A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gothenburg vs. Quito for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Gothenburg or Quito?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Gothenburg or Quito? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Gothenburg or Quito?

Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.

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 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Gothenburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $147, 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 Gothenburg and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gothenburg $47
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gothenburg $94
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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.

Hotels in Gothenburg


Hotels in Quito


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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gothenburg $22
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $130
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
  • Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $76
  • Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $79
  • City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $130
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $17
  • Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $17
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $114
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $110
  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $168

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
  • Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
  • Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
  • Transfer Private Airport–Hotel in Quito: $39
  • Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
  • Transfer In & Out from Quito: $117
  • Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel with bilingual driver: $43
  • Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel or vice versa with bilingual driver-guide: $43
  • Shared Transfer from Quito hotels to Airport: $42
  • Quito hotels to Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Gothenburg 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Gothenburg $78
    Quito $34

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
  • Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
  • Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
  • Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $122
  • Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $178

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gothenburg $18
    Quito $16

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Self-Guided Tour in Gothenburg With 100 Audio Stories: $3.53
  • Gothenburg Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
  • Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre Admission Ticket: $17
  • Gothenburg Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $17
  • Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $17
  • World of Volvo Exhibition Entry Ticket: $20
  • Self-Guided Secrets of Gothenburg Exploration Game Tour: $24
  • Paradox Museum Entry Ticket: $25
  • Gothenburg Universeum Ticket - Aquarium, Science, Wildlife, Zoo: $26
  • Universeum Entry Ticket: $27
  • The Paddan Tour: $29
  • City Canal Sightseeing Cruise: $29

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 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:

  • “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
  • 2 day 1 night tour to Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon all included: $280
  • Adventure in Quilotoa Lagoon by Lead: $150
  • Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
  • Antisana Birding Tours to see CONDORS - by Richard Hernandez: $185
  • Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $210
  • Antisana Volcano Condor Birdwatching Private Experience: $90
  • Antisana volcano private tour; birding and hike in the Andes: $130
  • Baños Full Day Tour from Quito Including Entrances and Activities: $89
  • Between Murals & Flavors: Modern Quito Walking Tour: $45
  • Bloom to the Blue Quilotoa and Rose Plantation Tour: $100
  • Cable Car Quito & Volcano Pichincha Trekking – Full Day Tour: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gothenburg $24
    Quito $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:


  • Beers for Two
    $9.00


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Quito, we can see that Gothenburg is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Quito?

Quito has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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.