A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guayaquil vs. Pereira for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guayaquil or Pereira?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Pereira, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Guayaquil or Pereira?

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.

Pereira

Situated in a small valley in the western Andes, Pereira is the capital city of Risaralda, Colombia. The city is surrounded by coffee producing agriculture and sits in the middle of a triangle of cities including Bogota, Medillin and Cali, each of which is about a three to five hour drive away.

The city itself is very much student oriented, as there are many universities around town and at least one quarter of the population is made up of students. There is also a very European vibe to the city and you will find the area beautiful with many parks and museums.

Pereira's economy is based on government, agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, trade, commerce, and tourism. Agricultural products include sugarcane, cacao, rubber, cereals, coffee, and livestock. Apparel is the main manufacturing product, along with aluminium goods, motorcycles and telecommunications technology.

Pereira is found in a warm moorland area with an average temperature of around 72 degrees. The temperatures remain relatively consistent throughout the year with highs in the high 70s Fahrenheit to low 80s Fahrenheit. Low temperatures are usually in the low 60s Fahrenheit. Rain is heaviest during the months of April and May as well as October and November.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Pereira or Guayaquil?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $95, while the average daily cost in Pereira 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 Guayaquil and Pereira in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guayaquil $32
    Pereira $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guayaquil $64
    Pereira $54
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Pereira

Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Pereira? 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 Guayaquil


Hotels in Pereira


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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Pereira Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guayaquil $15
    Pereira $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $129
  • Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
  • Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
  • Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
  • Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
  • Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotels: $20
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $88
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $98

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pereira

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Pereira are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pereira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pereira:

  • Santa Rosa Cabal to Pereira Airport PEI - Departure Transfer: $63
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Matecaña Airport: $11
  • One way transfer from Pereira to Salento AND/OR Salento to Pereira: $43
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Intl Airport: $41
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer: Matecaña Airport: $45
  • Manizales Arrival or Departure Transfer La Nubia Airport: $20
  • Private Transfer Pereira to Salento (or vice versa): $59

Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Pereira?

Prices for flights to both Pereira and Guayaquil 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
    Guayaquil $29
    Pereira $23

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

Typical Food Prices in Pereira

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pereira:


  • Hamburger
    $1.70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guayaquil $21
    Pereira $19

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
  • Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $40
  • Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
  • 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
  • Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
  • Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
  • Guayaquil Layover Sightseeing Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transport: $82

Tours and Activities in Pereira

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

  • Chocolate Tour - Wonders of the Cacao: $186
  • City Tour Historic Center of Manizales in Caldas: $46
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Filandia Full-Day Private Tour: $246
  • Cocora, Salento and Coffee Experience: $258
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Farm and Santa Rosa Hot Springs Tour from Pereira or Armenia: $151
  • Coffee Tour at the Finca del Café: $40
  • Coffee Tour, Sighting Pereira: $125
  • Explore Colombia’s Magic Destination on this 10-Day Tour: $2,678

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guayaquil $17
    Pereira $14

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 Guayaquil and Pereira, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Pereira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pereira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pereira 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 Pereira.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Pereira Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Pereira?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Pereira. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Pereira, 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.