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

Should you visit Bangkok or Quito?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Quito can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Bangkok or Quito?

Bangkok

Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Bangkok?

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 Bangkok is $102, 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 Bangkok and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangkok $49
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangkok $98
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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 Bangkok


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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangkok $6.36
    Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk to bus station
    $2.43
  • Skytrain Ticket
    $4.86
  • Chao Phraya River Express Ticket
    $0.97
  • Ferry Ride
    $0.79
  • Taxi From Airport
    $7.60
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.74
  • Boat Taxi
    $1.52
  • Trains to airport
    $4.86

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:

  • Affordable Bangkok Airport Transfer: $22
  • Airport Transfer Camry/Fortuner or Similar: $45
  • Airport Transfer Luxury Sedan Mercedes E Class BMW 5 Series: $98
  • Airport Transfer: Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok by Luxury Car: $127
  • Airport Transfer: Bangkok to Bangkok Airport BKK by Luxury Van: $104
  • Airport Transfer: Don Mueang Airport DMK to Bangkok by Luxury Van: $104
  • Airport private Transfer from Bangkok City to Suvarnabhumi BKK: $38
  • Airport to Airport Transfer in Bangkok: $66
  • Airport transfer to Bangkok downtown: $25
  • Ancient City (Mueang Boran) Entrance Tickets With Hotel Transfer: $49
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok in Business Car: $76
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok in Luxury Van: $101

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:

  • Arrival Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $137
  • Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $105
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
  • Mariscal Sucre Airport to and from Quito Hotels Private Transfer: $45
  • Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $42
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
  • Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
  • Private Premium Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel: $63
  • Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
  • Private Transfer Out From Quito to International Airport Mariscal Sucre: $65
  • Private Transfer Quito: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Bangkok 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
    Bangkok $35
    Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:


  • Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)
    $27
  • Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)
    $6.08
  • 2 Rotis (Bread)
    $1.37
  • Mango & Sticky Rice
    $0.91
  • Lunch at KFC (for Two)
    $6.08
  • Pad Thai
    $2.13
  • Airport Lunch for 2
    $17
  • Lunch for 2
    $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok

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

  • Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner: $24
  • Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Buffet Dinner or Lunch: $24
  • Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $27
  • Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $28
  • Chao Phraya River Meridian Dinner Buffet Cruise Tour: $28
  • Chao Phraya Princess Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $29
  • Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok's Old Town with Market Tour: $30
  • Alangka Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $30
  • Bangkok Sunset or Evening Dinner Cruise (The Planet Cruise): $30
  • Smile Riverside Cruise Luxury Buffet Dinner from Bangkok: $31
  • Pink Chili - Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Bangkok: $31
  • Nopparat’s Traditional Thai Dinner & Dance: $31

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
  • Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
  • From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
  • 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
  • Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $100
  • Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangkok $17
    Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok

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


  • Movie Ticket
    $4.86
  • Grand Palace Entrance Ticket
    $11
  • Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket
    $1.52
  • Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)
    $6.08
  • Club Cover Charge
    $11
  • Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)
    $73
  • Fish Pedicure
    $4.56
  • Wat Pho entrance ticket
    $3.04
  • Siriraj Museum (2)
    $12

Tours and Activities in Bangkok

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

  • Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.00
  • Bangkok Chinatown Eats: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.13
  • Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.): $6.99
  • Bangkok's Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Wat Pho Reclining Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl.): $6.99
  • Chinatown & Golden Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl): $6.99
  • Bangkok's Wireless Road: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Space and Time Cube Tickets in Bangkok: $9.40
  • Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $10
  • Bangkok Erawan Museum Ticket (NON-THAI): $10
  • Skip the Line: Patpong Museum Guided Tour: $11
  • Ancient City Admission Ticket(Non-Thai only)-Bangkok: $14

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: $1.00
  • Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Cacao taste included Small group: $1.00
  • Quito Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 19 audio reviews: $6.88
  • 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
  • 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
    Bangkok $5.55
    Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.22

Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:

  • GoGo Bar Crawl With Party Vehicle and Party Guide: $63

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 Bangkok and Quito, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok is in Asia 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 Quito would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quito 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 Bangkok would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangkok than you might in Quito.

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


Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Quito?

Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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.