Should you visit Fortaleza or Guayaquil?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Fortaleza and Guayaquil 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.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
Which city is cheaper, Guayaquil or Fortaleza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $54, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $76. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $46 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.
The prices for places to stay in Guayaquil can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $25, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $50.
Food
The price of a meal in Fortaleza can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $19 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.60 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Guayaquil travelers spend around $23 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Fortaleza $19
Guayaquil $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Homemade Local Food Tour in Guayaquil:
$95
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Cooking Class with Market Visit!:
$103
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Half Day :Eco Cooking Class and culinary Experience (Departure from Guayaquil):
$135
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.
Guayaquil's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Guayaquil.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer 4 X 4 Fortaleza to Jericoacoara or Jericoacoara to Fortaleza:
$120
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Private transfer: Fortaleza to Fortaleza International Airport (FOR):
$28
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Private transfer: Fortaleza International Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza:
$29
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Private Transfer from Vila Galé to Fortaleza (FOR) Airport:
$50
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Vila Galé:
$50
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Praia das Fontes:
$91
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Porto das Dunas:
$41
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Mundaú:
$124
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Lagoinha:
$112
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Jericoacoara:
$228
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Iguape:
$50
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Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to IcaraÃ-Amontada:
$149
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Guayaquil to José J. de Olmedo International Airport (GYE):
$622
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Private Transfer: José J. de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil:
$622
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Golf at Lacosta Country Club in Guayaquil with Transfers:
$175
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Private Transfer from Guayaquil to Cuenca:
$83
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Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service:
$80
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Departure Private Transfer: Guayaquil City to Guayaquil Airport GYE by Minivan:
$74
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Arrival Private Transfer: Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil City by Minivan:
$74
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Transfer Guayaquil Hotel - Aeropuerto:
$27
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Transfer Airport - Guayaquil Hotel:
$27
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Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel:
$20
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Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel:
$19
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Private TRANSFER OUT from Hotel to Guayaquil Airport:
$15
Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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 $12 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Guayaquil can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $17 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
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Beach Park Full-Day Trip Including Brief Tour of Fortaleza:
$35
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Canoa Quebrada Tour from Fortaleza - With Transportation, Guide and Buggy Ride:
$100
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Cumbuco Beach with City Tour from Fortaleza:
$14
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Fortaleza & Cumbuco Beach Full Day Tour:
$21
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Fortaleza City Tour:
$18
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Fortaleza Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$31
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1-Day Tour to Morro Branco:
$48
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2-Hour Morning City Tour:
$21
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From Full-Day City and Beach Park Tour:
$35
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Full-Day Guided Tour in Jericoacoara from Fortaleza:
$100
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Tour to Aguas Belas Beach:
$24
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Tour to Canoa Quebrada Beach:
$29
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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'Hacienda La Danesa' Cacao & Chocolate Experience:
$200
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'Tren del Hielo I' Experience: Riobamba - Urbina - La Moya - Riobamba:
$206
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3 Days - Sun Route of Ecuador & Montañita Experiences from Guayaquil:
$1,242
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3-Day Tour to Salinas and Montañita from Guayaquil:
$469
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4 Days Guayaquil " Total Experiences ":
$734
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9-Day Ecuadorian Coast Tour Including Isla de la Plata from Guayaquil:
$2,295
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Canal del Morro Boat Tour and Varadero Beach from Guayaquil:
$195
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Canyoning level IV Adventure day trip near Guayaquil:
$86
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City Tour Guayaquil:
$20
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City Tour in Guayaquil, Ecuador:
$55
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Contrasts of Ecuador 7-Day Adventure Tour:
$1,012
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Cultural tour, 3 days, INCA EXPRESS Ingapirca - Cuenca - Cajas Nationalpark:
$667
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 $7.78.
Typically, people visiting Guayaquil spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
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Process and Wine Tasting in Cellar Two Hemispheres - Puerto El Morro:
$294
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fortaleza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fortaleza 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil than you might in Fortaleza.
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