Which place is cheaper, Quito or Brasilia?
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 Brasilia or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Brasilia and Quito can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Brasilia or Quito?
Brasilia
The capital city of Brazil, Brasilia is a uniquely-planned city that was constructed in four years from 1956-1960 in the shape of a large bird or airplane. Renowned for its modern architecture, the city listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and attracts architecture aficionados worldwide.
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 Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Brasilia Prices
Brazil PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrasilia $95Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Brasilia is $95, 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 Brasilia and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrasilia $31Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrasilia $62Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Brasilia and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Brasilia 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: Brasilia Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brasilia $20Quito $6.99
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:
- Private Transfer Out From Quito to International Airport Mariscal Sucre: $60
- Airport Transfer- Hotel in Quito 1 Way: $42
- Arrival Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $124
- Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $95
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $119
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $169
- Mariscal Sucre Airport to and from Quito Hotels Private Transfer : $45
- Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Minibus Arrival Private Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito: $134
- Minibus Departure Transfer from Quito City to Quito Airport UIO: $134
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $21
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Brasilia or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Brasilia 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 dayBrasilia $50Quito $34
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
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $55
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- Ecuador Food Tour: $69
- Authentic Andean Cooking Class in Quito : $85
- 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
- Quito after-dark street food tour : $90
- Afternoon Coffee in Quito - Foodie Tour with empanada cooking class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brasilia $18Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Brasilia
Here are a few actual costs in Brasilia for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Brasilia : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $62
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:
- Middle of the World shuttle Tour: $14
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
- Quito Walking Experience Tour with Activities: $25
- Shared Quito City Tour: $28
- Walking Tour Quito: $30
- Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
- Quito : Must-see Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $31
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $32
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $34
- Quito : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $34
- Middle of the World Tour with entrances every day: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrasilia $13Quito $17
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
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brasilia and Quito, we can see that Brasilia is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Brasilia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brasilia 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 Brasilia Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brasilia or Quito?
Brasilia has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Brasilia 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.