Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Quito?
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 Colonia del Sacramento and Quito can help you decide which place is right for you.
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
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 city is cheaper, Quito or Colonia del Sacramento?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $49, while the average daily cost in Quito is $41. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Colonia del Sacramento and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $50 in Colonia del Sacramento For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $18. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Quito the cost is $36 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Colonia del Sacramento $25
Quito $18
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Colonia del Sacramento
$50
Quito
$36
Food
While meal prices in Colonia del Sacramento can vary, the average travelers spends about $14 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Colonia del Sacramento should cost around $5.60 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Colonia del Sacramento is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
In Quito travelers spend around $16 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
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Quito Like a Local Cooking Class:
$75
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Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English):
$78
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Quito Best Markets and Local Food Tour:
$81
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Quito Top Ecuadorian Food Tour and Canelazo at “La Ronda”:
$87
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Quito Cooking Class:
$89
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Jacchigua Show Including Dinner + Transfer:
$90
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Ecuadorian Cooking Class in Quito + Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting:
$102
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Quito Culinary Tour and Cooking Class:
$105
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Gourmet Cooking Class in Historic Quito + Market Tour with Chef Pancho:
$120
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Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses (PRIVATE DAY TOUR):
$149
Local Transportation
To get around in Colonia del Sacramento, the average visitor spends $13 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Quito is $5.59 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Colonia del Sacramento $13
Quito $5.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer:
$15
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Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer:
$15
Typical Local Transportation prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
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transfer airport to hotel in Quito or from Quito to airport:
$117
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Transfers Friends Airport Quito:
$38
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Transfers Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport:
$40
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Transfer to Quito Airport with Hotel Pick-up:
$19
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Transfer in private vehicle from Quito City to Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO):
$25
-
Transfer in out transportation between cities:
$35
-
Transfer in or transfer out to Quito airport:
$54
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Transfer in Quito - Airport Arrival and Departure pick-up:
$37
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Transfer in Private Vehicle from Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) to Quito City:
$25
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from Quito City to Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO):
$37
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Transfer in Private Minivan from Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) to Quito City:
$37
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Transfer Mariscal Sucre International Airport & Hotel:
$8.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Colonia del Sacramento 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.
Entertainment
In Colonia del Sacramento, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $17 per person, per day.
Quito's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Colonia del Sacramento $17
Quito $13
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Colonia Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour:
$26
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Half day city tour in Montevideo:
$52
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Colonia del Sacramento City Tour:
$63
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Half day city tour in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay:
$65
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Full Day Birdwatching and Nature Tour:
$200
Typical Entertainment prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Quito
Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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10 days True Ecuador Experience:
$2,300
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12 Day Galapagos Snorkeling Tour:
$3,211
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15-Day Ecuador and Galapagos Highlights Tour from Quito:
$7,780
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15-day Adventure: Experiencing the Andes and Amazon of Ecuador:
$2,103
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16-Day Ecuador Adventure: Andes, Amazon & Galapagos:
$4,513
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1914 Original Trolley City Tour of Quito:
$15
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2 Day Private Tour to Mindo Cloud Forest from Quito:
$295
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2 Day Private Tour to Otavalo Market & surroundings from Quito:
$258
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2 Full Days Exploring The Ecuadorian Amazon | Tour Start In Quito:
$267
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2-Day Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños Tour from Quito -"Small Group":
$417
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2-Day Baños Full Adrenaline Tour from Quito:
$581
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2-Day Private Sightseeing Tour Cotopaxi and Quilotoa:
$328
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Colonia del Sacramento spend on average $4.23 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Quito may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Quito, we can see that Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Colonia del Sacramento than you might in Quito.
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