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Why so many Americans and Canadians are thinking about moving abroad
For a growing number of people in the US and Canada the idea of staying put simply feels untenable. Skyrocketing housing costs, crushing medical bills, rising taxes for some, the fraying of public services, and a political and social climate that feels increasingly polarized are pushing people to look for alternatives. Add the stress of long commutes, crowded emergency rooms, and worries about safety in some urban neighborhoods, and it’s little wonder that more families and retirees are asking: is there a better place to live?
These concerns are not hypothetical. Ordinary people are feeling budget pressure from every angle: rents and mortgages stretching monthly budgets, savings eroding under high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and stagnant wages in many sectors. For retirees, shrinking pensions and rising prescription prices can make a fixed income painfully tight. Young families are priced out of safe neighborhoods with good schools. All of this is driving a search for places that offer economic breathing room, predictable healthcare, and a higher quality of everyday life.
But leaving home requires a serious test-run. That is where a short scouting trip comes in — and where Cuenca, Ecuador, stands out as the single best city for North Americans to try living abroad.
Why Cuenca is the ideal place to test a life outside the US and Canada
Cuenca checks almost every box that pushes people out of North America: affordable living, reliable healthcare, safety, cultural richness, and a gentle climate. This mid-sized Andean city is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colonial architecture, leafy plazas, and a rhythm of life that feels relaxed but not isolated.
Most important for budget-conscious Americans and Canadians, Cuenca’s cost of living is dramatically lower than in North America. Housing, groceries, transportation, utilities, and out-of-pocket medical care usually cost a fraction of comparable services in US and Canadian cities. That financial difference directly addresses the affordability crisis many people are fleeing.
Cuenca’s climate is another surprise for new arrivals: located at about 2,500 meters (around 8,200 feet) above sea level, the city enjoys a near-constant springlike temperature year-round. No punishing summers or icy winters — just comfortable days that make everyday life pleasant and reduce the need for heating and air conditioning expenses.
Health services and healthcare access
One of the biggest reasons North Americans leave is medical cost anxiety. In Cuenca you have access to high-quality private clinics and hospitals that are staffed by well-trained professionals and use modern equipment — at a fraction of the cost back home. For routine care, specialist visits, and many procedures, waiting times are often shorter and face-to-face time with doctors can feel less rushed.
For those planning a move, this means more predictable healthcare bills and less financial risk. Many expats supplement private care with local or international health insurance. If major dental work or surgical procedures are needed, the savings in Cuenca can be transformative — which is why combining a scouting trip with planned dental care is such a smart strategy.
How a scouting trip to Cuenca lets you test everything that matters
A proper scouting trip isn’t just sightseeing. It’s a practical, investigative journey that answers the real questions: can I find a comfortable apartment in a neighborhood I love? Is the healthcare system accessible to me? How easy is day-to-day life with groceries, banks, and public transport? Are there people like me here?
Plan 2–4 weeks for a scouting trip to give yourself time to rent a short-term apartment, shop for groceries, meet with expat groups, visit clinics and dentists, and interview residency lawyers. Stay long enough to feel the weekday rhythm as well as the weekend vibe. During that time you can line up appointments at dental clinics and hospitals, visit several neighborhoods, and compare living costs first-hand.
Practical neighborhoods and what to expect
Cuenca’s historic center around Parque Calderón is beautiful and walkable, filled with cafés, shops, and colonial charm — great for short stays and to feel the city’s heart. For longer-term living many expats choose quieter, more residential areas that still have easy access to hospitals and services: neighborhoods near major clinics and the commercial corridor around the malls offer modern apartments and conveniences.
When looking for housing, check for furnished short-term rentals to save on initial setup. Ask about security deposits, utilities included, and proximity to public transit or taxi stands. Because Cuenca accepts the US dollar, budgeting is straightforward and easier to compare with current living costs in the US and Canada.
Why combining your scouting trip with dental work makes so much sense
One of the most practical and immediate ways to make a scouting trip pay for itself is to schedule dental work while you’re in Cuenca. Dental care is a frequent and expensive pain point in North America; many patients find that major procedures like implants, crowns, and veneers cost 60–70% less in Ecuador. That means a single treatment package can often offset the entire cost of your flights and accommodation for a week or two abroad.
Smilehealth Ecuador Dental Clinic is one local practice that helps expat visitors coordinate dental vacations. Contact them via WhatsApp at +593 98 392 9606 to request an initial consultation, photos, and an estimate. Many expats use photos and X-rays to get a quote before they travel, then schedule treatment blocks during their stay so the trip doubles as both a vacation and necessary care.
Having dental work done while scouting accomplishes three goals at once: you get world-class treatment at a much lower price, you test the medical providers and clinics you may use long-term, and the savings often cover your travel costs — turning a scouting trip into a smart financial move.
What dental tourists should know before they go
- Start with a remote consultation: send photos and X-rays to the clinic via WhatsApp at +593 98 392 9606 to get a treatment plan and estimate before you book flights.
- Plan your schedule: major treatments can require multiple visits or several days in-country. Ask the clinic how many appointments you’ll need and whether temporary work is involved.
- Bring records: bring a copy of recent dental work, X-rays, or medical records. This speeds diagnosis and planning.
- Ask about materials and warranties: reputable clinics use internationally recognized materials and offer follow-up care or warranties — make sure you know what’s included.
