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 $31, 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 $10
    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 $5.70
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Aswan to Luxor Private Car Transfer: $80
  • VIP Aswan to Hurghada Transfer: Luxury and Comfort: $95
  • "Aswan to Hurghada: Luxe Private Transfer - Comfort Guaranteed ": $130
  • 3-Day Guided tours to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor & Train and Transfers : $167
  • Abu Simbel Day Trip from Aswan with transfers : $45
  • Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $27
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport One-Way Private Car Transfer: $25
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $28
  • Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $19

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:

  • Quito Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel: $20
  • Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
  • Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
  • Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
  • Quito airport private transfer IN or OUT: $28
  • 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
  • Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
  • Private Transfer to Quito airport and hotel : $35
  • Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $36
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $36

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 $16
    Quito $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

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

  • Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
  • 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.

  • Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
  • Ecuador Food Tour: $69
  • Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
  • Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
  • Quito Private Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $114
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
  • Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour : $135
  • Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $149
  • Quito Food Tour Where my Family Go Urban Art New and Old Quito: $155

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $9.77
    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
    $1.26

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
  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $10
  • Nubian Museum Tour: $15
  • Private 2 Hour Guided Tour to Philae Temple from Aswan: $15
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Nubian Museum Magic: Private Tour in Aswan's Heart: $15
  • Half Day Philae Temple and High-Dam Private Tour in Aswan: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Philae Temple Secrets: Private Aswan Adventure: $20
  • Private Day tour to High Dam&Unfinished Obelisk&Philae From Aswan: $20
  • Nubian Village Tour from Ancient Tombs to Botanical Beauty: $20
  • Aswan full day tour phile temple unfinished obelisk high dam : $20

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 Cacao taste included!: $1.00
  • Skip the Line-Entry to Heaven's Gateway The Basilica Towers!: $7.99
  • Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
  • Quito Walking Experience Tour with Activities: $25
  • Quito Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
  • Quito Oldtown: A Cultural-Gastro Walking Tour and Shopping: $40
  • Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $40
  • Half-Day Ecuadorian Gastronomy Tour in Quito: $40
  • Quito Half Day PRIVATE City tour: $42
  • Quito Historic Center Night Tour: $42
  • Half Day Bike Tour Discovering Quito: $48
  • Fruit Tasting Experience with +15 Exotics Flavors of Ecuador: $49

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.12
    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

Sample the Local Flavors in Quito

Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155


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.