Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Granada or Cuenca?
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 Granada and Cuenca. 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: Granada or Cuenca?
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGranada $40Cuenca $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $42. 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 Granada and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGranada $17Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGranada $34Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Granada and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Granada or Cuenca? 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: Granada Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Granada $8.57Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Granada 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 dayGranada $14Cuenca $15
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.29
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.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Granada $10Cuenca $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.17
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- Granada Kayak Tour: $30
- Colonial Granada Horse Carriage & Walking Tour: $35
- Paddle Boarding and Meditation Wellness Experience in Las Isletas: $39
- Las Isletas: Kayak Tour: $39
- Granada City Tour: $40
- Granada's City Tour: $40
- Las Isletas: Boat Tour: $45
- Masaya Night Tour Minimum 2 People from Granada: $45
- Las Isletas 2-Hour Kayak Adventure in Granada with Pickup: $48
- City Walking Tour and Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride: $50
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $25
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGranada $7.50Cuenca $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
When comparing the travel costs between Granada and Cuenca, we can see that Cuenca is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Granada is in Central America and Cuenca is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Granada or Cuenca?
Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Granada and Cuenca, 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.
When is the best time to visit Granada or Cuenca?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Granada or Cuenca in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and Cuenca. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Granada usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Granada is generally a little warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 27°C (81°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGranada 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Granada or Cuenca in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Granada as well as Cuenca. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
Granada receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Granada usually gets more rain in October than Cuenca. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Granada is much warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGranada 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Granada or Cuenca in the Winter?
Both Cuenca and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Granada usually receives less rain than Cuenca. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Cuenca can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Granada is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Granada in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGranada 26°C (79°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Granada or Cuenca in the Spring?
Both Cuenca and Granada during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
Granada usually gets less rain in April than Cuenca. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Granada is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 29°C (84°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGranada 29°C (84°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Granada
| Granada | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
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.