Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Masai Mara?
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 Masai Mara or Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Masai Mara and Guayaquil. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Masai Mara or Guayaquil?
Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
-
Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesGuayaquil Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $132Guayaquil $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $132, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $116. 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 Masai Mara and Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Guayaquil $32
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara or Guayaquil? 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Nairobi National Park Game Drive Tour With Transfer: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $14
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Guayaquil to Guayaquil Airport GYE Departure Private Transfer: $18
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $20
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Luxury VIP car transfers to hotels in Guayaquil and Ecuador: $30
- Private Transfer Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil by Car or Van: $48
- Departure Private Transfer: Guayaquil City to Guayaquil Airport: $48
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil city hotels: $223
- Private Transfer from Manta Cruise Port to Guayaquil Airport(GYE): $223
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $246
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and Masai Mara 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 dayMasai Mara $57Guayaquil $50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Masai Mara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Masai Mara.
- Nairobi Nightlife and Safari Park Hotel Dinner with Pick Up: $125
- Kibera Slums Bomas of Kenya and Dinner at Carnivore Tour: $225
- Nairobi National Museum and Carnivore Restaurant Food Tour: $275
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Guayaquil Historical Tour Ecuadorian Cooking and Cacao Experience: $97
- Wagyu Cooking Class in Guayaquil: $135
- Cooking Class, Wine & Chocolate Experience: $174
- Half Day of Cooking and Chocolate at Cocoa Farm from Guayaquil: $175
- Stopover tour in Guayaquil with cooking class and accommodation: $175
- Gastronomic workshop tour, live cooking, Learn about the Ecuadorian culinary art: $200
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Guayaquil $21
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Amboseli N Park Day tour with optional Maasai village visit: $200
- Amboseli national park full day tour: $160
- Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
- Crescent Island Walking Safari and Boat Riding Tour: $295
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage & Giraffe Center Guided Day Tour: $95
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $75
- Day Tour Nairobi National Park Giraffe Center and Karen Blixen: $275
- Day tour to Giraffe center and Karen Blixen Nairobi: $135
- Fairview Coffee Farm Day Tour in Nairobi: $120
- Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $95
- Giraffe Center, Elephant Orphanage and Cultural Dance Guided Tour: $175
- Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cultural Tour of the Museums of Guayaquil: $35
- City Highlights Tour with Cable Car Ride: $58
- Guayaquil Museum Tour: $64
- Half-Day City Tour—Iguana Park & Santa Ana Hill: $70
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Santa Ana: $74
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $77
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $80
- Historic Walking Tour Through Time & Culture: $83
- Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana: $86
- Personalized City Tour with Guide: $90
- Religious City Tour with Guide and Entry Fees: $91
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $65
- Premium Wine Tasting and 3-Course Pairing Menu in Guayaquil.: $86
- Craft Brewery Tour with Tasting: $428
When comparing the travel costs between Masai Mara and Guayaquil, we can see that Masai Mara 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 Masai Mara is in Africa and Guayaquil 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 Masai Mara Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.
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.