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

Should you visit Dubrovnik or Quito?

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

Should I visit Dubrovnik or Quito? 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: Dubrovnik or Quito?

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.

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 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Dubrovnik?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $177, 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 Dubrovnik and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubrovnik $73
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubrovnik $146
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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.

Hotels in Dubrovnik


Hotels in Quito


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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubrovnik $24
    Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:


  • Bus Around Town
    $1.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik

Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer: Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik by MB Van: $67
  • Airport Transfer: Dubrovnik to Airport DBV by Business Car: $56
  • Airport Transfer: Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik Airport DBV by MB Van: $63
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Minivan: $67
  • Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $460
  • Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $37
  • Cavtat, Mlini & Srebreno to Dubrovnik Old Town Speedboat Transfer: $23
  • Departure Private Transfer from Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Minivan: $60
  • Departure Private Transfer: Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Business Car: $40
  • Departure Private Transfers: Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik Airport DBV in Luxury Van: $56
  • Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) to Dubrovnik - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
  • Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) to Dubrovnik Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $80

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:

  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
  • Panoramic City Tour & Airport Departure Transfer: $114
  • Middle of the World Tour with Airport Transfer: $114
  • Airport Transfer and City Highlights Tour: $114
  • Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
  • Private Transfer Quito to Mindo – SUV or Van (1–6): $88
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80
  • Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
  • Private Premium Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel: $63
  • Transfer Airport → Quito (one way / round trip): $50
  • Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Dubrovnik 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
    Dubrovnik $84
    Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik

For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Old Town Dubrovnik Food Tour With 8 Authentic Croatian Tastings: $109
  • Dubrovnik Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories: $113
  • Taste A Full Meal Walking Food Tour by Do Eat Better: $124
  • Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m Above Ground: $137
  • Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $154
  • Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region: $198

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
  • Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
  • Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
  • From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
  • Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
  • 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
  • Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
  • Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubrovnik $17
    Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik

For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)
    $15
  • Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)
    $60
  • Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)
    $51

Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.

  • Dubrovnik Audio guided walking tour 1h and 18 audio reviews: $6.74
  • Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket: $10
  • Museum of Selfies & Illusions Dubrovnik Ticket: $10
  • Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Hajduk Split Stadium Tour: An Unforgettable Experience: $16
  • Group Tour Evening Stroll Through The Old Town: $21
  • Game of Thrones Walking Tour: $22
  • Dubrovnik's Old Town Walking Tour: $23
  • Discover the Old Town Walking Tour: $23
  • Dubrovnik Old Town History - Small Group Walking Tour: $23
  • Cavtat Sunset Cruise with Cold Platter & Drinks: $23
  • Epic Game of Thrones Tour + Lokrum & Iron Throne: $23

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:

  • “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
  • 1-Day Adventure to the Andean Choco Experience the Forest: $125
  • 2 day 1 night tour to Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon all included: $280
  • 2-Day Tour of Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon with hotel: $222
  • 2D private Tour from Quito visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $281
  • 3-Day Adventure: Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Jungle: $897
  • 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
  • 3-Day Antisana & Amazon comunities, Caves, Baños Guided Tour: $734
  • 6-Day Ecuador Heritage Tour: Art, Culture and Otavalo: $1,847
  • Adventure and Relaxation in Baños de Agua Santa: $236
  • All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
  • Amazon Adventure: 4 Days of Nature & Culture from Quito: $1,770

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubrovnik $19
    Quito $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:

  • Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $69
  • Private Scenic Sunset Tour & Premium Wine Tasting Above Dubrovnik: $74
  • Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $79
  • Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik -Train Ride &Wine Tasting: $91
  • Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting from Koločep: $100
  • Konavle Valley Tour, Train Ride and Wine Tasting from Kolocep: $102
  • Sunset wine tasting in vineyard: $103
  • Konavle Valley Wine Tasting from Dubrovnik with Light Lunch: $108
  • Peljesac Peninsula Day Trip from Wine Tasting and Ston Village Tour: $131
  • Peljesac peninsula private wine tour from Dubrovnik: $137
  • Luxury Speedboat Tour with Wine Tasting in Dubrovnik: $143
  • 1 Hour and Half Food & Wine Tasting in Dubrovnik Old Town: $151

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and Quito, we can see that Dubrovnik is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubrovnik is in Europe 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 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 Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik than you might in Quito.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or Quito?

Quito has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik 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.