- Leave buffer time: build a few extra days into your trip in case of minor adjustments or follow-up visits.
Residency, legal steps, and how to make the move permanent
Cuenca is friendly to foreign residents. Ecuador offers visa types that suit retirees, remote workers, investors, and those with employment or family ties. The pensionado visa is especially attractive for retirees with stable income, while the rentista and professional visas work for other situations. The process involves submitting background checks, proof of income, and translated documents; many incoming expats use a local immigration lawyer to smooth the paperwork.
Use your scouting trip to meet immigration advisers, gather required paperwork, and learn the timeline. Some documents need apostilles and translations, which can be organized in advance from North America.
Banking, money transfers, and staying connected
Since Ecuador uses the US dollar, financial planning is simpler than in many countries. Still, you’ll want to compare options for transferring funds and receiving retirement Income or pensions. International transfer services like Wise, Remitly, and others often offer better exchange fees and lower transfer costs than banks.
Buy a local SIM card on arrival for affordable data and calls; major providers have offices around Cuenca and setup is fast. For long stays consider an Ecuadorian bank account — your scouting trip is the perfect time to begin that process and meet with bank reps.
Community, culture, and quality of life
Cuenca’s expat community is well-established and diverse. You’ll find Americans, Canadians, Europeans, and other Latin American expatriates who organize meetups, volunteer groups, and informal social networks. Language is a practical factor: Spanish makes everyday life easier, but many medical and dental staff, as well as tourism and real estate professionals, speak English.
The city offers cultural life, museums, markets, and easy access to natural areas. Small pleasures — morning walks through plazas, local markets with fresh produce, and coffee shops with mountain views — add up to a quality of life that many North Americans say they couldn’t afford back home.
Safety, practical precautions, and how Cuenca compares
Cuenca is generally considered safer than many large North American cities, especially for low-level violent crime. Petty theft can occur, as in any tourist-friendly place, so common-sense precautions apply: keep valuables secure, use taxis after dark if you’re unfamiliar with an area, and avoid poorly lit streets late at night.
During a scouting trip you can test safety firsthand by walking daytime routes, taking nighttime taxis, and talking with residents about local patterns. These practical checks are easier to arrange and much less stressful than moving sight-unseen.
How to plan a scouting-and-dental trip step-by-step
- Research and short-list: read expat forums, join Facebook groups for Cuenca expats, and identify clinics like Smilehealth Ecuador you want to contact.
- Remote consultation: WhatsApp Smilehealth Ecuador at +593 98 392 9606 with photos and a brief history to get a preliminary dental quote and timeline.
- Book a 2–4 week trip: reserve a centrally located short-term rental for the first week and then shop neighborhoods.
- Schedule appointments: arrange dental visits and a few medical check-ups; leave buffer days in case of follow-up visits.
- Meet the community: attend expat meetups, visit international cafés, and tour neighborhoods on weekdays and weekends.
- Consult lawyers: meet immigration advisers to discuss visa choices and document requirements.
- Budget and compare: calculate the full cost of a move and compare it to your current expenses. Factor in the dental savings — many find the math quickly favors staying.
Final thought: a single trip that can change your life
When you add it up, a well-planned scouting trip to Cuenca can answer the biggest questions that make leaving North America intimidating: affordability, healthcare, safety, and daily quality of life. By combining that scouting trip with dental care you already need, you unlock a double benefit: immediate medical savings that can offset travel costs, and first-hand experience of whether Cuenca really fits your life.
If you’re ready to seriously test a life outside the US or Canada, start by getting a dental quote and scheduling a consultation. Contact Smilehealth Ecuador Dental Clinic via WhatsApp at +593 98 392 9606 to request a remote estimate and set up appointments that fit your scouting schedule. You could arrive with a curious mindset and leave with a treatment completed, a new neighborhood picked out, and a clear plan for making the move.
North America has many strengths, but when affordability, healthcare access, and everyday quality of life are top priorities, Cuenca offers a practical and beautiful alternative. A single scouting trip — doubled as a dental vacation — is the smartest, least risky way to see if Cuenca could be your new home.
Adam Elliot Altholtz serves as the Administrator & Patient Coordinator of the “Smilehealth Ecuador Dental Clinic“, along with his fellow Expats’ beloved ‘Dr. No Pain‘, right here in Cuenca, Ecuador, and for purposes of discussing all your Dental needs and questions, is available virtually 24/7 on all 365 days of the year, including holidays. Adam proudly responds to ALL Expat patients from at least 7:00am to 9:00pm Ecuador time, again every single day of the year (and once more even on holidays), when you write to him by email at info@smilehealthecuador.com and also by inquiry submitted on the Dental Clinic’s fully detailed website of www.smilehealthecuador.com for you to visit any time, by day or night. Plus, you can reach Adam directly by WhatsApp at +593 98 392 9606 -or by his US phone number of 1‐(941)‐227‐0114, and the Dental Clinic’s Ecuador phone number for local Expats residing in Cuenca is 07‐410‐8745. ALWAYS, you will receive your full Dental Service in English (NEVER in Spanish), per you as an Expat either living in or desiring to visit Cuenca by your Dental Vacation, plus also to enjoy all of Ecuador’s wonders that are just waiting for you to come arouse and delight your senses.