Which place is cheaper, Quito or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $76Quito $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $76, while the average daily cost in Quito is $52. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $41Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $82Quito $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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $5.74Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.17
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Skytrain Ticket$4.35
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.87
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Ferry Ride$0.71
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Taxi From Airport$6.79
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Short Taxi Ride$2.45
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Boat Taxi$1.36
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Trains to airport$4.35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Affordable Bangkok Airport Transfer: $22
- Airport BKK||DMK : Private car Transfer to downtowns Bangkok: $12
- Ancient City (Mueang Boran) Entrance Tickets With Hotel Transfer: $44
- Arrival Private Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK to Bangkok City Luxury Car: $122
- Arrival Private Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK to Bangkok City by Minivan: $27
- Arrival Private Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK to Bangkok City by Sedan Car: $17
- Arrival Private Transfers from Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok in Business Car: $71
- Arrival Private Transfers: Don Mueang Airport DMK to Bangkok in Luxury Van: $82
- BKK Airport - Hua Hin/Cha-am 100% Electric Private Transfer : $94
- Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) Airport Transfer - Central Bangkok Hotel: $43
- Bangkok Airport (DMK) to Bangkok - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Bangkok Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
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Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Airport Transfer- Hotel in Quito 1 Way: $55
- Express Transfer: Mariscal Sucre Airport to Quito: $34
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $119
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $145
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
- Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
- Private Transfer IN or OUT Hotel-Aiport Quito or Aiport-Hotel : $25
- Private Transfer In from International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito : $60
- Private Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel : $57
- Private Transfer from Quito Airport : $25
- Private Transfer from Quito to Baños or Baños to Quito (one way): $90
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
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Food Meals for one dayBangkok $18Quito $20
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$24
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$5.43
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.22
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.82
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$5.43
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Pad Thai$1.90
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Airport Lunch for 2$15
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Lunch for 2$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Bangkok Food Tour and Sightseeing with Tuktuk: $16
- White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $19
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $20
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $21
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $23
- Meridian Sunset Dinner Cruise - Floating Paradise From ICONSIAM Bangkok: $23
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $25
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $26
- Chao Phraya Buffet Dinner Viva Alangka Cruise: $27
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $27
- Alangka Luxury Buffet Dinner Cruise With Live Music: $27
- Riverside Dinner Buffet Cruise On Chao Phraya: $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $35
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $39
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Cooking class In-home space: $75
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
- Ecuadorian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $114
- Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $130
- Quito Private & All Inclusive Cooking Class with Certified Chef: $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $16Quito $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:
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Movie Ticket$4.35
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$9.51
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.36
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$5.43
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Club Cover Charge$10
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$65
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Fish Pedicure$4.08
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$2.72
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Siriraj Museum (2)$11
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Thailand's Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $1.99
- Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.20
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.31
- Skip the line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.52
- Chinatown and Wat Traimit Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.00
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket of Ayothaya Floating Market: $8.28
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket of Ayothaya Floating Market: $8.28
- Pororo Aqua Park Entry Ticket: $9.55
- Skip the Line: Patpong Museum Guided Tour : $9.66
- Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour: $10
- Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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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:
- Skip the Line: La Compañia Church Admission Ticket: $5.50
- Skip the Line: Capilla del Hombre and Guayasamin's Museum Ticket: $10
- Middle of the World shuttle Tour: $14
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at La Ronda Street: $15
- Quito City Tour Double Decker Bus: $15
- Middle of the World Tour with Tickets: $19
- Quito at Night & Urban Legends Tour : $20
- 1914 Original Trolley City Tour: $20
- Pululuahua Reserve & Museo del Sol Tour - "Small Group": $20
- Intiñan Museum Small-Group Tour: $25
- Guided City Tour with Tastings and Box Lunch: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.95Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Pub Crawl and Club Night With Shots & VIP Entrance: $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
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Beers for Two$9.00
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.
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.