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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Quito?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre 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: Grande-Terre or Quito?

Grande-Terre

Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.

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 Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Grande-Terre?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is $155, while the average daily cost in Quito is $52. 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 Grande-Terre and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre $87
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre $174
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre


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: Grande-Terre Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre $9.64
    Quito $6.99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:

  • Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Le Gosier by SUV: $50
  • Departure Private Transfer from Le Gosier to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $51
  • Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $41
  • Departure Private Transfer from Saint-Francois to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
  • Departure Private Transfer from Sainte-Anne to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $60
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport to Pointe-a-Pitre Hotels Arrival Transfer: $23
  • Pointe-a-Pitre to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91

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:

  • Airport Transfer- Hotel in Quito 1 Way: $55
  • Express Transfer: Mariscal Sucre Airport to Quito: $34
  • From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $119
  • From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $145
  • Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $29
  • Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
  • Private Transfer Hotels in Quito to Mariscal Sucre Int. Airport: $70
  • Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
  • Private Transfer IN or OUT Hotel-Aiport Quito or Aiport-Hotel : $25
  • Private Transfer In from International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito : $60
  • Private Transfer from Quito Airport : $25
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños or Baños to Quito (one way): $90

Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Grande-Terre 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
    Grande-Terre $51
    Quito $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.

  • Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $35
  • 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $39
  • Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
  • Cooking class In-home space: $75
  • Homemade Local Food Tour in Guayaquil: $80
  • Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
  • Jacchigua Show Including Dinner + Transfer: $92
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $114
  • Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
  • Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $130
  • Quito Private & All Inclusive Cooking Class with Certified Chef: $235

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre $48
    Quito $16

Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre

Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
  • Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $31
  • Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
  • Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
  • Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49
  • *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
  • Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
  • Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $100
  • Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $157
  • Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $169
  • Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $232

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:

  • Skip the Line: La Compañia Church Admission Ticket: $5.50
  • Skip the Line: Capilla del Hombre and Guayasamin's Museum Ticket: $10
  • Middle of the World shuttle Tour: $14
  • Quito City Tour Double Decker Bus: $15
  • 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
  • Middle of the World Tour with Tickets: $19
  • Quito at Night & Urban Legends Tour : $20
  • 1914 Original Trolley City Tour: $20
  • Intiñan Museum Small-Group Tour: $25
  • Guided City Tour with Tastings and Box Lunch: $25
  • Shared tour of the historic center of Quito in small groups: $25
  • Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre $13
    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 Grande-Terre and Quito, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre is in Caribbean Islands 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 Grande-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grande-Terre 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 Grande-Terre Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.