Which place is cheaper, Quito or Istanbul?
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 Istanbul or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Quito, 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: Istanbul or Quito?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $149Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $149, 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 Istanbul and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $69Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $138Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $32Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to Sabiha Airport SAW by Business Car: $64
- Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $65
- Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul by Luxury Van: $69
- Arrival Private Transfer from New Airport IST to Istanbul City in Van: $70
- BEST of Istanbul City Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $49
- Best Airport Transfer Company Istanbul Meet Transfer: $51
- Bodrum Airport Private Transfer Services: $67
- Cappadocia Private Tour, Transfers from Local Hotels or Istanbul: $181
- City Center to Istanbul Airport (IST) Departure Transfers: $80
- Depart Private Transfer Istanbul, Levent or Taksim to IST or SAW Airport by VAN: $60
- Departure Private Transfer from Istanbul City to New Airport IST in Van: $70
- Departure Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $64
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 Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $25
- 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
- Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $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
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $55Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Food Tour 30 Tasting Stops with Audio Maps Written Guide: $8.00
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Optional 4 Course Dinner: $25
- Night Cruise on the Bosphorus: Dinner and Show in Istanbul: $27
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $27
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $29
- Bosphorus Night Cruise: Dinner, Drinks & Hotel Pickup: $29
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: Turkish Night Show Experience: $30
- All Inclusive; Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Live Shows&Unlimited Drinks: $30
- Istanbul Luxury Bosphorus View Tavern Dinner & Belly Dance Show: $30
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: $25
- 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
- 3-hour Andean Cooking Class in Quito with a Local Host: $75
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- Homemade Local Food Tour in Guayaquil: $80
- 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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $36Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $3.00
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.41
- Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise from Europe: $5.88
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Istanbul Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.17
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour Exploring Two Empires: $6.83
- Bosphorus Cruise Boat Tour in Istanbul: $6.84
- Istanbul Bosphorus Tour With Whirling Dervish Show: $7.16
- Istanbul Bosphorus Turkish Night Show Ticket: $7.20
- 2-Hour Scenic Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul Throughout the Day: $7.53
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $7.97
- Enjoy Istanbul’s Bosphorus:2-Hour Daytime, Sunset & Night Cruises: $7.98
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 tip based walking tour small groups Cacao Taste: $5.00
- Quito Old Town Walking tour small groups Chocolate taste included: $5.00
- Quito Old Town tip based walking tour small groups Cacao Taste: $5.00
- Quito Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h10 and 19 audio reviews: $6.73
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at Old Town: $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
- La Mariscal and La Floresta Walking Tour: $30
- Gastronomic and Cultural Walking Tour of Quito with Tastings: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $9.85Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl: Bars, Dancefloors, & Beyond: $16
- Pub Crawler VIP Entry Rooftop Bars&Clubs with Party Bus: $26
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $30
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
- Taksim Pera Wine Tasting 3 Hour Guided Tour: $130
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $204
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 Istanbul and Quito, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul 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 Istanbul Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Quito?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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.