Which place is cheaper, Quito or Marbella?
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 Marbella or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella 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: Marbella or Quito?
Marbella
Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.
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 Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Marbella Prices
Spain PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMarbella $168Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Marbella is $168, 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 Marbella and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarbella $71Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarbella $142Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Marbella and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Marbella 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: Marbella Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marbella $28Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Costa del Sol: Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Malaga Airport: $158
- Marbella to Malaga Airport (AGP) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Climb La Concha Peak - Guided Hike with Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from Estepona to Malaga (AGP) airport: $166
- Private Transfer from La Quinta Golf Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $167
- Private Transfer from Mezquitilla to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $280
- Vip Malaga Private Transfer to Marbella: $99
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Marbella: $111
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:
- Unique Quito Transfer Mariscal Sucre Airport to Hotel: $43
- Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
- Transfer Private Airport–Hotel in Quito: $39
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer In & Out from Quito: $130
- Transfer Airport → Quito (one way / round trip): $50
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $32
- Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
- Panoramic City Tour & Airport Departure Transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Marbella or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Marbella 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 dayMarbella $77Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marbella
For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flamenco Show & Dinner in Fuengirola/Mijas - Tipi Tapa Restaurant: $35
- Marbella Food Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local: $76
- Marbella Food Tour with Tapas & Drinks with a Local: $94
- Marbella Old Town: Authentic Tapas Food Tour With Local Guide: $99
- Explore Marbella Old Town: Authentic Tapas Food Tour: $104
- Chefcooking Paella from our Andalusian Grandmother at a Family Farm: $134
- The Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle Cooking Class.: $195
- Gourmet Cooking Class & Culture in the rural Montes de Malaga.: $206
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
- 3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: $38
- 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
- Street Food Tour with Private Transport: $79
- 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
- Tour Quito with Cooking Class with Professional Chef: $95
- Ecuadorian Cooking Class with a chef and Local Market: $100
- Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Marbella $22Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Marbella
For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Magic Blocks in Estepona: Quest Experience: $6.64
- Glorious Grazalema Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Quizygolf Marbella, Minigolf Ticket: $12
- Marbella’s Old Town: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $15
- City Highlights Tour: $23
- City Highlights Tour: $23
- Marbella Old Town: Group Tour with a True Local: $26
- Sightseeing Walking Tour: $28
- The Monks Trail: Mountain Hiking Adventure In Marbella: $34
- Guided tour and olive oil tasting in Alhaurin el Grande (Málaga): $34
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Manilva Oceanfront Wine Experience in the Marbella Area: $35
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:
- “Adventure in Baths: Waterfalls, End of the World Swing and More”: $190
- 2 day 1 night tour to Cotopaxi Volcano and Quilotoa Lagoon all included: $280
- 3-Day Adventure: Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Baños, Jungle: $897
- 3-Day Andes Adventure Visiting Cotopaxi, Quilotoa and Baños: $239
- 3-Day Antisana & Amazon comunities, Caves, Baños Guided Tour: $734
- 6-Day Ecuador Heritage Tour: Art, Culture and Otavalo: $1,847
- Adventure in Chimborazo: Hiking and Ascent from Quito: $160
- All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
- Amazon Adventure: 4 Days of Nature & Culture from Quito: $1,770
- Andean Adventure : Riding and Cotopaxi Refuge: $140
- Antisana Birding Tours to see CONDORS - by Richard Hernandez: $185
- Antisana Condor Tour from Quito: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarbella $6.63Quito $17
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 Marbella and Quito, we can see that Marbella is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Marbella 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 Marbella would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marbella 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 Marbella Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Marbella or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Marbella. When comparing the sizes of Marbella 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.