Which place is cheaper, Quito or Edinburgh?
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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh or Quito?
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 2-Week Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Edinburgh Prices
UK PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEdinburgh $230Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is $230, 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 Edinburgh and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEdinburgh $100Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEdinburgh $200Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Edinburgh and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Edinburgh $23Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus$4.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to/from Edinburgh City, St'Andrews etc.: $330
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $147
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Car: $176
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $147
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $170
- Arrival Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $147
- Arrival Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $174
- Departure Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $147
- Departure Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $170
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Edinburgh - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Edinburgh Accommodation - Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $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:
- Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
- Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel or vice versa with bilingual driver-guide: $43
- Quito hotels to Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Quito hotels to Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $36
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito Airport ↔ Quito Hotels Private Transfer Service: $27
- Private Transfer to Quito airport and hotel: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Edinburgh or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Edinburgh 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 dayEdinburgh $91Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$11
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Dinner at Filling Station$13
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Lunch for Two$20
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Sandwich$2.49
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Cheese & bread$9.73
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$34
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2 Coffees and Scones$7.80
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Turkish Delight$1.88
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Soup at the Pub$7.94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- New! Taste of Local Food Tour in Stockbridge: $109
- Edinburgh Food Tour with Scotch, Haggis, a Secret Dish & More: $133
- The Best Food Tour in Edinburgh: $164
- Tailored Premium Edinburgh Food Tour with Highest Quality Dishes: $171
- Traditional Scottish Cooking Class & Dinner with Edinburgh Local: $178
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour: $183
- Edinburgh Like a Local: New Town & Stockbridge Food Tour: $185
- Modern Scottish Cooking Class & Lunch in Chef's Edinburgh Home: $213
- PRIVATE Edinburgh Food Tours - Old Town, Leith: $241
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: $12
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Quito Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $66
- The Delicious Side of Quito Food Tour: $70
- 3-hour Andean Cooking Class in Quito with a Local Host: $85
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $122
- Quito Food Tour Where my Family Go Urban Art New &Old Quito City: $155
- Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Edinburgh $27Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets$43
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Movie Tickets for Two$16
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Donation for Storytellers$8.07
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Edinburgh Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.92
- Edinburgh Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Queer History and Iconic Places: An Edinburgh Audio Tour: $6.99
- Edinburgh's Trainspotting Sites Audio Walking Tour: $7.75
- A History of Witchcraft in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Edinburgh Old Town Walking Tour with an App: $9.99
- Highlights from Edinburgh’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Enlightenment in A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Edinburgh Hidden Gems Self-Guided Private Tour: $12
- Explore Remarkable Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Pubs Tour: The history of Pubs and Drinking in Scotland.: $19
- Original Harry Potter Locations Tour in Edinburgh : Guided Tour: $19
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:
- “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Condor Tour from Quito: $220
- Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $210
- Baños Full Day Tour from Quito Including Entrances and Activities: $89
- Banos Highlights Tour - Adventure & Nature in One Day from Quito: $260
- Cable Car Quito & Volcano Pichincha Trekking – Full Day Tour: $200
- Cable Car and Quito Private City Tour: $89
- City Tour in Quito. Muffin, Cable Car, Historic Center and Middle of the World: $150
- Cotopaxi & Baños Full Day Tour from Quito Adventure in the Andes: $300
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEdinburgh $20Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine$19
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern$2.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Edinburgh Party Pub Crawl – 7 Bars, Free Shots & VIP Club Entry: $21
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $21
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: 7 Bars!: $21
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $34
- The Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour: $34
- Rum or Agave Tasting Sip Antics Distillery Edinburgh: $34
- Edinburgh Christmas Bar Crawl: $34
- Thirsty for Scotlands Best Historical Pub Tour: $40
- Port of Leith Distillery Tour and Tasting: $41
- Rosslyn Chapel, the Borders & Glenkinchie Distillery: $63
- From Glenkinchie Distillery & Whisky Experience: $75
- Stirling Distillery and Saint Andrews Italian Tour Guide: $75
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Quito
Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Edinburgh and Quito, we can see that Edinburgh is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh 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.