Should you visit Fortaleza or Cuenca?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Fortaleza and Cuenca can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Fortaleza
A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Cuenca or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $51, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $34. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Fortaleza and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $44 for a double occupancy room in Fortaleza If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $20 for a double occupancy room in Cuenca.
Food
The price of a meal in Fortaleza can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $18 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Food in Cuenca costs travelers about $12 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Fortaleza $18
Cuenca $12
Typical Food prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch
$10
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Snacks
$5.00
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Empanada
$1.50
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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.
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Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca:
$55
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Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour):
$95
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Fortaleza than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $16 on transportation in Fortaleza on average per day.
The average price of local transportation around Cuenca is $8.60 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Minivan:
$51
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Sedan Car:
$41
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Jericoacoara by Minivan:
$336
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Arrival Private Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Jericoacoara by Sedan Car:
$253
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Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza:
$20
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Cumbuco Private Transfer From Fortaleza:
$36
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Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Minivan:
$51
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Departure Private Transfer: Fortaleza City to Fortaleza Airport FOR by Sedan Car:
$41
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Fortaleza Airport Private Transfer:
$28
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Fortaleza Airport Shared Transfer:
$19
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Fortaleza Round-Trip Airport Transfers:
$97
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Fortaleza Roundtrip Airport Transfers:
$38
Typical Local Transportation prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
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Private Transfer from Cuenca City Center to Madrid City Center:
$147
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Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.:
$83
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Arrival Private Transfer: Cuenca Airport CUE to Cuenca City by Minivan:
$74
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Departure Private Transfer: Cuenca City to Cuenca Airport CUE by Minivan:
$74
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Cuenca to Guayaquil Transfer in Fantasy Bus:
$25
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Cuenca to Alausi Transfer in Fantasy Bus:
$25
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Transfer In Cuenca Airport - Hotel:
$25
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Cuenca Airport Shuttle Transfer:
$19
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Cuenca Arrival Transfer:
$15
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Cuenca Departure Transfer:
$15
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Fortaleza 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Fortaleza, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $11 per day, per person.
Cuenca's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
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Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza:
$14
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Tour to Cumbuco Beach:
$17
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Fortaleza City Tour:
$18
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2-Hour Morning City Tour:
$21
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Fortaleza & Cumbuco Beach Full Day Tour:
$21
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Tour to Morro Branco & Fontes Beach:
$21
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Tour to Lagoinha Beach:
$22
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Tour to Aguas Belas Beach:
$24
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Tour to Canoa Quebrada Beach:
$29
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Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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From Full-Day City and Beach Park Tour:
$35
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Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza:
$35
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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4-Day Magic Tour Cuenca, Alausi town, Baños, Quilotoa, Cotopaxi and Quito:
$675
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5-Day Rock Climbing Tour in Cojitambo, Paute, Girón, Cajas and Sayausi:
$400
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5-Day Trekking Rock, Climbing, Canyoning and Paragliding Tour:
$474
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BIKE TOUR "Descent of The Andes":
$59
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Baños Private Guided 4-day tour from Cuenca:
$691
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Biking Cuenca City Tour:
$45
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Biking and Walking City Tour Cuenca:
$30
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Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca:
$100
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Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca:
$100
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Birdwatching Tour in Giron and Yunguilla Jocotoco Reserve from Cuenca:
$129
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Birdwatching Tour in Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca:
$130
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Birdwatching Tour in Via Sigsig,Chiguinda from Cuenca:
$130
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Fortaleza, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.37.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cuenca may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $11 per day on alcoholic beverages.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and Cuenca, we can see that Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fortaleza than you might in Cuenca.
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