Which place is cheaper, Quito or Faro?
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 Faro or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Quito, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Faro or Quito?
Faro
Faro (or sometimes Faros) is the capital city of the scenic Algarve Region of Portugal, located at the edge of the Ria Formosa National Park. This is a fantastic place to experience the beauty, culture, and traditions of Portugal in laid back atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities. Faro offers everything from ancient architecture to beautiful beaches all while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Algarve Region.
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 in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Faro Prices
Portugal PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFaro $187Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Faro is $187, 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 Faro and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFaro $88Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFaro $176Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Faro and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Faro 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: Faro Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Faro $11Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Faro
Also for Faro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Faro Airport (FAO): Shared One-Way Albufeira Bus Transfer: $13
- Faro Airport to Portimão: Private Transfer for 1-3 …: $94
- Faro Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Faro City Centre: $7.05
- Faro Airport: Comfortable bus transfer to/from Lagos: $20
- Faro Airport: Comfortable bus transfer to/from Portimão: $16
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer To/From Albufeira-Ferreira: $65
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer To/From Alvor.: $94
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer To/From Loulé.: $47
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer To/From Tavira-Conceição.: $70
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer to Albufeira: $59
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer to Altura/Manta Rota: $68
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer to Armação da Pera/Porches: $66
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:
- Minibus Departure Transfer from Quito City to Quito Airport UIO: $134
- Arrival Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $124
- Transfer In & Out from Quito: $100
- Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $95
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Private transfer to Mindo: $70
- Private Transfer Out From Quito to International Airport Mariscal Sucre: $60
- Private Transfer In from International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito : $60
- Private Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel : $57
- Private Transfers / Discover Mindo: Full Day of Adventure Tour: $55
- Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Faro or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Faro 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 dayFaro $73Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Faro
For Faro, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Faro food tour (with drinks) & city highlights - 10 tastings: $119
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- Ecuador Food Tour: $69
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Quito Private Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $114
- Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour : $135
- Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $149
- Quito Food Tour Where my Family Go Urban Art New and Old Quito: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Faro $11Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Faro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Faro.
- City Sightseeing Tourist Train: $4.70
- Private & Flexible Walking Tour in Historic Center: $9.40
- CCVAlgarve Family Ticket | 2 adults + Children: $14
- Multimedia Museum and Restaurant Tour: $14
- Faro Story Spot - Multimedia Museum&Restaurant: Tour&Tasting: $23
- Ria Formosa Sunset Boat Tour: $29
- FOUR SENSES: The Immersive Experience in the Dark - Faro: $29
- Faro, Ria Formosa: 2 hour Sunset Cruise: $35
- Discover Algarve with Vamus 3-Day & 7-Day Tourist Passes: $41
- Kayak Tour in Ria Formosa - Olhão: $41
- Best of Faro - Guided Bike Tour (3h): $53
- From Benagil Cave and Seven Hanging Valleys Trail Tour: $53
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:
- A Full-Day Private Adventure Antisana Andean Volcano: $100
- The best of Quito walking tour: $283
- Tour Full-Day Mercado de Otavalo + Cotacachi, Ecuador.: $75
- 2-Day Tour of Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon with hotel: $222
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- Adventure in Quilotoa Lagoon by Lead: $150
- All Inclusive Mindo Cloud Forest in a Private Full Day Tour: $130
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $198
- Antisana Volcano Day Tour from Quito: $120
- Antisana Volcano Private Tour: $103
- Antisana volcano private tour; birding and hike in the Andes: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFaro $3.67Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Faro
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Faro:
- City Segway Tour with Wine Tasting Experience: $106
- WINE TASTING & TAPAS IN THE HEART OF FARO: $115
- Algarve Private Wine Tour with Private Transportation: $228
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 Faro and Quito, we can see that Faro is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Faro 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 Faro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Faro 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 Faro Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Faro or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro 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.