Which place is cheaper, Quito or Moshi?
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 Moshi or Quito?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi 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: Moshi or Quito?
Moshi
Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.
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 Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.
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Moshi Prices
Tanzania PricesQuito Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoshi $84Quito $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Moshi is $84, 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 Moshi and Quito in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoshi $36Quito $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoshi $72Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Quito
Looking for a hotel in Moshi 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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moshi $17Quito $6.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi
Also for Moshi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $54
- Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi: $49
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi/Arusha: $107
- Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
- Moshi to Arusha or Arusha to Moshi Transfer (Intercity transfer): $93
- Private Airport transfers from any hotel in Zanzibar (Departures): $30
- Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
- Reliable Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $55
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
- Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
- Transfers Friends Airport Quito: $40
- Transfer from or to Airport Mariscal Sucre (one way): $75
- Transfer Quito → Papallacta (one way / round trip): $85
- Transfer Out from Quito to the Airport: $30
- Transfer In & Out from Quito: $130
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel with bilingual driver: $43
- Transfer Airport Quito-Hotel or vice versa with bilingual driver-guide: $43
- Private Transfer from/to Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from the Airport to the city: $32
- Private City Tour & Intiñam Museum Visit w/ Transfer: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Quito?
Prices for flights to both Quito and Moshi 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 dayMoshi $34Quito $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi
For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking class and Coffee tour in Moshi Kilimanjaro: $15
- Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
- Authentic Chagga Cooking Class: Farm-to-Table Experience in Moshi: $50
- Market-to-Table Cooking Class with Local Chagga Host: $79
- Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $109
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
- From Cayambe Traditional Cooking Class with Transfers: $60
- Quito Best Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $65
- 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
- Private Famous Food Tour of Historic Old Town in Quito: $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.Moshi $19Quito $16
Tours and Activities in Moshi
For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Plantation Half Day Tour: $30
- Private guided tour to the night lifestyle of Moshi town: $30
- City tour and local food: $30
- Moshi - Arusha: Materuni Waterfalls Hike and Organic Coffee Tour: $40
- Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee tour with lunch: $40
- 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
- Bodaboda Experience to Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $52
- Day Trip Coffee Tour and Materuni Waterfalls: $52
- Marangu & Chagga - Cultural Day Tour form Moshi: $59
- Chemka Hot Springs Tour from Moshi: $59
- Moshi City and Rau Forest Walking Tour: $60
- Day trip to materuni waterfalls and coffee tour from Moshi: $60
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:
- 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 Antisana & Amazon comunities, Caves, Baños Guided Tour: $734
- 6-Day Ecuador Heritage Tour: Art, Culture and Otavalo: $1,847
- All-Inclusive Private Mindo Cloud Forest Tour from Quito: $220
- Amazon Adventure: 4 Days of Nature & Culture from Quito: $1,770
- Antisana Birding Tours to see CONDORS - by Richard Hernandez: $185
- Antisana Condor Tour from Quito: $220
- Antisana Volcano Private Day Tour from Quito: $266
- Authentic Cloud Forest Experience: $299
- Baños Full Day Tour from Quito Including Entrances and Activities: $89
- Between Murals & Flavors: Modern Quito Walking Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoshi $3.37Quito $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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moshi and Quito, we can see that Moshi is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moshi is in Africa 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 Moshi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moshi 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 Moshi Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moshi or Quito?
Quito has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi 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.