Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso or Guayaquil?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guayaquil or Valparaiso?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso?
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.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.
Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.
Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Guayaquil Prices
Ecuador PricesValparaiso Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuayaquil $116Valparaiso $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $116, while the average daily cost in Valparaiso is $85. 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 Valparaiso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuayaquil $32Valparaiso $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuayaquil $64Valparaiso $74
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Valparaiso
Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Valparaiso? 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Valparaiso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guayaquil $15Valparaiso $4.99
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: $38
- Guayaquil Departure Transfer: $34
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $20
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $20
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $19
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil by Car or Van: $48
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $255
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil Airport(GYE): $231
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil city hotels: $231
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $43
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:
- Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $142
- Private transfer from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to San Antonio: $133
- Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $256
- Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $110
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago Hotels: $208
- Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
- Private Transfer Cruise Port to Santiago with Wine tour & tasting: $209
Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Valparaiso?
Prices for flights to both Valparaiso 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
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Food Meals for one dayGuayaquil $50Valparaiso $40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Wagyu Cooking Class in Guayaquil: $135
- Cooking Class, Wine & Chocolate Experience: $174
- Half Day of Cooking and Chocolate at Cocoa Farm from Guayaquil: $175
- Scale in Guayaquil Private Tour Cooking Class and Accommodation: $175
- Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $200
Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:
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Empanada$1.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valparaiso.
- Cooking Classes in Viña del Mar Learn to Make Tapas and Desserts: $75
- Learn to Cook Like a Local: Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guayaquil $21Valparaiso $19
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cultural Tour of the Museums of Guayaquil: $35
- City Highlights Tour with Cable Car Ride: $58
- Half-Day City Tour—Iguana Park & Santa Ana Hill: $70
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Santa Ana: $74
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $77
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $80
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $80
- Historic Walking Tour Through Time & Culture: $83
- Personalized City Tour with Guide: $90
- Religious City Tour with Guide and Entry Fees: $91
Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso
Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Tour$4.33
Tours and Activities in Valparaiso
Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Romantic Journey Through Viña del Mar - Private Tour: $221
- Cultural Tour of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $40
- Explore Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Tour: $58
- Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Full Day Private Walking Tour with a Native Guide & Public Transport: $120
- Full-Day Tour of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Reñaca & Concón: $180
- Gastronomic Tour in Valparaiso: $196
- Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
- Guided tour Vina del Mar Reñaca beaches music and nature: $45
- Jewels of Viña del Mar – Private Walking Tour: $221
- Mamalluca Astronomical Stargazing Experience - La Serena: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuayaquil $17Valparaiso $8.04
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: $65
- Premium Wine Tasting and 3-Course Pairing Menu in Guayaquil.: $86
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting: $428
Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Beer$1.03
Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:
- From Santiago: Aconcagua Valley Wine Tour: $129
- Private Wine Tour in Valparaiso: $273
- A Valparaíso 100% Private Tour + Casablanca Wine Tasting: $320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Valparaiso, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Valparaiso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Valparaiso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Valparaiso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Valparaiso?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Valparaiso. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Valparaiso, 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.
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.