Which place is cheaper, Quito or Kyoto?
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 Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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: Kyoto or Quito?
Kyoto
Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.
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 from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Kyoto Prices
Japan PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKyoto $111Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Kyoto is $111, 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 Kyoto and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKyoto $62Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKyoto $124Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Kyoto and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Kyoto 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: Kyoto Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kyoto $7.38Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:
- Arashiyama Kinkakuji Quiet Trail E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $123
- City-to-City Transfer, from Central Kyoto to Each City in Kansai: $257
- Departure Transfer from Kyoto to Itami Airport ITM by Minivan: $135
- Kansai Airport(KIX)to/from Osaka or Kyoto Private Transfer: $133
- Kyoto 5 Hour Private Charter with KIX Airport Transfer: $184
- Kyoto Gion & Fushimi E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $123
- Kyoto Private Transfer From or To Kansai Airport (KIX): $247
- Kyoto Station to Kyoto City Private Transfer: $123
- Kyoto to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) - Departure Private Transfer: $159
- Kyoto to/from Kansai (KIX): Private Van Transfer (One-Way): $279
- Naruto & Boruto at Nijigen no Mori Entry & Transfer: $47
- Minivan Departure Transfer from Kyoto City to Kansai Airport KIX: $271
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:
- Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $105
- Custom Transfers Across Ecuador (quote required): $30
- From Mindo Cloud Forest Day Trip with Transfer: $129
- From Quilotoa Lake Private Tour with Transfer & Lunch: $166
- Mariscal Sucre Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Private Arrival Transfer from Airport to Quito - One Way: $20
- Private Departure Transfer from Quito to the Airport - One Way: $20
- Private Premium Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel: $63
- Private Transfer Quito: $40
- Private Transfer Quito to Mindo – SUV or Van (1–6): $88
- Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80
- Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Kyoto or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Kyoto 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 dayKyoto $40Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kyoto.
- Kyoto Nishiki Market Food Tour Hidden Tastings and Local Insights: $42
- Kyoto Izakaya Hopping: Pontocho & Gion Local Food Tour: $47
- Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $48
- Kyoto Umami Experience | Bonito Shaving & Japanese Cooking: $50
- Kyoto Home Cooking Class Okonomiyaki and Japanese Cuisines: $52
- Future Train Kyoto Diner & Cafe Night Parade Dinner Party: $52
- Cooking Class for Kids and Parents in Kyoto: $55
- 1 hour Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki cooking class in Kyoto: $57
- Japanese Cooking Class: $60
- Nishiki Market Food Tour-7 Tastings: $65
- Plant Based Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Kyoto: $71
- Izakaya Style Cooking Class: $71
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.Kyoto $13Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Kyoto
Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hidden Temples in Kyoto a Self-Guided Zen Tour: $1.12
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour Kyoto Hidden Matriarchy of Gion: $5.45
- Kyoto Self-Guided Audio Experience: $6.00
- Kyoto KITSUNE Nightclub Admission Ticket For Foreign: $6.48
- New open Japanese calligraphy experience: $6.49
- Kyoto Private Tour: Kimono,Sake, Kyudo, Kaiseki and Fushimi Inari: $6.49
- Self Guided Podcast Tour Unlocking Kyoto's Culinary Soul: $6.82
- Family Mitsui House Museum with green tea admission ticket: $7.13
- Nidec Kyoto Tower Ticket 360 Degree Observation Deck Kyoto: $10
- Kyoto Fushimi Inari Taisha Walking Tour with Audioguide: $11
- Kyoto Hanafuda Card Game Experience with Local English Learners: $13
- Kyoto Casual Matcha Making Experience in Kawaramachi: $13
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 dayKyoto $12Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto
Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Kyoto Pub Crawl & Bar Hopping Night with Local friend: $29
- Kyoto Nightlife Pub Crawl with Drinks and Karaoke: $34
- Fushimi Sake Discovery Tour Tasting and Brewery Visit: $77
- Kyoto sake brewery experience tour (Includes 4 sake tastings): $81
- 3-Hour Kyoto Insider Sake Brewery Tour with Tastings & Pairings: $86
- Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo, Temple, Monkey or Local Mountain Brewery: $88
- Fushimi Cherry Blossom and Sake Brewery Tour: $96
- Hidden Bar Crawl in Pontocho & Gion (Food & Drink Incl.): $105
- Fushimi Sake Brewery Tour - 18 Tastings in 2.5 Hours: $110
- Kyoto Kyo-Yuzen Craft Workshop Day Tour and Sake Brewery Visit: $141
- Kyoto Sake Tasting: Private Brewery Tour with Inside Access: $156
- Visit Whisky Distillery Tour from Kyoto: $225
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 Kyoto and Quito, we can see that Kyoto is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kyoto 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 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 Kyoto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kyoto 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 Kyoto Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kyoto or Quito?
Kyoto has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Kyoto 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.