Languages
Spoken languages
People in Cuenca speak Spanish. The kichwa language is hardly spoken in Cuenca, but many names refer to this language.
English proficiency
The level of English proficiency is low in Cuenca compared to many other cities in Latin America. The 2022 EF English Proficiency Index gives Cuenca only 477 points out of 700. Ecuador gets 466 points. In comparison: Argentina has 662 points in this index and Costa Rica has 636 points.
Although the level of English proficiency is low, most expats who don't speak Spanish still feel comfortable by not speaking Spanish because there are several businesses that specifically aim expats and therefore communicate in English. If you don't speak Spanish, you may hire an expat facilitator to accompany you to appointments, etc. They usually charge around $10 per hour.
Learning Spanish in Cuenca
People in Cuenca speak slowly and without a special accent. This makes Cuenca a good place to learn Spanish as a beginner. There are several language schools and language exchanges.