SimGuruGeorge took to Twitter to confirm that ladders will be introduced to the game via the Eco Lifestyle Expansion, but will also come free in the Eco Lifestyle game patch.
Ladders will be a base game update coming at launch. Eco Lifestyle will come with an additional variant.
— SimGuruGeorge (@SimGuruGeorge) May 6, 2020
Ladder placement is your choice. It is up to you if you want to build them inside.
— SimGuruGeorge (@SimGuruGeorge) May 6, 2020