Which place is cheaper, Quito or Geneva?
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 Geneva or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Quito. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Geneva or Quito?
Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Geneva Prices
Switzerland PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGeneva $290Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Geneva is $290, 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 Geneva and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGeneva $169Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGeneva $338Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Geneva and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Geneva 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: Geneva Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Geneva $11Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
- Airport Transfer: Geneva Airport GVA to Geneva by Business Car: $83
- Airport Transfer: Geneva Airport GVA to Geneva by Luxury Van: $111
- Airport Transfer: Geneva to Geneva Airport GVA by Business Car: $98
- Arrival Transfer: Geneva Airport GVA to Geneva by Business Car: $98
- Arrival Transfer: Geneva Airport GVA to Geneva by Luxury Van: $111
- Departure Transfer: Geneva to Geneva Airport GVA by Luxury Van: $111
- Geneva Airport (GVA) to Geneva - Arrival Private Transfer: $92
- Geneva Airport (GVA) to Geneva - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $184
- Geneva Airport (GVA) to Lausanne - Arrival Private Transfer: $176
- Geneva Airport GVA to Geneva City Private Transfer: $200
- Geneva Airport: Private Transfer To Geneva City/Chamonix City: $120
- Geneva Int Airport (GVA) to La Clusaz - Arrival Private Transfer: $173
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:
- Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
- Mariscal Sucre Airport to and from Quito Hotels Private Transfer: $45
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Premium Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel: $63
- Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
- Private Transfer IN or OUT Hotel-Aiport Quito or Aiport-Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer Out From Quito to International Airport Mariscal Sucre: $59
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
- Private Transfer in & out of the airport in Quito: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Geneva or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Geneva 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 dayGeneva $106Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
- City Tour and Fondue Cooking Class, Swiss Folklore: $221
- Taste Geneva – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $223
- Geneva Food tour : Cheeses, wine, chocolate & fun: $250
- Food tour with EAT and CHILL TOUR Geneva & Lausanne: $289
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- Hidden Gems Food Tour with Cacao Tasting and Culture: $87
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $100
- Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $110
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $122
- Quito Cooking Class: Traditional Ecuadorian Dish: $139
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Geneva $35Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Geneva Self Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Jet d’Eau de Genève guided tour of the city icon: $6.42
- From Brunswick Monument to the Botanical Garden: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Geneva Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 24 Audio Comments: $7.57
- Highlights of Dark History Quest Experience: $7.83
- Geneva (International District) City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.96
- Geneva Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.42
- TOP Geneva : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $12
- The Many Faces of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $12
- Unusual Audio Tour of Geneva: $13
- Small-Group Guided Walking Tour of Geneva Old Town: $22
- 50-Minute Lake Geneva Cruise: $24
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:
- Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Cacao taste included Small group: $1.00
- Quito Old Town Free Walking tour Small group Cacao Taste included: $1.00
- Skip the Line-Entry to Heaven's Gateway The Basilica Towers!: $7.99
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Discover the heart of the Historic Center - Walking tour: $25
- Instagram walking tour in Quito's Historic Center: $26
- Quito's Cultural Tour & Indigenous Perspectives of Old Town: $27
- Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting: $29
- La Mariscal and La Floresta Walking Tour: $30
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $30
- Walking Tour Quito: $30
- Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGeneva $26Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
- Geneva Countryside Wine Tasting At A Castle By E-Bike: $191
- Swiss Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour in Vaud: $263
- Lavaux, Chexbres, and Valais Wine Tasting Tour: $450
- Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting by TukTuk: $537
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Quito, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Geneva 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva 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 Geneva Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Geneva or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva 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.