Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Cairns?
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 Cairns or Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cairns or Guayaquil? 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: Cairns or Guayaquil?
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Cairns Prices
Australia PricesGuayaquil Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairns $116Guayaquil $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairns is $116, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $116. 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 Cairns and Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairns $43Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairns $86Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Cairns and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Cairns or Guayaquil? 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: Cairns Hotel Prices and Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairns $12Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shuttle Bus Transfer - Kuranda to Cairns City: $20
- Shared Transfer Between Cairns and Port Douglas: $87
- Private transfer between Cairns City Hotel and Airport: $20
- Private Transfers Cairns Airport to Port Douglas: $206
- Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Palm Cove: $96
- Private Transfers - Cairns Airport to Cairns City: $69
- Private Transfer from Cairns hotels to Port Douglas Cruise Port: $161
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Port Douglas hotels: $180
- Private Transfer from Cairns Cruise Port to Cairns Airport (CNS): $86
- Private Transfer from Cairns City Hotels to Cairns Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Port Douglas Port: $160
- Private Transfer from Cairns Airport (CNS) to Cairns Cruise Port: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairns or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and Cairns 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 dayCairns $49Guayaquil $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with optional 3 Course Dinner : $66
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with optional 2 Course Dinner: $66
- Dinner Cruise Experience: $92
- Cairns Catamaran Harbour and Dinner Cruise: $93
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $96
- Aquarium Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $118
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour with 3 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour with 2 Course Dinner in Cairns: $124
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $171
- Small-Group Afternoon Cairns City Tour with Harbour Dinner Cruise: $174
- Paronella Park Rainforest Full-Day Tour with Dinner: $66,130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairns $37Guayaquil $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $47
- 1 Hour Jetski Tour Cairns: $134
- 2 Days Tour on Atherton Tablelands and Cape Tribbin: $288
- 2-Day Daintree & Outback Tour from Cairns & Port Douglas: $261
- 2-Day Paronella Park & Tablelands Tour+Cape Tribulation Tour: $324
- 2-Day Waterfall and Daintree Tour: $191
- 30 min Jetski Tour Cairns: $74
- All Inclusive Day Tour to Frankland Islands Great Barrier Reef: $168
- All Inclusive Great Barrier Reef Cruise w optional Scuba Diving : $178
- All Inclusive Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns : $120
- Ancient Egypt Night Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
- Ancient Egypt Sunset Tour in the heart of Cairns: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairns $13Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Party Bus Pub Crawl Night Out Experience: $44
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $169
When comparing the travel costs between Cairns and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Cairns is in Pacific and Guayaquil is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairns Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairns or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cairns. When comparing the sizes of Cairns and Guayaquil, 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.
When is the best time to visit Cairns or Guayaquil?
Cairns has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Guayaquil experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairns or Guayaquil in the Summer?
Both Guayaquil and Cairns are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cairns for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Cairns is a little warmer than Guayaquil in the summer. The daily temperature in Cairns averages around 29°C (84°F) in January, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in July.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. It's quite rainy in Cairns. In January, Cairns usually receives more rain than Guayaquilin July. Cairns gets 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Cairns is November to March.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyCairns 29°C (84°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Cairns or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
Both Guayaquil and Cairns during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Cairns in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
In the autumn, Cairns is a little warmer than Guayaquil. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cairns in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cairns. Cairns usually gets more rain in April than Guayaquilin October. Cairns gets 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year. April to October is the dry season in Cairns.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberCairns 27°C (80°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Cairns or Guayaquil in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairns and Guayaquil. Most visitors come to Cairns for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Cairns is generally cooler than Guayaquilin January. Daily temperatures in Cairns average around 23°C (73°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Guayaquil receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, Cairns usually receives less rain than Guayaquilin January. Cairns gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryCairns 23°C (73°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Cairns or Guayaquil in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cairns as well as Guayaquil. The spring months attract visitors to Cairns because of the beaches. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
Cairns is around the same temperature as Guayaquil in the spring. The daily temperature in Cairns averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. Cairns usually gets less rain in October than Guayaquilin April. Cairns gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to October in Cairns is the dry season. November to March in Cairns is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilCairns 27°C (80°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and Cairns
| Cairns | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
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.