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

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Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento 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 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 $53, 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Colonia del Sacramento and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Colonia del Sacramento $27
    Quito $18
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Colonia del Sacramento $54
    Quito $36

Local Transportation
  • 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:

  • Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $15
  • 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:


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • transfer airport to hotel in Quito or from Quito to airport: $117
  • Transfers Friends Airport Quito: $38
  • Transfers Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $40
  • Transfer to Quito Airport with Hotel Pick-up: $19
  • 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
  • Transfer in Quito - Airport Arrival and Departure pick-up: $37
  • 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
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) to Quito City: $37
  • Transfer INN & OUT in Quito: $30

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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Colonia del Sacramento $15
    Quito $16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.

  • Quito Like a Local Cooking Class: $75
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $78
  • Quito Cooking Class: $89
  • Jacchigua Show Including Dinner + Transfer: $90
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class in Quito + Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $102
  • Quito Culinary Tour and Cooking Class: $105
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $114
  • Gourmet Cooking Class in Historic Quito + Market Tour with Chef Pancho: $120
  • Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses (PRIVATE DAY TOUR): $149

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Colonia del Sacramento $19
    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:

  • Colonia Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: $26
  • Half day city tour in Montevideo: $52
  • Colonia del Sacramento City Tour: $63
  • Half day city tour in Colonia de Sacramento, Uruguay: $65
  • From Buenos Aires: Colonia Ferry Tickets and Optional Tour: $81
  • 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:


  • 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:

  • 10 days True Ecuador Experience: $2,300
  • 12 Day Galapagos Snorkeling Tour: $3,211
  • 15-Day Ecuador and Galapagos Highlights Tour from Quito: $7,780
  • 15-day Adventure: Experiencing the Andes and Amazon of Ecuador: $2,103
  • 16-Day Ecuador Adventure: Andes, Amazon & Galapagos: $4,513
  • 2 Day Private Tour to Mindo Cloud Forest from Quito: $295
  • 2 Day Private Tour to Otavalo Market & surroundings from Quito: $258
  • 2 Full Days Exploring The Ecuadorian Amazon | Tour Start In Quito: $267
  • 2-Day Avenue of the Volcanoes and Baños Tour from Quito -"Small Group": $417
  • 2-Day Baños Full Adrenaline Tour from Quito: $581
  • 2-Day Private Sightseeing Tour Cotopaxi and Quilotoa: $328
  • 2-Day Private Tour to Quilotoa Lagoon and Baños Village from Quito: $307

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Colonia del Sacramento $4.54
    Quito $14

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

About these numbers

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.

Budget Your Trip

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Colonia del Sacramento vs. Quito Travel Comparison

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