Which place is cheaper, Quito or Hue?
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 Hue 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 Hue 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: Hue or Quito?
Hue
Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.
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 Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Hue Prices
Vietnam PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHue $57Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Hue is $57, 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 Hue and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHue $22Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHue $44Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Hue and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Hue 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: Hue Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hue $12Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:
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Cyclo$0.46
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Short Taxi Ride$0.84
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Taxi Ride to Tombs$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:
- Bus Transfer From Hue - Phong Nha: $16
- Bus Transfer From Hue to Phong Nha (Departure on odd days): $20
- Bus Transfer From Hue to Phong Nha 1 Way: $19
- Bus Transfer from Hue to Hoi An with Sightseeing: $19
- Da Nang Airport: Private Transfer to/from Hue City: $94
- Deluxe Transfer Hue to Hoi An by Amazing way: $27
- From Hue : Transfer Hue To Hoi An with Sightseeing Stops: $16
- From Hue to Golden Bridge - Ba Na Via Hai Van Pass (Private Roundtrip Transfer): $85
- From Bus Transfer to Hoi An with Sightseeing Stops: $15
- From Hoi An Bus Transfer with 4 Sightseeing Stops: $13
- From Hoi An Bus Transfer with Hai Van Pass & Marble …: $15
- From Hoi An Bus Transfer with Hai Van Pass & Marble …: $16
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:
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Quito hotels to Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Quito hotels to Quito Airport (UIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Quito Airport ↔ Quito Hotels Private Transfer Service: $27
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
- Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $32
- Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
- Transfer Private Airport–Hotel in Quito: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Hue or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Hue 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 dayHue $25Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:
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River Night Market Dinner (for Two)$7.60
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Two Sugarcane Drinks$0.76
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Quick Lunch (for Two)$2.09
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$4.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.
- VIP Dragon Boat Dinner Cruise on the Perfume River: $18
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $21
- Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Hue City: Cyclo, Market Tour & Cooking Class at Madam Thu: $27
- Hue Night Walking And Street Food Tour: $30
- Home Cooking Class and Dinner with Local Chef in Hue City: $31
- HUE : NIGHT WALKING AND STREET FOOD TOUR: $31
- Hue : Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
- Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
- Guided Local Food Tour with Tastings: $33
- Hue : Night Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Quito Eats Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Quito Kitchens Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- Quito Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $66
- 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 with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hue $11Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:
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Boat Ride$7.41
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$1.06
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Imperial Citadel Entrance$3.04
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Massage at Institute for the Blind$1.52
Tours and Activities in Hue
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:
- Eat like a local with a local - Walking Tour: $2.00
- Hue Imperial Ancient City Walking Tour: $2.00
- Hue Imperial Ancient City Walking Tour (Group Tour): $2.35
- Traditional Singing on Huong River Ticket: $4.03
- Private City Tour By Car - English Speaking Driver: $4.72
- City Tour with Driver - Customized Your Own Itinerary: $8.66
- Experience Paper Flower Making in Hue for a Cause: $10
- Hue City Tour with English-Speaking Driver & Custom Itinerary: $10
- Private City Tour by Car with English-Speaking Driver: $10
- Hue Royal Tombs Tour Visit 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
- Royal Tombs Private Tour with 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
- HUE - HOI AN BUS TOUR 4 STOPS VIA HAI VAN PASS: $14
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:
- Quito Old Town Free walking tour English small group Cacao Taste!: $5.00
- Quito Old Town English tour small groups Cacao Taste!: $5.00
- Quito Old Town Walking tour small groups Chocolate taste included: $5.00
- Quito Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 19 audio reviews: $6.94
- Quito City Tour Double Decker Bus: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $15
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Discover the heart of the Historic Center - Walking tour: $25
- Instagram walking tour in Quito's Historic Center: $26
- Quito's Cultural Tour & Indigenous Perspectives of Old Town: $27
- Quito Old Town Tour: History, Market Visit & Ice Cream Tasting: $29
- Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHue $5.51Quito $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:
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Beer$0.95
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Quito
Also in Quito, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ecuador Spirit Craft Brewery Tasting and Latitude 0 Private Tour: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Quito, we can see that Quito is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Hue is in Asia 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 Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Quito would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quito than you might in Hue.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hue Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hue or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Hue 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.