A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cuenca vs. Cochabamba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Cuenca or Cochabamba?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cuenca and Cochabamba. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Cuenca or Cochabamba?

Cuenca

Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.

Cochabamba

With a population of about 630,000, Cochabamba is the fourth largest city in Bolivia. It's located about 240 kilometers from the capital city of La Paz and is surrounded by mountains, but sits within a valley.

The city is known for its gardens and has many sights to offer the visitor. Cochabamba offers a calming retreat that is a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of many South American cities. It's a great location to learn Spanish and there are plenty of activities and cultural events that you can enjoy in and around town.

Cochabamba's climate is semi-arid. There is an extended dry season between May and October and the wet season is from November to March. The days are warm and the nights are cool.

Which place is cheaper, Cochabamba or Cuenca?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Cuenca is $42, while the average daily cost in Cochabamba is $63. 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 Cuenca and Cochabamba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cuenca $13
    Cochabamba $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cuenca $26
    Cochabamba $50
Compare Hotels in Cuenca and Cochabamba

Looking for a hotel in Cuenca or Cochabamba? 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 Cuenca


Hotels in Cochabamba


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: Cuenca Hotel Prices and Cochabamba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cuenca $11
    Cochabamba $16
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cuenca

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:

  • Cuenca to Guayaquil Transfer in Fantasy Bus: $25
  • Cuenca Arrival Transfer: $34
  • Cuenca Departure Transfer: $34
  • Shared transfer from Cuenca Airport to Hotel: $45
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $45
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Cuenca Airport CUE to Cuenca City by Minivan: $74
  • Departure Private Transfer: Cuenca City to Cuenca Airport CUE by Minivan: $74
  • Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104

Is it cheaper to fly into Cuenca or Cochabamba?

Prices for flights to both Cochabamba and Cuenca 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
    Cuenca $15
    Cochabamba $22
Typical Food prices in Cuenca

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:


  • Lunch
    $10
  • Snacks
    $5.00
  • Empanada
    $1.50
  • Hot Dog
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca

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

  • Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
  • Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
  • Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
  • Private Cooking Class: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cuenca $16
    Cochabamba $25

Tours and Activities in Cuenca

Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cuenca Excursion Panoramic City Tour SightSeeingTour in double-decker bus: $8.34
  • Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
  • Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
  • Cuenca electric scooter tour: $30
  • Half-Day Biking and Walking Tour in Cuenca: $30
  • Walking Tour Through The Historic Center Of Cuenca: $30
  • Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
  • Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
  • Historical City Tour: $43
  • El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
  • Biking Cuenca City Tour: $45
  • City Sightseeing Tour: $45

Tours and Activities in Cochabamba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cochabamba are as follows:

  • Tour to Valle Alto (Tarata): $38
  • Tigre & Delta River Cruise - half day tour from Buenos Aires: $50
  • Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche : $228
  • Romantic tour in Cochabamba: $454
  • The Best of Cochabamba Walking Tour: $454
  • Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 3 Days 2 Nights. Spanish Guide: $513
  • Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 3 Days 2 Nights. English Guide: $600
  • Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 4 Days 3 Nights. Spanish Guide: $656
  • Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 4 Days 3 Nights. English Guide: $779

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cuenca $14
    Cochabamba $15

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cuenca and Cochabamba, we can see that Cochabamba is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Cochabamba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cochabamba than you might in Cuenca.

Which is Bigger, Cuenca or Cochabamba?

Cochabamba is bigger, and its population is about 3.3 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the population of Cuenca vs. Cochabamba, 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.
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Cuenca vs. Cochabamba Travel Comparison

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