Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Athens or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Cuenca. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Cuenca?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens $181Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is $181, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $53. 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 Athens and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens $74Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens $148Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Athens and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens $32Cuenca $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two$7.51
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Metro$1.76
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Metro$2.35
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Metro from Airport to City Center$9.39
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Taxi from Airport$41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Athens Airport Private Transfer to and from Hotels: $69
- Athens Airport To Piraeus Port - Hotel Private Luxury Transfer : $48
- Athens Airport Transfer: $119
- Limo Transfer From Vouliagmeni or Glyfada to Athens Airport : $240
- Santorini Airport Private Transfer: $25
- "Private Airport Transfer: Athens Airport to/from Piraeus Port": $83
- A mini Embark / Disembark Tour In Athens With Transfers from airport / port.: $294
- ATHENS HOTEL transfer to/from Piraeus Cruise Port (up to 14 pax) : $265
- Airport Athens - Piraeus Port Transfer with Private Minivan: $150
- Airport Private Minivan Transfers: $179
- Airport Private Transfers: $87
- Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $76
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:
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Athens 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 dayAthens $76Cuenca $26
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream$3.52
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Souvlaki$2.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $71
- Koukaki Food Tour with a Local Friend: $78
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $78
- Small Group, Delicious Athens Food Tour: $81
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $81
- Get a Taste of Athens Food Tour: $82
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $83
- Eat like an Athenian food tour of Athens: $83
- Athens Walking Food Tour with Visit to Varvakios Central Market: $83
- Athens Evening Food Tour: $88
- Greek Cooking Class by Poseidon’s Temple in Sounio with Antonia: $90
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
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens $42Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self Guided Walking Tour in Athens Hidden Gems: $3.59
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Athens Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.01
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $7.20
- Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $7.69
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- South Slope Acropolis Self-Guided 3D Audio Tour (No Ticket): $8.40
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.42
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Self-Guided Audio Tour on your Phone (without ticket): $9.61
- Acropolis of Athens Self-Guided Tour with 3D & Audio (No Ticket): $9.61
- Private Self-Guided Audio City-Tour in Athens: $9.62
- Athens Olympic Museum ticket: $11
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Azuay Cuenca Ecuador Tour: $1,300
- Biking Cuenca City Tour: $50
- Birdwatching Tour Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $130
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
- Birdwatching Tour, Via Gualaceo to the Eastern slope from Cuenca: $130
- Cajas National Park FULL-DAY Tour from Cuenca: $55
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park and Cuenca City private Tour: $110
- Complete excursion Ingapirca & Gualaceo Chordeleg Tour Archaeological Artisanal: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens $26Cuenca $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $11
- Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $14
- Saturday Night Pub Crawl for Professionals in Athens, Greece: $25
- Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $26
- Athens Ultimate Bar Crawl: $48
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $59
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $59
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $59
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store : $67
- Greek food and wine tasting: $71
- Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier: $72
- Athens by Night Walking and Wine Tasting Experience: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Cuenca, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Cuenca?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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 Athens or Cuenca?
Athens 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 Athens or Cuenca in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Athens as well as Cuenca. The summer months attract visitors to Athens because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
In July, Athens is generally a little warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 27°C (81°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Athens usually gets less rain in July than Cuenca. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cuenca in the Autumn?
Both Cuenca and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Athens is much warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In October, Athens usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cuenca in the Winter?
Both Cuenca and Athens during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
Cuenca can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Athens is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Athens in January average around 10°C (51°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).
Athens usually gets more rain in January than Cuenca. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Athens or Cuenca in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Cuenca. Many visitors come to Athens in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Athens is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 16°C (60°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Cuenca. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Athens
| Athens | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 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.