Should I Visit Belfast or Quito for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

Should you visit Belfast or Quito?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Belfast or Quito, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Belfast or Quito?

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the second largest city on the island of Ireland after Dublin. It has a population of about 270,000 and almost 500,000 in the metropolitan area. It's located on the mouth of the River Lagan and is set between many low hills that rise up around it.

One of the most famous, and tragic times in Belfast's history is referred to as "The Troubles." During this time, between 1969 and 1997, there were many bomb and gun attacks throughout the city. This left many areas as essentially no-go zones. Neighborhoods became completely lawless do to the lack of security and the damage is still visible today in some areas. In 1998 the Good Friday Agreement was signed and much of the politically motivated violence ended. The city actually received praise recently as the safest city in the UK based on crime rate. Tourism is growing and many visitors enjoy seeing this less popular travel destination. The city has a lot of character and will give you an interesting take on Irish and British history.

Belfast has a temperate climate and temperature and precipitation have little variation throughout the year. The climate is influenced by the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, making it warmer than many cities that are found at the same latitude. Rain is common with precipitation falling an average of 157 days a year. Snow is much less common, although it does happen about ten days a year. The warmest days during the summer may reach a temperature around 25 degrees Celsius and the coldest days have lows that drop just below freezing.

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 Budget Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Tours for Seniors to United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.

Which place is cheaper, Quito or Belfast?

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

Belfast Prices
UK Prices

Quito Prices
Ecuador Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Belfast $207

Quito $66

The average daily cost (per person) in Belfast is $207, 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 Belfast and Quito in more detail.

Accommodation

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Belfast $83

Quito $22
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Belfast $166

Quito $44

Compare Hotels in Belfast and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Belfast 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: Belfast Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Belfast $17

Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belfast

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belfast:

Belfast Accommodation to Belfast City Airport (BHD) - Departure Private Transfer: $183
Belfast Airport (BFS) to Holywood City - Arrival Private Transfer: $107
Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Bangor Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Belfast Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $183
Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Holywood Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Holywood City - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $136
Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Lisburn Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Lisburn Accommodation - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $170
Game of Thrones Studio Tour Admission and Transfer from Belfast : $50
Game of Thrones Studio Tour Admission and Transfer from Dublin: $62
Private Belfast Arrival transfer-Belfast International Airport to Belfast Hotel: $72
Private Belfast Departure transfer-Belfast Hotel to Belfast Int Airport: $72

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:

Airport Transfer in Quito: $20
Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $20
Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
Unique Quito Transfer Mariscal Sucre Airport to Hotel: $27
Quito airport private transfer IN or OUT: $28
Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $28
Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
Private Transfer from Quito Airport : $30
Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
Express Transfer: Mariscal Sucre Airport to Quito: $34
Quito Airport Arrival Transfer to Hotel: $34
Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Belfast or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Belfast 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

Belfast $107

Quito $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belfast

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

Taste & Tour: Craft Beer and Food Tour of Belfast: $102
Guided Craft Beer and Street Food Tour: $103
Belfast Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $105
The Original Belfast Food Tour™ with Drinks: $112

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: $29
3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $39
Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
Ecuador Food Tour: $69
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
Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $89
Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
Quito Private Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $99
Ecuadorian Cooking Classes in Quito at the Terrace: $120

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Belfast $22

Quito $16

Typical Entertainment Prices in Belfast

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

Movie Tickets

$9.77

Tours and Activities in Belfast

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

Hillsborough Castle Gardens Entrance Ticket: $12
Ulster Folk Museum Entry Ticket: $14
Belfast to Dublin Full Day Tour with St Patrick's Centre: $15
1 or 2-Day Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: $17
Crumlin Road Gaol Experience: $18
2.5-Hour Street Murals Tour in Spanish: $18
Hop-On Hop-Off Belfast Open Top Bus Tour: $18
If Buildings Could Talk Tour Belfast: $18
Belfast Tour App, Hidden Gems Game and Big Britain Quiz (1 Day Pass) UK: $19
Luxury Pink Hen Party Bike Tour of Belfast: $21
Party Bike tour of Belfast: $21
Falls Road Political Mural Walking Tour: $21

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:

Night Tour in Quito with free time at La Ronda Street: $15
2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
Middle of the World Tour with Tickets: $25
Quito : Must-see Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $28
Explore Old Town Sightseeing, Food, Culture Small Group Walking Tour: $29
Walking Tour Quito: $30
Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
Private custom tour with a local guide: $31
Quito : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $31
Shared middle of the world monument tour : $32
Middle of the World Tour with entrances every day: $35
Middle of the World and Volcano Tour: $35

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Belfast $9.59

Quito $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Belfast

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Belfast:

Pub Crawl and Bar Walking Tour with Two Drinks: $19
McConnell's Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $24
McConnell's Distillery Experience with Tasting: $25
Belfast Giant's Causeway and Titanic Distillery Whiskey Tour: $67
Titanic Museum and Whiskey Distillery Exploration with Tasting: $118
Historic Pub Tour: $183

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:

Half-day tour to high altitude vineyards and wine tasting: $45
Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $130

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belfast and Quito, we can see that Belfast is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belfast is in Europe 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 Belfast would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belfast 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 Belfast Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Belfast or Quito?

Quito has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Belfast. When comparing the sizes of Belfast 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.

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

Should you visit Belfast or Quito?

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

Where Should I go: Belfast or Quito?

Belfast

Quito

Which place is cheaper, Quito or Belfast?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Belfast and Quito

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belfast

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Is it cheaper to fly into Belfast or Quito?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belfast

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Entertainment

Typical Entertainment Prices in Belfast

Tours and Activities in Belfast

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Tours and Activities in Quito

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Belfast

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Sample the Local Flavors in Quito

Which is Bigger, Belfast or Quito?

Related Articles for Belfast

Related Articles for Quito

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

Should you visit Belfast or Quito?

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

Where Should I go: Belfast or Quito?

Belfast

Quito

Which place is cheaper, Quito or Belfast?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Belfast and Quito

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belfast

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Is it cheaper to fly into Belfast or Quito?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belfast

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Entertainment

Typical Entertainment Prices in Belfast

Tours and Activities in Belfast

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Tours and Activities in Quito

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Belfast

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Sample the Local Flavors in Quito

Which is Bigger, Belfast or Quito?

Related Articles for Belfast

Related Articles for Quito

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