A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aswan vs. Quito for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aswan or Quito?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aswan or Quito? 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: Aswan or Quito?

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

Quito

Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center – one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.

Even though Quito is full of people – in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country – very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.

Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $30, while the average daily cost in Quito is $66. 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 Aswan and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $9.89
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $20
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Quito? 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.

Hotels in Aswan


Hotels in Quito


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: Aswan Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.43
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • A transfer to Luxor from Aswan by car: $75
  • Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $37
  • Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise: $26
  • Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer: $24
  • Aswan Airport Transfer to Nile Cruise or Hotel: $20
  • Aswan Airport Transfers inside city & to Luxor, Hurghada- One Way: $18
  • Aswan Airport VIP Transfer – Private,Comfortable &On-Time Service: $35

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
  • Quito hotels to Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
  • Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
  • Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
  • Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $32
  • Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
  • Private Transfer IN or OUT Hotel-Aiport Quito or Aiport-Hotel: $35
  • Private Transfer to Quito airport and hotel: $35
  • Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Aswan 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Aswan $15
    Quito $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Private Evening Dinner Cruise in Cairo: $75
  • Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $177

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.

  • 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
  • From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
  • Quito Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $65
  • Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
  • Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
  • Hidden Gems Food Tour with Cacao Tasting and Culture: $87
  • Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
  • Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $100
  • Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $9.30
    Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.20

Tours and Activities in Aswan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:

  • Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Private Tour in Aswan : Felucca and Nubian village: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $20
  • Private Tour Sail on the Nile Aswan Felucca Ride: $20
  • Private Guided Tour to Aswan High Dam and the Unfinished Obelisk: $20
  • Private 6 Hours Tour In Aswan: $24
  • Philae Temple Guided Half-Day Group Tour: $25
  • Aswan City Tour By Horse And Carriage: $25
  • Full Day Tour to Abu Simbel Temples from Aswan: $25
  • Private Guided Tour to Aswan High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk: $25

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entrance to Guyasimine Museum for Two
    $8.00

Tours and Activities in Quito

Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Small group Cacao Taste included: $5.00
  • Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Cacao taste included Small group: $5.00
  • Skip the Line-Entry to Heaven's Gateway The Basilica Towers!: $7.99
  • Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
  • 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
  • Discover the heart of the Historic Center - Walking tour: $25
  • Instagram walking tour in Quito's Historic Center: $26
  • Quito's Cultural Tour & Indigenous Perspectives of Old Town: $27
  • Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting: $29
  • La Mariscal and La Floresta Walking Tour: $30
  • Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $30
  • Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.06
    Quito $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:


  • Beers for Two
    $9.00


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Quito, we can see that Quito is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aswan is in Africa and Quito 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 Aswan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aswan 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 Quito would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quito than you might in Aswan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aswan Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Quito?

Quito has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Aswan. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Quito, 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.