Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Granada or Guayaquil?
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 Guayaquil. 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 Guayaquil?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGranada $40Guayaquil $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $95. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGranada $17Guayaquil $32
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGranada $34Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Granada and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Granada or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Granada $8.57Guayaquil $15
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
- Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
- Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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
-
Food Meals for one dayGranada $14Guayaquil $29
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
-
Pizza$2.29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Granada $10Guayaquil $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
-
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:
- Bird Watching Tour: $90
- Boat Tour and Granada City Tour: $120
- Charming Granada Outdoor "Private Tour" : $92
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
- Fabulous Night Tour in Masaya Volcano from Granada: $158
- From Full-Day Tour to 6 Attractions with Lunch incl: $125
- Full Day Tour Isletas + Pueblos Blancos + Laguna from Granada: $120
- Full Day Tour in Granada with Volcano Visit: $224
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Granada City Tour: $40
- Granada Colonial City Tour and Masaya Volcano: $130
- Granada Kayak Tour: $30
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $18
- 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- Guayaquil City Tour: $40
- Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
- Private Experience of Flavors and Wine Pairing in Guayaquil: $52
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $63
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGranada $7.50Guayaquil $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
-
Tequila$1.36
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Granada is in Central America and Guayaquil 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 Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Granada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Granada or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Granada. When comparing the sizes of Granada and Guayaquil, 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 Guayaquil?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Granada or Guayaquil in the Summer?
Both Guayaquil and Granada during the summer 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 Guayaquil year-round.
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Granada. Granada usually gets more rain in July than Guayaquil. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Granada is a little warmer than Guayaquil in the summer. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyGranada 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Granada or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and Guayaquil. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Granada gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Granada usually receives more rain than Guayaquil. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Granada is a little warmer than Guayaquil. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Granada in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGranada 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Granada or Guayaquil in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Granada as well as Guayaquil. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. Granada usually gets less rain in January than Guayaquil. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 26°C (79°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGranada 26°C (79°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Granada or Guayaquil in the Spring?
Both Guayaquil and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. In April, Granada usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Granada is around the same temperature as Guayaquil in the spring. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilGranada 29°C (84°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and Granada
| Granada | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 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.