Which place is cheaper, Quito or Florence?
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 Florence or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Florence 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: Florence or Quito?
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.
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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Florence Prices
Italy PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorence $211Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Florence is $211, 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 Florence and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorence $102Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorence $204Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Florence and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Florence 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: Florence Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florence $26Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Florence
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:
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Taxi Ride Within City$9.39
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Taxi from Airport$29
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In City Parking (Full Day)$35
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Bus Pass (Full Day)$5.87
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Bus From Airport$5.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence
Also for Florence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Florence to Pisa Airport (PSA) - Departure Private Transfer: $136
- Arrival Transfer Florence Station SMN to Florence by Sedan or Van: $112
- Bologna Airport Private Transfer from your Hotel in Florence: $241
- Chianti Wine Tastings and Visit to 3 Cellars with Lunch&Transfer: $209
- Direct transfer from Florence to Livorno with private driver: $216
- Florence Airport (FLR) to Chianciano - Arrival Private Transfer: $287
- Florence Airport (FLR) to Florence hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Florence Airport (FLR) to Florence hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $151
- Florence Airport (FLR) to Montecatini Terme - Arrival Transfer: $165
- Florence Airport (FLR) to Pisa - Arrival Private Transfer: $174
- Florence Airport Private Departure Transfer: $53
- Florence Airport Transfers : Florence City to Airport FLR in Business Car: $195
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 Florence or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Florence 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 dayFlorence $73Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Florence
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Florence:
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Panini Sandwich$7.63
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence
For Florence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Florence Old City Street Food Tour and Guided Sightseeing: $35
- Hard Rock Cafe Florence with Set Lunch or Dinner: $35
- Food Tour of Traditional Eateries and Wine Pairings: $36
- Street Food Tour and Sightseeing with Local Expert Guide in 2.5 hours : $46
- Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence: $48
- Florence Street Food Tour and sightseeing with Central Market: $51
- Florence's Food Tour with Authentic Local Tastigs and Sightseeing: $51
- Florence Street Food Tour with Walking Sightseeing and Local Guide: $51
- Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine: $53
- Hands-On Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class: $53
- Cooking Class in Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Making Unlimited Wine: $54
- Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine: $57
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.Florence $35Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florence
For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Admission to Uffizi$13
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Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi$4.69
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Firenze Card (for Two)$117
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Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)$23
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Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee$7.04
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Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee$8.21
Tours and Activities in Florence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florence.
- Florence Free Walking Tour With Local Guide: $2.16
- The Best tour in Renaissance & Medici Tales - guided by a STORYTELLER: $3.59
- Florence Walking Tour: $3.59
- Sunset Walking Tour: $3.61
- Private Tour to the Laboratory of Artistic Ceramics in Tuscany: $3.61
- Florence Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.20
- AudioZoom into A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.99
- Florence Medici Quest: Self-Guided Conspiracy Adventure: $7.20
- Self-Guided Walking Tour of Florence with Audio and Quizzes: $8.42
- Florence Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Florence Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Leonardo Da Vinci Museum Entrance Ticket: $13
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 dayFlorence $22Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florence
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florence from other travelers:
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Glass of Chianti$4.93
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Bottle of Wine$8.80
Sample the Local Flavors in Florence
Also in Florence, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wine Tasting by CarusVini in San Casciano in val di Pesa: $18
- Winery tour and wine tasting of organic Chianti wines and extra virgin oil: $24
- Wine Tasting Activity at Chianti Rufina: $25
- Great wine tasting at Tenuta Moriano: $27
- Wine Tasting Experience near Florence: $30
- Classic Wine Tasting in Montalcino: $36
- Private Wine Tasting Experience in the heart of Tuscany: $36
- Wine Tasting in an Authentic Tuscan Cellar in Radda in Chianti: $38
- Montefioralle Winery - Tour and Wine Tasting in Chianti: $42
- Chianti Half Day Wine Tour from Florence: $42
- Wine Tasting of Brunello with Tuscan Cold Cuts and Cheese: $47
- Winery tour & wine tasting in Montalcino: $48
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 Florence and Quito, we can see that Florence is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florence 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 Florence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florence 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 Florence Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florence or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Florence. When comparing the sizes of Florence 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.