Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Acapulco de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca?
Acapulco de Juarez
Located on the southwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico is the beautiful beach city of Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco is one of the original travel and resort destinations in Mexico, and it's still considered a popular spring break destination for Americans. Known as simply "Acapulco" to many travelers, this region is a popular spot for cruise lines to stop and timeshares to grow. Thanks to those cruise lines and timeshares, tourist activities like water parks and jet skis have experienced considerable growth.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAcapulco de Juarez $81Cuenca $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $81, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $42. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Acapulco de Juarez and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAcapulco de Juarez $39Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAcapulco de Juarez $78Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Acapulco de Juarez Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $16Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:
- Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
- Private Best Round Trip Airport - Hotel - Airport Transfer : $70
- Acapulco Airport Transfer: $10
- Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $20
- Airport Transfer in Suburban: $65
- Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Bahia de Acapulco: $49
- Shared transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Acapulco: $6.00
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Acapulco Airport (ACA) -Bahía de Acapulco: $24
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Bahía de Acapulco - Acapulco Airport (ACA): $24
- Transfer in private minivan from Bahía de Acapulco -Acapulco Airport (ACA): $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Acapulco de Juarez change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $29Cuenca $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Acapulco de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Acapulco de Juarez.
- High Divers DeLuxe Three Course Dinner +Three Drinks plus SUNSET: $49
- Cliff Divers Exhibition 2 Drinks + Tacos al Pastor Dinner & Beer: $55
- Cliff Diver De Luxe 3 Course Dinner at "La Quebrada" in Acapulco: $56
- Cliff Divers Show With Dinner At Acapulco: $72
- Wrestling-Lucha Libre Experience Tacos Beer Dinner Only SUNDAY: $84
- Off the Beaten Path Mexican Cooking Class Lagoon Boatride &Lunch: $89
- Hands ON - Mex Cooking Class Experience - City Market & Lunch : $90
- Hands On Mexican Cooking Class with Food Tasting & Market Visit: $100
- Mexican Fiesta Show & Dinner: $115
- Bella Vista PRIVATE Al Fresco 3 Course Dinner Cliff Diver3Drinks: $191
- Super DeLuxe Bella Vista Dinner &1 Drink +2 Drinks at CliffDivers: $193
- Divers Show and Luxury Dinner in Acapulco: $199
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $18Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Acapulco de Juarez
Here are a few actual costs in Acapulco de Juarez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kayaks Tour to El Morro Islet: $25
- Sunset Adventures: $30
- Acapulco City Tour : $35
- Small-Group or Private All Inclusive 4 Hours City Tour & Divers: $36
- 4hr City Tour For Cruises or Hotels Diver Peace Chapel & Mural: $40
- 4Hrs City Tour Exclusively for Hotels, Divers, Chapel & Mural.: $44
- Combo 6 Hr Tour All City Highlights Divers Baby Turtle Release: $46
- 4-6Hrs Acapulco City Tour With a Fun Guide. Diver Show, Mex Lunch: $47
- 6Hr Cruisers or Hotels High Diver Peace Chapel BabyTurtleRelease: $50
- Acapulco Malibu, Avenida Kids Tour : $50
- 6Hr Cruise or Hotels City Tour, Divers, Baby Turtles Peace Chapel: $51
- 6Hr City Tour Cruise or Hotel Turtle Nesting High Diver & Market: $51
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $25
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $11Cuenca $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Acapulco de Juarez and Cuenca, we can see that Acapulco de Juarez is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and Cuenca is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Acapulco de Juarez would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Acapulco de Juarez than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca?
Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Cuenca, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca?
Acapulco de Juarez has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cuenca experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Acapulco de Juarez are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Acapulco de Juarez is generally a little warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 29°C (83°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite rainy in Acapulco de Juarez. In July, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Acapulco de Juarez gets 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAcapulco de Juarez 29°C (83°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca in the Autumn?
Both Cuenca and Acapulco de Juarez during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Acapulco de Juarez because of the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in October than Cuenca. Acapulco de Juarez gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAcapulco de Juarez 28°C (83°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Acapulco de Juarez and Cuenca. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Cuenca. In the winter, Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).
In January, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Cuenca. Acapulco de Juarez gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAcapulco de Juarez 26°C (79°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Cuenca in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Acapulco de Juarez as well as Cuenca. Many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
In April, Acapulco de Juarez is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 27°C (81°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Acapulco de Juarez usually gets less rain in April than Cuenca. Acapulco de Juarez gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAcapulco de Juarez 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Acapulco de Juarez
| Acapulco de Juarez | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 271 mm (10.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 341 mm (13.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.