A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Osaka vs. Quito for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Osaka or Quito?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Osaka 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: Osaka or Quito?

Osaka

The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.

Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.

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 Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, The Best Adventure Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Eco Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Quito or Osaka?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Osaka is $103, 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 Osaka and Quito in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Osaka $44
    Quito $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Osaka $88
    Quito $44
Compare Hotels in Osaka and Quito

Looking for a hotel in Osaka 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.

Hotels in Osaka


Hotels in Quito


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: Osaka Hotel Prices and Quito Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Osaka $13
    Quito $6.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:


  • Subway
    $7.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka

Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • City-to-City Transfer, from Central Osaka to Each City in Kansai: $116
  • Departure Private Transfers: Osaka City to Kansai Airport KIX in Business Car: $208
  • Itami Airport(ITM): Private Transfer from/to Osaka or Kyoto: $42
  • Kansai Airport (KIX) Private Airport Transfer to Osaka/Kyoto: $143
  • Kansai Airport (KIX) Transfer to Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Nara/Wakayama: $59
  • Kansai Airport (KIX) to Kyoto hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $283
  • Kansai Airport (KIX): Private Transfer To/From Kyoto City Hotels: $207
  • Kansai Airport Osaka City Private Taxi Transfers: $263
  • Kansai Airport(KIX)to/from Osaka and Kyoto Private Transfer: $132
  • Kansai Intl. Airport (KIX) Private Transfer to/from Osaka: $80
  • Luxury Airport Transfer Service in Kyoto and Osaka: $160
  • Nijigen no Mori: Naruto Theme Park (with return transfers) Fire shadow training journey: $173

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quito

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:


  • Taxi from Bus Terminal to Hotel
    $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:

  • Transfers To and From the Airport in Quito Ecuador: $35
  • Transfer from or to UIO Airport to any Hotel in Quito: $30
  • 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: $117
  • Quito PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport: $36
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
  • Quito PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from Airport to Hotels: $28
  • Quito Airport ↔ Quito Hotels Private Transfer Service: $27
  • Private Transfer from or to Quito Airport (one way): $21
  • Private Transfer from Quito to Baños de Agua Santa (one way): $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Osaka or Quito?

Prices for flights to both Quito and Osaka 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 day
    Osaka $42
    Quito $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Osaka

For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Osaka Cooking Class 17 Tastes Takoyaki Making: $21
  • Osaka Umeda: PICCADILLY DINNER SHOW&NIGHTCLUB with Tasting: $32
  • Guided Local Food Tour with a Ninja Secret Guide in Osaka: $36
  • Kobe Beef Bowl Cooking Class in Osaka Afternoon: $39
  • 1.5 Hour Food Tour at the Kuromon Market in Osaka: $42
  • Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $42
  • (1 Group Only) Osaka Dotonbori Food Tour Wagyu & Ramen Takoyaki: $45
  • Osaka Cooking for Japanese Pescatarian dishes: $48
  • Private Food Tour & Bar Hopping in Namba: $48
  • Family Friendly Osaka Tempura Cooking Class: $51
  • Deep Osaka Night Walking Tour with Optional Dinner: $51
  • Osaka 2 Hour Local Street Food Tour in Dotonbori and Namba: $58

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
  • Quito Kitchens Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
  • 3-hour Andean Cooking Class in Quito with a Local Host: $85
  • Cooking Class with a chef and local market including hotel pickup: $89
  • Jacchigua Show Including Dinner + Transfer: $92
  • Premium Cooking Class Quito Tour: $122
  • Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses: PRIVATE Day trip from Quito: $178

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Osaka $19
    Quito $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Osaka Aquarium (for 2)
    $29

Tours and Activities in Osaka

For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Osaka Dotonbori: CHEVAL Nightclub Ticket & Drinks (Foreign Only): $5.14
  • Osaka Umeda: OWL Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.42
  • Osaka Dotonbori: GIRAFFE Nightclub Admission Ticket (For Foreign): $6.42
  • Osaka Shinsaibashi: AMMONA Nightclub Entry Ticket (For Foreign): $6.42
  • Osaka Farplane Parco Bar Admission Ticket with Drink for Foreign: $6.42
  • Osaka Food Quest: Self-Guided Culinary & History Adventure: $7.12
  • Osaka Katsuo-ji Temple Natural Attraction Ticket: $8.00
  • Harukas 300 Observatory Tickets | Osaka: $8.00
  • Osaka Dotonbori River Cruise with Glico Sign: $13
  • General Admission ticket to ABENO HARUKAS in Osaka: $13
  • Osaka Dotonbori Wonder Cruise: $13
  • Osaka Castle Admission Ticket: $13

Typical Entertainment Prices in Quito

Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • 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
  • Antisana Birding Tours to see CONDORS - by Richard Hernandez: $185
  • Antisana Condor Tour from Quito: $220
  • Antisana Volcano Day Tour from Quito: $108
  • Antisana volcano private tour; birding and hike in the Andes: $130
  • Basilica del Voto Nacional Quito Private Tour with Tickets: $97
  • Cable Car Quito & Volcano Pichincha Trekking – Full Day Tour: $200
  • Cable Car and Quito Private City Tour: $89
  • Catedral Metropolitana de Quito Private Tour with Tickets: $97
  • City Tour in Quito. Muffin, Cable Car, Historic Center and Middle of the World: $150
  • Cotopaxi & Chimborazo: 2-Day Horseback Volcano Adventure: $290

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Osaka $11
    Quito $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:

  • Osaka Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour: $22
  • Osaka Nights: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide: $34
  • 3Hour Osaka Pub Crawl Bar Hopping Nightlife Guided Tour in Namba: $46
  • Off The Beaten Path Osaka Local Bar Crawl: $51

Typical Alcohol Prices in Quito

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:


  • 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 Osaka and Quito, we can see that Osaka is more expensive. And not only is Quito much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Osaka is in Asia 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 Osaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Osaka 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 Osaka Expensive? and Is Quito Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Osaka or Quito?

Osaka has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Quito. When comparing the sizes of Osaka 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.