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

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Should you visit Buzios or Quito?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Quito? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Buzios or Quito?

Buzios

Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Quito or Buzios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $80, 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 Buzios and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $39
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $78
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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 Buzios


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: Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $20
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $29
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Minivan: $481
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $242
  • Departure Private Transfer from Buzios or Cabo Frio to Rio Airports by Minivan: $428
  • Departure Private Transfer from Buzios or Cabo Frio to Rio Airports by Sedan Car: $223
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $103
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $113
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $79
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $37
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $29

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:

  • 2-Night Quito Experience: Transfer, Tour and Mariscal Accommodation: $200
  • Private Transpor for tours, transfers, visits, etc, for 8 hours: $165
  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $145
  • Transfer to Mashpi, Baños or Hacienda Zuleta (Round-trip): $140
  • Quito Airport Private Transfer Service: $112
  • Transfer In & Out from Quito: $100
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $95
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños or Baños to Quito (one way): $90
  • Transfer airport to hotel in Quito or from Quito to airport: $80
  • Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $79
  • Transfer Express - Quito Airport - Hotel: $71
  • Private Transfer Hotels in Quito to Mariscal Sucre Int. Airport: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Buzios 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
    Buzios $25
    Quito $20

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: $28
  • Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $35
  • Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
  • Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $61
  • Ecuador Food Tour: $69
  • Traditional Ecuadorian Cooking Class in Quito: $80
  • Homemade Local Food Tour in Guayaquil: $80
  • Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
  • Jacchigua Show Including Dinner + Transfer: $92
  • Private Tour: Cooking Class in Quito + Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $95
  • Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
  • Afternoon Coffee in Quito - Foodie Tour with empanada cooking class: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $28
    Quito $16

Tours and Activities in Buzios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.

  • Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $13
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $15
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $15
  • Schooner Cruise in Búzios: $15
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $16
  • Super Flor Boat Tour - Arraial do Cabo - Brazilian Caribbean: $20
  • Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $20
  • Land and nautical city tour. unforgettable Búzios: $20
  • Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $25
  •  Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $28
  • Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $30

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:

  • 2-Day Private Tour to Mindo: Hummingbirds, birds,waterfalls &Chocolate tasting: $295
  • Flavors, Colors and History of Quito Private Tour: $185
  • Otavalo Market Private Sightseeing and Surroundings: $110
  • Romantic tour in Quito: $453
  • The best of Quito walking tour: $260
  • #1 Birding Tour - with RichardHernandez-PrivateBirdGuide/Custom-MindoCloudForest: $165
  • 1 Day Cultural Tour Otavalo And Cuicocha Lagoon: $65
  • 10 Days True Ecuador Experience: $2,440
  • 12 Day Ecuador Galapagos Adventure and Cultural Tour: $1,419
  • 12-Day Private Ecuador & Galapagos Regenerative Tour: $6,250
  • 16-Day Ecuador Adventure: Andes, Amazon & Galapagos: $4,593
  • 17- Day Private Tour - Ecuador Colorful - Hotels Comfort Style : $4,955

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $18
    Quito $17

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: $130

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Quito, we can see that Buzios 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios than you might in Quito.

Which is Bigger, Buzios or Quito?

Quito is bigger, and its population is about 59.7 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the population of Buzios vs. 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 and the activities 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Buzios vs. Quito Travel Comparison

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