Which place is cheaper, Quito or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kampala or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala or Quito? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Kampala or Quito?
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
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 Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
-
Kampala Prices
Uganda PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKampala $77Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $77, 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 Kampala and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $60Quito $22
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $120Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Kampala 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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.54Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
-
Taxi around town$4.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Airport Transfer from Entebbe to Kampala: $30
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
- Entebbe Airport pickup (Entebbe - Kampala) reliable 24/7 transfer: $48
- Entebbe Kampala Airport Transfer: $45
- From Entebbe: 3-Day Gorilla Trekking Safari with Transfers: $1,850
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $72
- Private Transfer from Kampala to Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda: $72
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
-
Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
- Airport Transfer in Quito: $20
- Airport Transfer- Hotel in Quito 1 Way: $42
- Express Transfer: Mariscal Sucre Airport to Quito: $34
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $107
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $145
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $29
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $21
- Private Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel : $57
- Private Transfer from Quito Airport : $30
- Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $20
- Private Transfer to Quito airport and hotel : $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Kampala 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 dayKampala $15Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
-
Lunch for 2$1.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
- Kampala Food Tour (KWT): $26
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Cooking Class Tour Kampala.: $60
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Fishing Village Food Tour & Luwombo Stop: $102
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Kampala cooking tour: $133
- Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $25
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $39
- Guilty Pleasures Walking Food Tours in Quito: $45
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- Ecuador Food Tour: $69
- Cooking class In-home space: $75
- Cooking Class with Chef, Market Tour & Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $89
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $95
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Quito Private Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $102
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small Group City guided walking tour: $5.00
- Uganda Community Tour: $15
- African Fabric Market Tour : $18
- Amazing Tour Experience with a local: $20
- Guided Walking Tour in Kampala: $22
- Kampala's walking city Tour Experience : $23
- 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
- City Guided Walking Tour with Kabaka's Palace: $24
- Kampala City Guided Walking Tour with Kabaka's Palace: $24
- Kampala Heart of Walking Adventure : $25
- Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
- Complete Kampala Tour Experience: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
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:
- Skip the Line-Entry to Heaven's Gateway The Basilica Towers!: $7.99
- Quito City Tour Double Decker Bus: $15
- Night Tour in Quito with free time at La Ronda Street: $15
- 2.5-Hour City Bus Tour: $15
- Middle of the World Tour with Tickets: $25
- Middle of the World Tour : $25
- Shared Quito City Tour: $28
- Quito : Must-see Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $29
- Quito Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $29
- Walking Tour Quito: $30
- Old Town Walking Tour with Basilica Church Visit: $30
- Middle of the World and Volcano Tour: $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
- Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
-
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:
- Half-day tour to high altitude vineyards and wine tasting: $45
When comparing the travel costs between Kampala and Quito, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Kampala is in Africa and Quito is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampala Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala 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.