Which place is cheaper, Quito or Helsinki?
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 Helsinki or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Quito can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Quito?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Helsinki Prices
Finland PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki $185Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is $185, while the average daily cost in Quito 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 Helsinki and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki $82Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki $164Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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.
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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki $25Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Airport HEL to Helsinki by Business Car: $97
- Airport Transfer: Helsinki Airport HEL to Helsinki by Luxury Van: $103
- Airport Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL by Business Car: $97
- Airport Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki Airport HEL by Luxury Van: $103
- Departure Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL by Business Car: $97
- Guided Tallinn Day Tour from Helsinki / Include hotel transfers: $228
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $132
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Terminal - Round-Trip Transfer: $132
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal Private Transfer: $66
- Helsinki Hotels to West Harbour Cruise Terminal - Deparure Private Transfer: $66
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki (HEL) Airport to City centre: $61
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki city centre to Helsinki airport: $61
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
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Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Unique Quito Transfer Mariscal Sucre Airport to Hotel: $43
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $25
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel with bilingual driver: $43
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel or vice versa with bilingual driver-guide: $43
- Transfer Airport → Quito (one way / round trip): $50
- Shared Transfer from Quito hotels to Airport: $42
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $32
- Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
- Panoramic City Tour & Airport Departure Transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki $67Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Helsinki Authentic Walking Food Tour with 8 Local Tastings: $117
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $193
- Helsinki Food Tour: A Culinary Experience with a Local: $261
- Sauna and Dinner with Locals in a Lake-Side Home near Helsinki: $280
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Ecuadorian Gastronomy Tasting and Cooking Class in Quito: $15
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- Food Tour in quaint old town with tastings and lunch: $71
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- Hidden Gems Food Tour with Cacao Tasting and Culture: $87
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki $30Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Helsinki Self Guided City Tour: $3.41
- Podcast Tour Helsinki Echoes of Sisu The Finnish Soul: $5.47
- Helsinki Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Podcast Tour: The Nordic Blueprint - Helsinki's Design Revolution: $6.84
- Helsinki Christmas Lights Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $9.99
- Helsinki Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $10
- Helsinki’s Island Fortress: An Audio Tour of Suomenlinna: $12
- Capital of Contrasts: A Self Guided Audio Tour in Helsinki: $20
- Discover Helsinki City Walk - Multiple Tours Daily: $23
- A Finntastic Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $23
- A Finntastic Walking Tour of Underground Helsinki: $27
- Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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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:
- “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
- 1-Day Adventure to the Andean Choco Experience the Forest: $125
- 2 day 1 night tour to Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon all included: $280
- 2-Day Tour of Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon with hotel: $222
- 2D private Tour from Quito visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $281
- 3-Day Adventure: Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Jungle: $897
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- 3-Day Antisana & Amazon comunities, Caves, Baños Guided Tour: $734
- 6-Day Ecuador Heritage Tour: Art, Culture and Otavalo: $1,847
- Adventure and Relaxation in Baños de Agua Santa: $236
- All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
- Amazon Adventure: 4 Days of Nature & Culture from Quito: $1,770
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki $18Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
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Beers for Two$9.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Quito, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Quito, 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.