Ecuador

I have a slight advantage when considering Ecuador since I was there on a humanitarian mission in the late 1990's.  Not only was I in the country's capital, Quito, but I was in the outlying towns and villages as well.

Ecuador is extremely appealing to me.  The cost of living is low, the infastructure is decent and the gay scene is pretty good.  I think that it may be a perfect fit.  The only problem that I can see is that more and more expats are moving to Ecuador, paying whatever price someone is asking (whether it's a clump of banannas or a house) and its driving inflation through the roof.  Not only are they making it harder for the expats that will follow them but they are making it near impossible for the average Ecuadorian to be able to afford ANYTHING.

Here's what International Living magazine has to say about Ecuador.
"Ecuador is gentle...safe...healthy...private...civil".  "In fact, we ranked Ecuador as the world's best retirement destination in 1999, due to the amazing values.  And 13 years later (and for the fourth year running) we have voted Ecuador the top retirement haven in the world...".  It goes on to say, "Ecuador also offers a high quality of life" and In the major cities like Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca, you can enjoy all of the Western conveniences you are accustomed to...Everyone has cell phones, and internet connections are just as common".  Ecuador has "World-class restaurants that serve excellent meals, yet you'll be hard pressed to pay more than $50 for a dinner for two, drinks included".  "It's not difficult to live in Ecuador on less than $17.000 a year, and you don't have to live an unattractive lifestyle in order to do so".

Fast Facts:
-  Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability.  Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected Presidents.
-  The capitol is Quito.
-  It has at least 30 peaks of volcanic origin, including six still active.
-  The entire country enjoys 12 hours of direct equatorial daylight 365 days a year.
-  The equator is less than 20 miles north of Quito.
-  Quito's climate is spring-like year around (about 50 degrees at night and as high as 76 during the day.
-  The official language is Sanish
- The U.S. dollar is the legal tender
-  The majority of electrical outlets are 110/120V AC (60 Hz).
-  The internet is very popular in all the cities and towns.  There are hundreds of "coffee-nets" in the commercial and tourist areas that offer net2phone, email, internet and fx services at very reasonable prices.  Internet is expanding very fast and is easy to find at least one computer center at any neighborhood of a big city.  Service in these places is better in tourist areas, and the rates may depend on the category of the computer center, but rates are cheap most of the time.

Cities:
Cuenca; "Cuenca is Ecuador's third-largest city" with a metro population of 450,000.
Quito;  "Quito has been described as the most beautiful city in South America" with a metro population of about 1.5 million.  Traffic is reasonable, except at rush hour and during major road resurfacing projects.  The public transportation system, including taxis, buses, and trams is excellent.
Guayaquil;  From what I've foung, Guayaquil is the largest city in all of Ecuador.  It's right on the Pacific Coast and, at a glance, will put you in mind of a large U.S. city.  What concearns me the most about Guayaquil is safety.  I mean, the U.S. State Department has forbidden their employees from taking ANY form of public transportation in Guayaquil except for three taxi companies which have been vetted by them personally and even with these the taxi has to be called and can't be hailed.  That worries me and makes Quito look more and more appealing.

Important stats:
Population = 15,007,343
Internet Users = 3.352 million
Cell Phone Users = 14.781 million

Out of all the places that interest me, here's how Ecuador rates (ratings are 1-7, 1 being the best and 7 being the worst):

1  Overall
2  in Cost of Living
1 in Entertainment
4 in Economy
5 in Environment
4 in Freedom
3 in Health Care
4 in Infrastructure
3 in Risk and Safety
1 in Climate

I also went on to rate each of the countries in the way they felt about homosexuals. Heres what I found out about Ecuador.

1. Legal - Same Sex Sexual Act
2. Legal - Same Sex unions
3. Illegal - Same Sex Marriage
4. Illegal - Same Sex Adoptions
5. Legal - Gays In The Military
6. Laws about discrimination against homosexuals.