Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Lisbon?
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 Lisbon or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lisbon or Cuenca? 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: Lisbon or Cuenca?
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Lisbon Prices
Portugal PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon $196Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is $196, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $53. 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 Lisbon and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon $74Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon $148Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Cuenca? 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon $29Cuenca $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
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Taxi Ride$7.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $84
- Airport Private Transfer to Óbidos | Caldas da Rainha: $114
- Airport Private Transfer to Ericeira | Torres Vedras | Campo Real: $51
- Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $66
- Airport Transfer | Cruise Port - Estoril | Cascais | Sintra: $82
- Airport transfer to any destination: $131
- Algarve to Lisbon Airport Transfer: $470
- Arrábida Snorkeling Adventure with Transfer from Lisbon: $96
- Arrival Transfer by Sedan from Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon City: $46
- Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $72
- Cascais Aerodrome (CAT) to Lisbon city - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Costa da Caparica Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Lisbon 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 dayLisbon $86Cuenca $26
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pizza Cruise on a Luxury Boat with Open Bar: $29
- Lisbon Sunset DJ Party – Luxury Boat, Pizza & Open Bar: $29
- Lisbon Exclusive Sunset Cruise – Pizza, Open Bar & Dolphins: $29
- Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $32
- Sunset DJ Party – Sangria, Pizza & Open Bar : $35
- Traditional Walking Food Tour: $50
- Sangria DJ Party – Luxury Boat, Pizza & Open Bar: $54
- Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $57
- Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $58
- Lisbon Sangria – Exclusive Luxury Cruise with Pizza & Music: $59
- Portuguese street food cooking class with Drinks: $59
- Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $59
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lisbon $28Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Unravel Lisbon an Outdoor Charms Self Guided Tour: $1.18
- Alfama and Mouraria Tour - The oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon: $1.24
- Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.24
- Lisbon Walking Tour: Historic Strolls of the Old Town: $1.76
- Lisbon Walking Tour - Discover Belém and the Discoveries Age: $1.79
- Lisbon Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.37
- Lisbon City Center Tour - The Unmissable Lisbon: $3.59
- Self Guided Tour in Lisbon with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.59
- Lisbon Tour in Walled City and Alfama and Old Town: $3.59
- The Moorish Beyond the Tourist Trail Quarter Free Walking Tour: $3.59
- Lisbon Walking Tour: Historic Strolls of the Old Town: $3.61
- Lisbon (Chiado-Baixa) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.52
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Azuay Cuenca Ecuador Tour: $1,300
- Biking Cuenca City Tour: $50
- Birdwatching Tour Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $130
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
- Birdwatching Tour, Via Gualaceo to the Eastern slope from Cuenca: $130
- Cajas National Park FULL-DAY Tour from Cuenca: $55
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park and Cuenca City private Tour: $110
- Complete excursion Ingapirca & Gualaceo Chordeleg Tour Archaeological Artisanal: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLisbon $21Cuenca $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
- Lisbon Port Wine Tasting at Taylors Shop and Tasting Room: $19
- 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $22
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots & VIP Club Entry: $23
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar (Premium Upgrade Available): $23
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: Unlimited Drinks, Shots & V.I.P Club Entry: $23
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $24
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $24
- Portuguese Wine Tasting: $25
- Guided Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif: $28
- Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif at Portuguese Wine Bar: $29
- Lisbon Wine Tasting: $29
- A Taste of Wine Tasting Experience: $42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Cuenca, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lisbon is in Europe and Cuenca 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 Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lisbon Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Cuenca?
Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Cuenca, 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.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon or Cuenca?
Lisbon has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cuenca experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Lisbon or Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Lisbon during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Lisbon for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
In July, Lisbon is generally around the same temperature as Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 23°C (73°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Lisbon usually gets less rain in July than Cuenca. Lisbon gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLisbon 23°C (73°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Cuenca in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lisbon and Cuenca. The autumn months attract visitors to Lisbon because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Lisbon is much warmer than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lisbon averages around 19°C (66°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In October, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Lisbon gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLisbon 19°C (66°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Lisbon as well as Cuenca. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lisbon this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Cuenca. In the winter, Lisbon is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lisbon in January average around 12°C (53°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).
Lisbon receives a lot of rain in the winter. Lisbon usually gets more rain in January than Cuenca. Lisbon gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLisbon 12°C (53°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Lisbon or Cuenca in the Spring?
Both Cuenca and Lisbon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lisbon for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Lisbon is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Lisbon average around 16°C (60°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In April, Lisbon usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Lisbon gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLisbon 16°C (60°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Lisbon
| Lisbon | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (53°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (58°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
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.