Which place is cheaper, Quito or London?
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 London or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Quito can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: London or Quito?
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
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 Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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London Prices
UK PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLondon $295Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in London is $295, 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 London and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLondon $171Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLondon $342Quito $44
Compare Hotels in London and Quito
Looking for a hotel in London 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: London Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.London $35Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
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Taxi Ride$20
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Heathrow Express$25
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Luggage Storage$11
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London Map$1.76
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Oyster Card$49
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Train to Gatwick Airport (2)$29
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Oyster Card$37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport Transfers: $182
- Private Transfer To or From London City Airport: $123
- "Private Transfer: Heathrow Airport to Dover Cruise Port": $181
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Bath".: $175
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Bournemouth".: $164
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Cambridge.": $115
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Slough": $59
- "Private Transfer: London Heathrow Airport to Watford".: $78
- 8 Seater Transfer: Heathrow Airport to Central London: $240
- 8 Seater Transfer: Heathrow Airport to/from Central London: $229
- Airport - hotel - airport transfers for Heathrow groups.: $532
- Airport Transfer: $219
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:
- Minibus Departure Transfer from Quito City to Quito Airport UIO: $134
- Arrival Private Transfer Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Minivan: $124
- Transfer In & Out from Quito: $100
- Arrival Transfer from Quito Airport UIO to Quito by Sedan or SUV: $95
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Private transfer to Mindo: $70
- Private Transfer Out From Quito to International Airport Mariscal Sucre: $60
- Private Transfer In from International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito : $60
- Private Transfer Quito Airport To Quito City/hotel : $57
- Private Transfers / Discover Mindo: Full Day of Adventure Tour: $55
- Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Private Transfer IN from to the International Airport Mariscal Sucre to Quito: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into London or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and London 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 dayLondon $81Quito $34
Typical Food Prices in London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
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Lunch at Starbucks$18
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Tea$8.18
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Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason$53
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Morning Tea$8.66
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Pastry$6.82
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Sushi Dinner for One$25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ultimate London Cheese Crawl : Guided Food Tour: $48
- Tasting History: A Choose Your Own Menu Food Tour: $49
- Pizza and Beer Bus Experience: $67
- London Soho & Covent Garden Food Tour by Do Eat Better : $79
- International Stand Up Show & Monmouth K. Dinner in Covent Garden: $89
- Borough Market Christmas Food Tour with Tea and Doughnuts: $96
- Private South Indian Home Cooking Experience in Orpington: $105
- Devour Borough Market & Leadenhall Food Tour with Wine: $115
- Plant Power - Vegan Food Tour: $117
- Hungry for Soho: London's Finest Food Tour: $122
- Eating London East End Food Tour: $122
- London Cheese Chocolate and Christmas Lights Food Tour: $123
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- Quito Cooking Class Shared Experience: $59
- Ecuador Food Tour: $69
- Cooking Class in Quito with Chef, Market Tour and Transportation: $88
- Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Quito Private Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $114
- Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English): $120
- Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour : $135
- Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $149
- Quito Food Tour Where my Family Go Urban Art New and Old Quito: $155
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.London $44Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Two Tickets to a Concert$113
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London Symphony Orchestra$47
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London Pass$64
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Comedy Show$11
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
- London's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $2.37
- London Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.61
- Soho's Contribution to Health Care History Walking Audio Tour: $5.99
- Camden Town's Quirky Characters: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Brixton Self-Guided Music Walking Tour - Guided By Historian: $6.84
- Natural History Museum London Audio Guide and Free Entry Ticket: $6.85
- Jazz Notes - Jazz Jam Ticket: $6.85
- Experience Fitzrovia Comedy Club in London: $6.85
- Harry Potter's London Self-Guided Tour for Muggles with an App: $6.93
- Soho Instagram Self-Guided Walking Tour - Top Photo Spots: $7.00
- Shoreditch Self-Guided Walking Tour: Art, Cuisine & Culture: $7.00
- Jack the Ripper in Quest Experience: $7.20
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:
- A Full-Day Private Adventure Antisana Andean Volcano: $100
- The best of Quito walking tour: $283
- Tour Full-Day Mercado de Otavalo + Cotacachi, Ecuador.: $75
- 2-Day Tour of Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon with hotel: $222
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- Adventure in Quilotoa Lagoon by Lead: $150
- All Inclusive Mindo Cloud Forest in a Private Full Day Tour: $130
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Volcano Birding & Natural History Condor Tour PRIVATE, all included: $198
- Antisana Volcano Day Tour from Quito: $120
- Antisana Volcano Private Tour: $103
- Antisana volcano private tour; birding and hike in the Andes: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLondon $21Quito $17
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
- Historic Pub Walking Tour of London: $16
- London Pub Tour: $27
- London Pub Crawl: $29
- Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery Tour and Cocktail: $30
- Camden Pub Crawl in London: $34
- The Great East London Pub Crawl!: $34
- Small Group Covent Garden Historic Pub Tour in London: $34
- Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Complimentary Tasting: $41
- Small Group Historical Pub Tour, Beer Included: $60
- East End Craft Brewery Tour: $67
- Brixton Craft Brewery Tour: $67
- Devour London Historical Pub Tour:Traditional British Food & Ales: $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 London and Quito, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London 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 London Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, London or Quito?
London has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of London 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.