Which place is cheaper, Quito or Cairo?
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 Cairo 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 Cairo 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: Cairo or Quito?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $30Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, 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 Cairo and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.46Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- 01 way Transfer from Cairo airport to your Hotel in Giza: $13
- 01 way Transfer from hotel in Cairo to Alexandria: $50
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Ride At Giza Pyramids With Private Transfer: $30
- 1 Way Pick up transfer from Cairo to Hurghada by private Car: $80
- 1 Way Private transfer from Cairo Airport to Le Meridien Heliopolis: $18
- 1 way Private Pickup transfer from Le Meridien Heliopolis to Cairo airport: $18
- 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $200
- 2 Private day tours in Giza pyramids and Cairo city with 2 airport Transfers: $155
- 2 Private days in Giza and Cairo including Free Transfer from Airport: $126
- 2-Day Camping Tour in The Bahariya Oasis with Private Transfer: $250
- 2-Days Trip in Cairo & Giza (Including Free Transfer from the Airport): $143
- 2-Days Trips in Cairo & Giza (Including Free Transfer from the Airport): $137
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:
- Arrival Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $137
- Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $105
- Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
- Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Premium Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel: $63
- Private Transfer Quito: $40
- Private Transfer Quito to Mindo – SUV or Van (1–6): $88
- Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Cairo 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 dayCairo $16Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Giza Pyramids Sphinx , ATV, camel ride Plus Nile Dinner Cruise: $3.00
- Explore Giza Pyramids with Camel, ATV, Dinner Cruise, & Shopping: $5.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- Cairo Dinner Nile Cruise with Belly Dancer Show on Nile River: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Giza pyramids, sphinx &ATV +Nile Dinner cruise: $8.00
- 2-hours night dinner cruise show : Eat , Dance and Sing: $8.00
- Cairo Nile Dinner Cruise Belly Dancer Tanora Show Dinner Buffet: $8.00
- Cairo (Dance, Sing and Eat ) Nile Dinner Cruise Show &Open Buffet: $8.00
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Ecuadorian Gastronomy Tasting and Cooking Class in Quito: $15
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
- 3-hour Andean Cooking Class in Quito with a Local Host: $75
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- Hidden Gems Food Tour with Cacao Tasting and Culture: $87
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.29Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.77
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$5.90
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Top Day 5 Hours Day Tour Pyramid Saqqar Pyramid Memphis City: $2.00
- Private VIP Giza Tour+ New Musuem + Market: $3.59
- Shopping Tour to all the Egyptian governments shops handmade: $4.00
- Best-Selling Giza Pyramids Tour: Camel Ride, Lunch &Private Guide: $4.00
- Half Day Tour Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Lunch with Private Tour Guide: $5.00
- ViP Private Tour Giza Pyramids,camel ride , inside 3rd Pyramid: $5.00
- Shopping tour In Governmental Bazaars include guide's advisor: $5.00
- All Inclusive Tour Pyramids of Giza , Sphinx and Lunch: $5.00
- Private Giza Pyramids Sphinx and Grand Egyptian Museum Tour: $5.00
- Cairo shopping advisor tour papyrus ,perfume ,golden cartouche , Egyptian cotton: $5.00
- Cairo Shopping Tour from Cairo airport or Cairo Giza hotel: $5.00
- Luxury Private Pyramids half day tour: $5.00
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:
- Quito Old Town Walking tour small groups Chocolate taste included: $5.00
- Quito Old Town tip based walking tour small groups Cacao Taste: $5.00
- Quito Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 19 audio reviews: $6.76
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Discover the heart of the Historic Center - Walking tour: $25
- Instagram walking tour in Quito's Historic Center: $26
- Quito's Cultural Tour & Indigenous Perspectives of Old Town: $27
- Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting: $29
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $30
- Walking tour of art, history, flavors and traditions: $30
- Walking Tour Quito: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.35Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $69
- Cairo Autumn Downtown Food & Bar Crawl with Drinks: $109
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 Cairo and Quito, we can see that Quito is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Quito would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quito than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Quito?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.