overall trips added per month on the site, so if site usage goes up or down it does not affect trends. Not all digital nomads are on Nomads.com, and not all Nomads.com members log their trips. So the data is only indicative.

The chart below shows visitors by nationality normalized for population size. This means we take all trips logged on Nomads.com, check which country of origin the user is from, then divide that total visit count by the country of origin's population. If we didn't, it'd just show the big countries like US, Brazil and India always on top. Instead, this shows which nationalities worldwide proportionally visit more or less, which is more useful.

🎒 Nomad Score™	3.66/5 (Rank #107) 320 reviews
❤️ Liked by members	👍5 liked it 👎2 disliked it
👍 Quality of life score	Good
👶 Family score	Okay
🎒 Community score	Okay
🤯 Overcrowding score	0% is nomad here
💵 Cost	🙂 Okay: $2,623 / mo
📡 Internet	😡 Slow: 14 Mbps (avg)
😝 Fun	Okay
⛅️ Temperature (now)	🌞 Nice: 18°C65°F (feels 19°C66°F)
💦 Humidity (now)	😊 Comfy: 73%
❄️ % of buildings with AC	🥵 Very low: 15%
💨 Air quality (now)	😐 Moderate: 65 US AQI
💨 Air quality (annual)	🌱 Good: 63 US AQI
👌 Safety	Okay
👩 Safe for women	Good
🌈 Safe for LGBTQ+	Great
🤮 Food safety*	Good
👮‍♀️ Lack of crime*	Okay
🤝 Lack of racism*	Okay
🎓 Education level*	Mediocre
⚡️ Power grid	Great
🌊 Resilience to climate change	Great
💰 Income level*	Very low: $499 / mo
🙊 English speaking*	Bad
😤 People density	🧘‍♀️ Low density: 3k ppl/km² (1 per 18x18m)
🚶 Walkability	Okay
🚦 Traffic safety*	Bad
✈️ Airline scores*	Great
🧳 Lost luggage*	Great
🏥 Hospitals	Okay
😄 Happiness*	Bad
🍸 Nightlife	Okay
📶 Free WiFi in city	Okay
🖥 Places to work from	Great
❄️ A/C or heating	Okay
😁 Friendly to foreigners	Good
🗯 Freedom of speech*	Good
🎅 Startup Score	Bad

🌍 Continent	Latin America
🚩 Country	Ecuador
🗓️ Average trip length	11 days
📡 Internet speed (avg)	14 Mbps
⛅️ Weather (now)	🌥 18°C 65°F + 😊 Comfy (73%) = feels 19°C 66°F
💨 Air quality (now)	👍 65 US AQI 🍃 OK
💨 Air quality (annual avg)	👎😷 63 US AQI
🔌 Power	115V 60Hz
🚑 Travel medical insurance	Safetywing
💸 Tipping	Yes, 12.50%
💻 Best coworking space	Conexión Ec Coworking
💻 Best alt. coworking space	Buen Trip
☕️ Best coffee place	Cafe Spiral
☕️ Best alt. coffee place	Café del Fraile
🏪 Best 24/7 coffee place	Metro Cafe
🚰 Tap water	🚫 No, not drinkable
♻️ Return rate	👍13% of visitors return
📸 Visitors per year	750,000 visitors
📸 Tourists now	14,374 tourists
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Population	2,500,000 people
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 GDP per capita*	$5,982 / year
😤 Population density	🧘‍♀️ not busy: 18x18m (324m²) per person
👫 Gender ratio (population)	👨 46% 👱‍♀️ 54%
👫 Gender ratio (young adults)	👨 51% 👱‍♀️ 49%
👫 Gender ratio (nomads)	👨 78% 👱‍♀️ 22%
🏞 Foreign land ownership allowed	Yes
⛪️ Religious government	Non-religious
🏠 Apartment listings	Sublet
✈️ Best short-haul air carrier	LAN Ecuador
✈️ Best int'l air carrier	LAN Ecuador
🏥 Best hospital	Hospital Metropolitano

💵 Cost of living for nomad	$2,623 / month
💵 Cost of living for expat	$1,189 / month
💵 Cost of living for family	$2,732 / month
💵 Cost of living for local	$781 / month
🏨 Hotel (median price)	$3,192 / month
🏡 Airbnb (median price)	$1,494 / month
🏠 1br studio rent in center	$475 / month
🏠 Median home price	$95,000
🏨 Hotel (median price)	$150 / night
🏠 Airbnb (median price)	$49 / night
🏢 Coworking hot desk	$150 / month
🍛 Dinner	$5
🥤 Coca-Cola (0.3L)	$1
🍺 Beer in cafe (0.5L)	$4
☕️ Coffee in cafe	$3
👩‍🏫 International school	$8,951 / year
📱 Mobile data (~10GB)	$11 / month
🚕 Taxi price (avg trip ~3km/2mi)	$5 / trip

Quito

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